The Clumber Spaniel Dog Breed

The origin of the clumber spaniel dog breed is disputed between France and England. There are in fact two versions; one says that at the end of the 18th century, when the French Revolution broke out, the Duke of Noailles sent his dogs to England to rescue them. He sent them specifically to the Duke of Newcastle, who bred them at his home in Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire. Hence his name, the Clumber spaniel.

Some, however, claim that this is just a legend and that the origins of this dog are English. This is because a painting from 1788 depicts the Duke of Newcastle with three dogs that look very much like the clumber spaniel and could very well be its ancestors.

However, unfortunately this truly excellent breed is only known in England and France, and not much here either. A few specimens have been brought to the USA, but otherwise it is almost unknown.

The ancestors of the clumber spaniel are thought to have originated from the union between the Alpine spaniel and the French basset hound, although nothing is certain about this. It originated as a hunting dog used in France for beating the ground and for retrieving. And also in England it is very popular as a hunting dog, although it can easily become a companion dog, even though it needs a lot of exercise every day.

Character of the clumber spaniel dog breed

The clumber spaniel is a very reserved dog, but also strong, energetic, generous and very intelligent. It is very dedicated to its tasks, so it is highly valued as a hunting dog, but is also suitable as a guard dog. But it can also be a very good companion dog, as it is also reliable, dignified, gentle and sweet, and knows how to behave with children, with whom it loves to play, with strangers and also with other animals in the house, with the only exception of birds, which it unfortunately considers to be prey.

He is always faithful and very affectionate towards his master, as he is with all other family members and even with other dogs. It is a dog that is suitable for everyone as long as you let it go out several times a day. Its ideal would be a house with a garden where it can spend several hours a day, but it also adapts well to a flat.

He is never aggressive and even if he is initially wary of strangers, you soon realise that he is just being reserved. It is very easy to train as it wants to please its owner, is very intelligent and is therefore also suitable for those who are new to dogs. It still needs to be socialised from an early age, but will not give much trouble.

Appearance of the clumber spaniel dog breed

The clumber spaniel is a medium-sized, muscular dog with a heavy frame but an overall very well-proportioned physique. It is not slender and long-limbed but neither is it stocky. The height at withers for a male ranges from 48 to 51 centimetres for a weight of around 34 kilograms, the female usually a little less.

It is a very special spaniel and different from all others. Less slender than other spaniels but much faster than expected. The general appearance denotes strength and the short legs and long body make for a swinging gait. The limbs, as already mentioned, are short, straight, strong and well-boned, with the hindquarters very powerful and well developed. The tail is attached low, well fringed and carried level with the back.

The head is square and massive, as is the skull. The truffle is rather large and usually flesh-coloured. The jaws are well developed and from the head come out large ears covered with abundant hair, falling forward but not too much. The eyes have a funny, thoughtful look, but are clear, slightly sunken and dark amber in colour.

The coat is abundant, thick and straight, with fringes on the neck and chest. The most common colour is white, with lemon or orange markings, sometimes with small spots on the head and patches on the muzzle.

Health and care of the clumber spaniel dog breed

It is a fairly robust dog but can have several health problems. It is particularly prone to hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism and ear infections. It has a life expectancy of 11-12 years. It can withstand the cold, but if it lives outside, it must be able to take shelter; heat, on the other hand, it tolerates it less; during the hottest hours of the day, it must stay cool.

As far as feeding is concerned, it must be given a balanced and controlled diet as it tends to eat more than is necessary and it must also be able to get plenty of exercise every day.

Grooming the clumber spaniel takes time as it must be brushed daily to avoid knots.