Clumber Spaniel

The Clumber Spaniel is a long, low, heavy-boned spaniel developed in England as a gun dog. It is the largest of the spaniel breeds by build, though it stands lower to the ground than the field and springer types. The breed is known for a steady, unhurried manner both in the field and at home.

Clumbers were bred to work close to the gun, pushing through dense cover at a slow, deliberate pace. That working style shapes the modern dog, which tends to be methodical rather than fast and is content with a moderate level of activity.

At home the Clumber is quiet and people-focused. It forms strong attachments to its household and is generally gentle with children and other animals. The breed sheds and drools, and the heavy coat needs routine care.

Who the breed suits

The Clumber Spaniel suits owners who want a calm, affectionate companion and can accept regular grooming, shedding and some drool. It fits households that offer steady daily walks rather than high-intensity exercise. People who want a quiet indoor companion and have time for coat care and weight management will find the breed a good match. In Singapore's warm, humid climate, owners should plan walks for cooler parts of the day.

The breed is named after Clumber Park, the Nottinghamshire estate of the Dukes of Newcastle. The exact origins are not fully documented, but the breed took shape in England in the late 18th and early 19th centuries among large country estates that kept dogs for shooting game.

A common account credits the Duke of Newcastle's gamekeeper, William Mansell, with developing and refining the breed at Clumber Park. The dogs were used to flush game from heavy cover and to work close to the gun in a slow, quiet style suited to driven shoots and rough ground.

The Clumber was among the breeds associated with the founding of organised dog showing in Britain. It was recognised by The Kennel Club in England in the 19th century, and the breed was exhibited at early conformation shows. It was also one of the first breeds registered when formal records were established in North America.

The Clumber has remained an uncommon breed. Its numbers stayed low through the 20th century, and it is still considered rare compared with the more popular spaniels. Dedicated breed clubs in England and other countries maintain the standard and support breeding programmes today.

The Clumber Spaniel has a substantial, rectangular outline. The body is long and the legs are short and thick, giving the dog a low centre of gravity. The head is large and heavy with a broad muzzle, a pronounced brow and loose facial skin. The eyes are deep set and the ears are large and triangular, set low and hanging close to the head.

The overall impression is of strength and weight rather than speed. The breed moves with a steady, rolling stride that reflects its long body and short legs.

Coat and colours

The coat is mainly white, which made the dog easy to see when working in cover. Markings are limited to lemon (pale tan) or orange and usually appear on the head and around the base of the tail, with freckling sometimes present on the muzzle and legs. The coat is weather resistant and needs regular brushing to manage shedding and prevent matting in the feathered areas.

Clubs set their own figures for the Clumber Spaniel. These come from each club's published standard: AKC, CKC, FCI, KC, UKC.

Size

• Height at the withers, male: AKC 45.7-50.8 cm; CKC 45.8-50.8 cm; UKC 45.7-50.8 cm
• Height at the withers, female: AKC 43.2-48.3 cm; CKC 43.2-48.2 cm; UKC 43.2-48.3 cm
• Weight, male: AKC 31.8-38.6 kg; CKC 31.8-38.5 kg; FCI 29.5-34 kg; KC 29.5-34 kg; UKC 31.8-38.6 kg
• Weight, female: AKC 24.9-31.8 kg; CKC 25-31.8 kg; FCI 25-29.5 kg; KC 25-29.5 kg; UKC 24.9-31.8 kg
• Height to length: AKC 0.8; CKC 0.8

Build and forms

At least one club accepts each of these:

• Stop: Pronounced
• Muzzle shape: Square
• Bite: Scissors bite, Level bite
• Dentition: Full dentition
• Eye set: Deep-set
• Eye size: Large
• Haw (third eyelid): Visible
• Ear carriage: Drop (pendant)
• Ear set: Low
• Ear size: Large

Forms the clubs penalise

A fault or a disqualification is a judgment under a show standard. It can affect placings and, at some clubs, registration.

• Fault: Eye shape: Round (AKC, UKC); Eye set: Prominent (AKC, UKC); Rear angulation: Straight (post-legged) (UKC)

Cropping, docking and other procedures

• Tail docking: Alternate (AKC, CKC, FCI, KC, UKC)
• Dewclaw removal: Alternate (AKC, UKC)

This is each club's stance in the show ring, not the law. The law on these procedures differs by country.

Markings

Each club's ruling on the breed's named marks:

• Patch: Alternate (AKC, FCI, KC)
• Ticking: Alternate (AKC, CKC, FCI, KC, UKC)
• Spots: Alternate (AKC, CKC, UKC)
• Spectacles: Alternate (CKC, UKC)

See every point side by side: compare the clubs.

Rulings come from each club's published breed standard, and clubs revise their standards. Before a show or a registration, check the current text with the club.

On the Clumber Spaniel, every club we track agrees on White, Orange, Lemon. Clubs compared: AKC, FCI, KC, KUSA, UKC.

Patterns listed as standard for the Clumber Spaniel: Solid, Bicolour.

Beyond the main colour

Standards rule on more than the main colour. These are listed as standard:

• Eyes: Amber
• Nose: Liver

Rulings come from each club's published breed standard, and clubs revise their standards. Before a show or a registration, check the current text with the club.

The Clumber Spaniel is a quiet, good-natured dog that bonds closely with its household. It is affectionate and likes to stay near its people, often following family members around the home. The breed is calm indoors and is not prone to excessive activity or restlessness.

With strangers the Clumber tends to be reserved rather than nervous or aggressive. It often warms up slowly and may simply watch newcomers before approaching. The breed is not a strong watchdog and does not bark a great deal.

Clumbers are usually gentle with children and tolerant of other dogs and household pets, especially when raised with them. Their easygoing nature makes them well suited to a settled home. They can be stubborn at times and respond best to patient, consistent handling. Because they are so attached to their people, they do not cope well when left alone for long periods.

Grooming

• Brush the coat two or three times a week to remove loose hair and prevent mats in the feathering.
• Check and clean the long, low-set ears regularly to reduce the risk of ear infections.
• Wipe facial folds and around the mouth, as the breed tends to drool.
• Trim feathering on the legs and feet as needed and keep nails short.
• Bathe occasionally when the coat is dirty; the white coat shows soiling readily.

Exercise

• Provide a moderate walk once or twice a day; the breed has lower energy than most spaniels.
• Allow time for sniffing and exploring, which suits the dog's working instincts.
• Avoid hard exercise in young puppies to protect developing joints.
• Limit strenuous activity in hot weather, since the heavy build makes the breed prone to overheating.

Environment

The Clumber Spaniel is an indoor dog that wants to be with its family. It adapts to landed homes and HDB flats as long as it gets daily walks, but it should not be left alone for long stretches. The breed prefers cooler conditions and needs shade and water in warm weather, which matters in Singapore's tropical climate. Its short legs and long body mean stairs and slippery floors should be managed to reduce strain on the back and joints.

Most of what a Clumber Spaniel needs from grooming follows from its coat.

• Coat layers: Double coat
• Coat texture: Silky
• Coat length: Medium
• Shedding: Heavy shedding

What this coat asks of you

• A double coat has a soft undercoat beneath longer guard hairs. Brush right down to the undercoat, because that is the layer that packs down and traps loose hair.
• A silky coat tangles where it rubs, so comb it through in layers instead of brushing over the top.
• Medium-length hair starts to tangle wherever it rubs, so pay attention to those spots.
• Heavy shedding means loose hair most of the year. Frequent brushing helps, and so does a plan for the furniture.

What to tell a groomer

Mention these when you book. The coat notes on this page explain each one.

• Do not shave
• Mats easily

A groomer who knows the breed can adapt all of this to the individual animal. Sore skin, mats pressed against the skin or a sudden change in the coat are worth showing to a vet.

The Clumber Spaniel does well on a complete and balanced commercial dog food appropriate for its age and activity level. Because the breed is prone to weight gain, portions should be measured and meals kept to a schedule rather than left out for free feeding. Daily amounts depend on the dog's weight, age and how active it is, so the figures below are general guidance. Fresh water should always be available.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to no more than about 10 percent of daily calories and subtract them from meal portions to avoid overfeeding. A balanced complete diet usually meets a healthy dog's needs without extra supplements. Joint supplements or specific additions should be used only on the advice of a veterinarian, particularly given the breed's heavy build and joint sensitivity.

The Clumber Spaniel generally lives 10 to 12 years. The breed's long body and heavy bone make it more prone to joint and back problems than lighter dogs, and its build also makes weight control important. Responsible breeders screen for inherited conditions, and buyers should ask to see health testing on the parents.

Preventive care

• Keep up with annual veterinary exams and recommended vaccinations.
• Maintain a lean body weight to protect the back and joints.
• Clean and check the ears regularly to prevent infections.
• Brush teeth and schedule dental care to limit gum disease.
• Stay current on parasite prevention for fleas, ticks and worms.

The Clumber Spaniel is a thinking dog that learns well but can be independent and slow to comply when it sees no reason to. It does not respond to harsh handling. Short, consistent sessions with clear rewards work better than repetition or pressure. The breed's strong food motivation can be used to keep training sessions productive, with care taken not to overfeed.

Basics

1. Start socialisation early, introducing the puppy to people, other dogs and new places in a calm, positive way.
2. Teach core cues such as sit, stay, come and walking on a loose lead.
3. Keep sessions short, five to ten minutes, and end on a success.
4. Reward correct behaviour immediately with a small treat or praise.
5. Practise the same cues in different settings so the dog generalises them.
6. Be patient with the breed's stubborn streak and stay consistent across the household.

Female Clumber Spaniels typically reach sexual maturity between about 6 and 12 months of age, but responsible breeders wait until the female is physically mature and has passed health screening before breeding, often around two years. Mating is timed to the female's heat cycle. Gestation lasts about 63 days from conception.

Litter size varies, with an average of roughly three to seven puppies. Puppies are born without sight or hearing and depend fully on the mother in the early weeks. Weaning usually begins around three to four weeks, and puppies stay with the mother and littermates until at least eight weeks to support healthy social development. Because the breed is uncommon, planned litters from health-tested parents may involve waiting lists.

Breeding should be left to experienced, responsible breeders who screen for hip, elbow and eye conditions and who follow the breed standard.

Registering a Clumber Spaniel in Singapore

The Animal & Veterinary Service requires every dog here to be licensed and microchipped by three months of age, so for a Clumber Spaniel the chip is settled law. What stays on you is the record behind it. A free United Pet Club profile holds your contact details against the dog for as long as he is yours, and it keeps working even outside Singapore. Registering your dog takes minutes and never costs a cent.

The AVS listing and a searchable contact record are two different things, and the second one is yours to set up. Register the microchip on the free lifetime plan: any chip brand a local vet implants qualifies, updates after a move between flats stay free, and the record can be pulled up 24 hours a day from anywhere. Create your free account and settle it tonight.