Clumbers
Background To The Breed
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The Clumber Spaniel is the heaviest of the land spaniels. Often regarded as the "old man's gundog", the Clumber is capable of
vigorous, hard work in the field, particularly in areas of heavy cover. Energy, enthusiasm, staying power and the desire to please
their master characterises the Clumber in the field. Well balanced, strong, and heavily boned, the Clumber is blessed with a thoughtful expression and bags of personality. But there are, needless to say, pitfalls in owning this wonderful breed. The Clumber can be very determined and boisterous, especially as adolescents, and this requires firm, but gentle handling and rearing. They are a very sociable dog and like company - as with so many breeds, left on their own, they can be prone to destructive tendencies (many Clumber owners have found their furnishings "redesigned" by a bored Clumber!). The breed does, of course, have its fair share of hereditary problems, including Entropian, Ectropian and Hip Displasia. We have always found the breed to be good with children - our daughters Desme, Zoë and Hannah ggrew up with them and now our grandchildren, Ethan & Trinity, enjoy playing with the Clumbers.
If you are going to acquire a Clumber Spaniel, listen carefully to the breeder about the breed and its problems. Above all else, the Clumber Spaniel is a loyal and dedicated member of the family. A more rewarding relationship would be difficult to imagine. We could not be without them.
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Naturally,
some caution does need to be exercised, especially for those who may be unfamiliar with this heavyweight spaniel. |
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