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The Clumber Spaniel is a long, low, heavy looking dog. It is one of the oldest Spaniels in North America. His heavy brow, straight forelegs, powerful hindquarters, massive bone and food feet give him the power and endurance to move through dense underbrush in pursuit of game. He has a white coat with either lemon or orange markings. The white coat enables him to be seen by the hunter as he works within gun range. His stature is dignified, his expression pensive, but at the same time he shows great enthusiasm for his work and play. The Clumber male weighs between 65-80 pounds with females weighing between 55-70 pounds. The Clumber should have the appearance of great power. Evidence shows that a Lt. Venable transported the Clumber Spaniel to Canada, from England in 1844. He was stationed in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Clumber was among the first breeds to be registered with both the AKC in 1884 and the CKC in 1888. The first CKC studbook for the years 1888-1889 shows there were 27 Clumbers. There are many theories as to the origin of this spaniel. One theory is that the breed may have been developed by cross breeding a Basset Hound and an Alpine Spaniel. Another theory is that they are descendants of the Blenhiem Spaniel. The history is very suspect. The Duc de Noailles bred them in secret. He supposedly gave his dogs to Henry Clinton, Duke of Newcastle, at the onset of the French Revolution. This is where the Clumber received his name. The Clumber Spaniel was in great demand by the middle of the 19th Century. It was a common occurrence to see four to six Clumbers working flushing game from the dense underbrush in England. With the advent of conformation showing, the breed was also seen at early dog shows. Clumber Spaniels have a long history of being favoured by royalty. They were in the kennels of King Edward VII and his son George V. It was during this period at Sandringham Kennels that the breed really prospered, and most recently with Princess Anne. The breed began to lose popularity after the death of King George V. Hunters began to favour the faster moving dogs such as the Cocker or Springer Spaniels. The breed was kept going by a few enthusiasts. By the 1960's Clumbers started to gain popularity in North America. Clumber Spaniels are still relatively rare. There are approximately 115 dogs in Canada. Very few are seen in conformation, field and obedience trials. However, when they do appear they certainly can draw a crowd - one that is becoming a loyal following. It is certainly a common sight at a dog show to see a sleeping Clumber Spaniel on a grooming table being loved and petted by a total stranger. Clumbers have been described as "Bigger in height than a Cocker, shorter than a Springer, longer, heavier, with a base coat of white. I have also heard them described as a "Miniature albino St. Bernard." They are a jolly breed, they love their families. They are excellent with children, and yes, they shed!!!!!!!!! I have been known to say that it is snowing Clumber hair in my house. Some are also wet mouths, in other words, they drool. As Clumber breeders and owners, we are often asked about genetic problems within the breed. The most common problems which can occur are entropian and ectropian (eyelids rolling in or out). There may be predisposed problems with the back, neck and hips. Due to the small number of Clumbers that have been rated Clear of hip dysplasia, a breeder will not guarantee against this type of problem. A breeder will guarantee functional mobility, which means that a dog that is sold will be able to live out its life in a relatively comfortable manner. All breeders should guarantee temperament. A Clumber should be friendly and happy with his family, with a non-aggressive manner. There are also breeding and whelping problems that could account for the rareness of the breed. All breeders try to improve their stock. They will usually try to breed animals that they feel are good to excellent examples of the breed. Most breeders x-ray their stock and have the eyes checked. We all have different ideas about what we like/dislike, or feel is an excellent breeding animal, etc. So when you contact one of us you may receive different answers about certain dogs, according to our preferences for colour, type, size and the like.
Sharon Beaulieu
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