HISTORY  

Three Clumber Spaniels
John Emms 1843-1912

BREED CHARACTERISTICS 

Firstly, the Clumber is a very large spaniel with dogs reaching a weight of 36 kgs (80lbs) and bitches 29.5 kgs (65lbs). Considering its weight the Clumber is very active, and the wholly characteristic “Clumber roll” is a movement typical of this breed, coming from the combination of a driving hind action with broad heavy shoulders

A Clumber is always white with lemon or orange markings, the colour being mainly on the head, sometimes with patches or flecking meagrely spread on the body and legs

Other noticeable characteristics pertaining to Clumbers are their thoughtful kindly expression, large square and massive head, and eyes showing “haw” ,which is to say that the lower eyelid is somewhat loose

GROOMING 

Regular grooming is required to keep the coat tangle free, the featherings will tangle and mat if neglected. It is best to keep the feet trimmed to prevent knots between the toes; for showing a little extra trimming is done to tidy the coat. Eyes and ears need to be kept clean

OWNING A CLUMBER 

In fairness to the Clumber he is not a suitable dog to keep in a small or top floor flat or a house with a small garden. They should not be left alone all day while the owner is at work as they will be lonely and may become destructive. For the first few months in his new home the Clumber puppy should be allowed to start developing into the large dog he will become, by allowing him plenty of good quality food with bone-building additives, all the sleep he requires and only limited amounts of exercise and training. Both exercise and training can be gradually increased after six months of age

There is an innate “feel” for field work in the Clumber, and while not as fast as the lighter spaniels, he will do the work of many beaters, leaving no cover unexplored and pushing his way into the thickest of it like a tank. His original work was as a beater, and a team of these great dogs must have been a marvellous sight. The Clumber has only one aim in life and that is to please his master, and so he takes readily to training in retrieving. Most dogs are as happy as a Labrador in water

Of recent years, some Clumbers have also been successfully trained for tracking; others have readily taken to obedience training, including “heelwork to music” and even agility. Clumbers have also gained awards at all levels of the Kennel Club’s Good Citizen Dog Scheme. The PAT Dog scheme enables dogs to visit and enrich the lives of those in hospitals and retirement homes and Clumbers have proved very able as PAT Dogs

As a show dog, the Clumber is a striking sight and good specimens regularly win well in large variety classes and puppy stakes. More shows are providing classes for the breed and these are generally well supported by competitive and sporting enthusiasts

There can be no parallel to the Clumber as a companion, but there are some disadvantages. He has a very white coat that sheds itself liberally over everything most of the year. His feathering and being low to the ground ensures that a lot of muck gets flipped up on his underside. He does have a tendency to slobber and he is very good at snoring!! Genetic problems include hip dysplasia and eye problems such as entropion and ectropion. The Clumber is also known for his independent spirit, often seeming willful and stubborn

In other respects the Clumber is ideal. He mixes well with other dogs of other breeds and is easily trained. In general the breed is long lived and will serve the boss and his family to the end. He will take about two to three years as a wild and loving youth before settling down into a truly aristocratic, good natured, dignified companion who, when he senses the time is right, will play the clown

A VULNERABLE BREED

 In 2003 the Kennel Club identified the Clumber Spaniel as a vulnerable British breed. The breed averages only 160 puppy registrations per year and is therefore perceived to be at risk. So few puppies each year means that availability is limited and  potential owners may have a long wait before one may be obtained.

Further information is available in this useful booklet

Owning A Clumber Spaniel £2.50 from the Secretary

HEALTH

The Clumber Spaniel Club has addressed health issues affecting the Clumber Spaniel for the past twenty years. It held the first International Breed Seminar in 1987 specifically for "Hereditary Defects in the Clumber Spaniel" including a presentation by Dr Malcolm Willis on "Hip Dysplasia in Clumber Spaniels". Dr Willis worked with the Club from 1985 - 1992 and produced three reports on hip dysplasia reviewing data from all scored dogs. In 1991 the Club set up a working party to examine the state of health within the breed and the first health survey was conducted; this was repeated ten years late in 2001 to determine whether changed had occurred. Results from both survey were published

In 2003 the Club appointed Health Co-ordinators and also met with the UK Kennel Club to address health issues in the breed. This meeting led to a proposal to amend the Breed Standard Eye Clause to include the words "Free from entropion" this proposal was approved by members at the 2004 AGM and came into effect the following October.

In 2004 the Clumber Spaniel Club hosted the 7th International Breed Seminar. Health issues have always featured at these events and an inaugural meeting of an International Health Committee followed this Seminar. Through this Committee it is hoped that all data gathered on health matters can be shared on an international basis for the benefit of the breed.

In 2005 the Club accepted an offer from Masterfoods, who are carrying out research into clinical hip dysplasia, to work with the Clumber Spaniel. The Club has also set up a "Blood Bank" with the Animal Health Trust; this will enable us to gather blood samples for future research.

It is recommended that all Clumber Spaniels should be examined under the KC/BVA schemes.

This list is not meant to frighten you. It is to make you aware of some of the more common health issues affecting Clumber Spaniels. All breeds have some incidence of defects and diseases, just as humans do. Awareness makes you better prepared to deal with potential problems. The Clumber Spaniel does seem to be afflicted with more than its fair share of problems but most of them are controllable with a little bit of understanding, common sense and tender loving care.

ANAL GLAND IMPACTION
Impacted anal glands become itchy and sore and typically the affected dog will drag his anus along the ground or bite himself around the base of his tail. The major cause is dietary leading to stools that are insufficiently bulky to force sac expression during defecation. Increasing the fibre content of the dog's diet can often cure mild cases. More serious cases may need the glands to be emptied by manual pressure (usually by a vet). In severe recurrent cases it may be necessary to have the glands removed.

AUTOIMMUNE HÆMOLYTIC ANÆMIA
This is a potentially life threatening condition where the body attacks it's own immune system, causing a profound anæmia. Most common symptoms are a dramatic sudden decrease in the dog's energy and activity level. The dog may barely be able to get up and may be quite reluctant to move. It is important that you seek veterinarian advice as soon as possible.

COLITIS
This is the inflammation of the large bowel or colon. Fæces tend to be soft and may contain spots of blood and an increased amount of mucus. The dog appears to be healthy in all other respects. This rarely requires a trip to the vet, as it responds well to dietary management. Withhold food for 24 hours while ensuring an adequate supply of water is available. After this time, feed the dog on a light diet, such as chicken and rice or fish and rice for a couple of days and then gradually put him back on to his normal diet. If this problem reoccurs frequently, you may want to consider feeding your dog a diet especially formulated for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

DRY EYE (KERATO CONJUNCTIVIS SICCA)
With this disease the dog fails to produce tears. As the cornea dries, the surface of the eye becomes covered with a grey, sticky mucus. It is important to keep the eye area clean, which can be achieved with a bit of Optrex on cottonwool. Artificial tears and anti-inflammatory drops will be needed to control the condition.

EAR INFECTIONS
One of the most common causes of ear infections is lack of adequate ventilation. In mild cases there may be little to see apart from an increase in wax. As the disease progresses, the ear will begin to smell and the dog may shake its head. The ear may become very painful. Regular maintenance should prevent this from becoming a problem. The ears should be regularly checked and cleaned with an ear cleaner. Excess hair should be cut away from inside the earflap, so improving ventilation.

ENTROPION
In this condition, the edge of the eyelid rolls in so that the lashes and hairs rub against the surface of the eye. Corrective surgery may be necessary, but unless causing the dog severe discomfort should be postponed until the dogs head has finished developing, as quite often it corrects itself as part of development.

HIP DYSPLASIA
Is not life threatening but may cause extreme discomfort in severely affected dogs. All Clumber Spaniels have hip dysplasia, and in all likelihood, should your veterinarian x-ray your dogs hips, he will probably tell you that your dog has the worst hips he has ever seen. Needless to say, to the best of my knowledge there are very few Clumbers that actually 'suffer' because of their hips. This breed is a heavy breed and is not designed for 10-mile daily hikes. As long as you respect this and follow your breeder's instructions on bringing your puppy up, you should hopefully not experience hip problems. The Clumber Spaniel Club encourages members to X-ray breeding stock and submit plates to the BVA/KC scheme.

INTERVERTEBRAL DISC DISEASE
These discs are soft cartilagenous structures located between individual spinal vertebrae to allow smooth frictionless movement of the spine. When a disc ruptures, the jelly like centre is squeezed upwards against the spinal cord and nerves, applying pressure and causing inflammation and pain. The two most common locations for disc disease are in the neck and the midback. Disc disease is usually seen in the middle-aged dog due to the disc finally rupturing after much wear and tear. Some cases will respond well to medical treatment aimed at reducing the inflammation and swelling around the disc. Those with recurrent pain may require spinal surgery to remove the affected disc. Not all dogs with disc problems recover - some may be left with completely paralysed hind legs. Many owners give a supplement of Glucosamine with Chondroitin throughout the dogs life which has been shown to rehabilitate cartilage and reduce the progression of arthritis.

SKIN ALLERGIES
Most skin diseases are as a result of a reaction between the dog's skin and its environment. These disorders may be chronic, intermittent or seasonal, and so may require constant or intermittent treatment. Most common causes of skin irritations are: - parasitic e.g. fleas, mites (mange); bacterial (pyoderma) - this is usually secondary to some other skin disease; contact allergies ~ the skin becomes directly sensitised to some material in his environment; food allergies; and anal gland impactionTreatment depends on the cause of the irritation.

UMBILICAL HERNIAS
An umbilical hernia occurs where the umbilical cord was attached to the puppy from the placenta. It is a hole or rupture in the body wall, through which abdominal fat protrudes. In most cases only a small piece of fat protrudes and this becomes sealed off so that the hernia cannot be reduced by finger pressure. If the hole is large enough for a loop of intestine to pass through, then it will be necessary to have it surgically repaired to prevent the hernia becoming 'strangulated'.

UTERINE INERTIA
A condition of the whelping bitch who either fails or gives up having contractions. An injection of the hormone oxytocin may stimulate contractions but should only be used if the cervix is fully open. If there has been no response from the injection after 20 minutes then a Caesarean section may be the only course of action (A car ride, or walk around the garden has frequently been know to stimulate a bitch to start contractions)