Data on the appearance of the Clumber Spaniel, external norms, characteristic behavior of the animal, health, care: walking, training, interesting facts. The price of the puppies. The Clumber Spaniel is the sturdiest and largest of the spaniel family. It is distinguished by its endurance and weighs forty kilograms. That is, ten times the size of the smallest spaniel in the UK - the toy spaniel. When faced with a Clumber Spaniel for the first time, you might think that he has a great appetite and is eating a lot.
Most Clumber Spaniels have a fluffy, ninety percent white coat. Their puppies are born completely white. Later, around three months old, they develop cute lemon or orange spots. Adult dogs have droopy cheeks and eyelids. This makes the animals look funny. It seems that they just woke up or drank a little.
Representatives of the breed are one of the rarest dogs. On average, two hundred puppies are born per year in the United States of America. If we compare their fertility with another species, then, for example, sixty thousand a year appear golden retrievers.
Clumber Spaniel appearance data
It is not known how the clumber spaniels or clumber spaniels originated, but based on the prevailing point of view today, the time of their creation is the second half of the 18th century. There are two versions of their appearance.
According to one version, the French aristocrat had similar hunting dogs. At that time, in France, a coup was taking place, the political and social system of the country was transformed. The French Revolution was merciless not only to the nobility, but also to their pets. The noble Frenchman feared for the lives of his dogs. He decided to send them away from the country, to the UK.
As a result, these hunting dogs were given shelter by the Earl of Newcastle. A noble nobleman had a huntsman named William Mansell, who was a keen hunter and a knowledgeable breeder. He made a lot of efforts to develop a new breed on the basis of these dogs.
They say that in the process of breeding, he infused the blood of Alpine spaniels, which by now have already become extinct, Basset Hounds, Bernese Senenhounds. It is believed that bloodhounds and St. Bernard's dogs (St. Bernards) were actively involved in the development of the species.
The name of the breed was given by the Earl of Newcastle, in honor of his large estate (an area of one thousand six hundred hectares), which is located in Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire, UK.
Another version says that clumber spaniels were kept and bred by British monarchs. Prince Albert, King Edward VII and King George V were not indifferent to such pets.
Regardless of which assumptions are true about the ancestors of the Clumber Spaniel, the motivation for their creation was only a practical approach. Clumber spaniels are able to track like hunting dogs and hunt like spaniels. Due to the low, squat growth, representatives of the breed can freely enter very dense bushes and easily find the bird's refuge with the help of an excellent sense of smell.
Clumbers stood out for their slow, but persistent pace of movement, and the ability to search for game for a long time. The first breed specimens had a lighter bone structure and a smaller head size, but even then they had a white-orange coat color, which is characteristic of today's Clumbers.
Clumber spaniels first appeared in North America in 1844. They were brought there by an English officer, General Venables, who served in one of the provinces of Canada. The Kennel Club of America in 1884 gave its consent to the recognition of the breed.
Clumber spaniels grew in popularity in the 19th century. Demonstrated their appearance at an early cynological competition in 1859, and immediately these spaniels fell in love with many English aristocrats.
Currently, many hunting enthusiasts are making great efforts to revive the qualities of working cop dogs inherent in them. In addition, their firm disposition, gentleness and exceptional learning ability make them great pets.
Description of external norms of the Clumber Spaniel standard
Clumber belongs to medium, squat dogs. They are used for carrying game, searching for prey on the trail, and as companions. The height at the withers in males is 46–51 cm and in bitches 43–48 cm. The weight of males is 28–39 kg, bitches are 25–30 kg. The movements are slow and heavy.
- Head square format, massive. The brows hang over the eye sockets.
- Muzzle - rectangular. The bridge of the nose is wide. The stop is clear. Lips are damp, brown-flesh-colored or dark brown.
- Nose - developed, dilated, with wide nostrils, light brown or cherry brown.
- Eyes Clumber Spaniel deepened into the skull. Large, round-elongated, dark brown or light brown. The eyelids are fleshy and loose. They have a good-natured, deep look.
- Ears begin their growth below the level of the eye sockets, long, hanging in shape.
- Neck - of moderate length, medium rise, very powerful and muscular.
- Frame rectangular format, powerful, with a strong bone and a developed chest. Curved ribs. The back is strong. Loin widened. The croup is voluminous, slightly sloping. The bottom line is slightly tightened.
- Tail positioned harmoniously, continues the line of the back. It is stopped if the dog is working.
Extremities:
- Front strong with powerful bones and developed muscles.
- Rear - parallel to one another, with strong bones. The thighs have developed, voluminous muscles.
- Paws large, rounded. Wool grows between the toes.
- Coat the clumber is smooth, to the touch like silk. Guard hair grows densely. The undercoat is dense and soft. In the areas of the chest, on the back of the thighs, along the bottom of the neck and abdomen, the hair is the thickest and most abundant.
- Color - on the main, predominant white color, there may be extensive spots, specks of lemon or sandy orange tones.
Clumber Spaniel's characteristic behavior
Clumbers are smart, affectionate and incredibly loyal. Perhaps this is their roots, but in adolescence, dogs can be bullies. They sweep food off the table from the refrigerator, etc. These spaniels are wonderful friends and wonderful pets. They are cutest creatures, but they have their drawbacks. Their increased salivation will make you walk with a cloth. Dogs snore during sleep, so if you are light sleepers, you will need earplugs at night.
Clumbers are strange and rather heavy dogs, usually having no idea how big they are. Dogs will constantly try to lie down in your lap, regardless of whether you are comfortable or not. They are always serenely happy and welcoming to literally all the guests they meet at the door of the house. Pets lack a guardian instinct, so they can happily leave with a stranger if the owner loses its vigilance. These polite dogs rarely create trouble for themselves, preferring to rest or sunbathe, rather than warn about the approach of a stranger.
Clumber spaniel health
These dogs live for ten to twelve years. Representatives of the breed may suffer from some genetic diseases. For example, femoral dysplasia. An elongated back contributes to spinal problems. All diseases of the bone apparatus at an early stage of development can be detected only by X-ray examination.
When symptoms begin to manifest themselves externally, for example, in a limp, hip dysplasia is usually already in an advanced stage. Then, it becomes much more difficult to cure the disease with a therapeutic method. As a rule, after the X-ray is taken, the veterinary surgeon performs an operation. This is followed by a rehabilitation period, during which physiotherapy procedures are prescribed.
Due to drooping eyelids, eye problems are not alien to them. The drawn skin of the eyelids can curl inward or outward. To prevent the development of disease, conduct regular veterinary examinations of the clumber.
How to care for a Clumber Spaniel?
The coat of the breed is incredibly soft and beautiful. But, get ready to work hard. The hardest thing to care for is the hair on their paws and ears. These dogs need to be trimmed regularly, preferably a couple of times a month. The hair is cut very carefully along the contour of the ears and between the pads of the paws.
Their soft fur is very tangled and shedding. Without regular combing, it will fade and become dull. Clumpers need to be combed all year round, almost every day. So, in addition to combing, get ready for constant cleaning in your home.
To make such manipulations less frequent with your clumber, take a furminator instead of a slicker. It was developed in order to remove dead undercoat as quickly as possible without damaging the main guard coat. With this tool, you can gently pull out dead hairs. Many owners, having tested the furminator, are very pleased with the result.
Clumber spaniels are bathed once a week. Concentrates are selected for soft wool. Pure shampoo is never applied to the animal. It is very concentrated and can harm your dog's skin by drying it out. After applying the foam to the coat, massage the pet a little and rinse thoroughly with water.
After shampoo, be sure to apply conditioner. It will give a unique flowing effect to your spaniel coat and prevent hair from tangling. This "moisturizer" is also well rinsed off. Beware of water getting into your dog's ears. This can lead, after some time, to various diseases of the ears.
Clumber spaniels are best dried not naturally, but with a hair dryer. Then the pet will look top notch. But, there are some nuances here. First, the air should not be hot, otherwise you will dry out the coat and it will become brittle and dull. Secondly, the air stream should be directed only in the direction of hair growth so that the scales do not open.
Separately, you can say that you will have to wash your ears more often, and buy a cone-shaped bowl so that they do not get dirty when eating food. These spaniels are also prone to profuse salivation. You need to have a small towel with you to wipe the dog's mouth with.
Clumber spaniel teeth are susceptible to plaque buildup, which then forms into stone. A dog's mouth, which contains excess bacteria, makes the gums bleed. As a result, teeth begin to loosen and fall out prematurely. Well, the bad breath from the mouth of the animal will make communication with him not so open and close.
To maintain healthy teeth and gums, they need to be cleaned regularly, several times a week, using special products for animals. For example, brushes made of soft rubber that are worn over a person's finger. They do not damage the mucous membrane and perfectly remove all unnecessary from the teeth. Gels or pastes are applied to the brush. They are not washed off. Their formula is edible and when it enters the dog's stomach, it does not harm it. Hygiene products will keep your teeth and gums healthy for a long time.
Clumber spaniel's ears are drooping and closed. Therefore, to prevent the accumulation of sulfur and dirt in them, clean them systematically. For example, using a lotion that will help loosen accumulated dirt and separate it with little effort. The product contains plant-based components that will improve the skin and the ear canal. Your dog will have a lower risk of inflammatory and ear infections.
The lotion is easy to use. It must be dripped into the ear of the spaniel and massaged. Further, after a couple of minutes, the separated dirt is wiped off. For better ventilation of the ear canal, the hair inside it can be cut short.
Clumber eyes with loose, slightly drooping eyelids, so foreign particles get on their mucous membranes faster. Dust or debris irritates the mucous membranes of the eyes. Because of this, it may be the easiest, it is redness. More severe options are the occurrence of purulent infections.
If you find your dog's eyes are dirty, wipe them clean. Saturate the sponge with anti-irritation products and rub towards the inner corner of the eye. After the first wiping, replace the sponge with a new one. Means of different types, but mainly with the addition of herbal, useful herbs. They will relieve inflammation and act as an antiseptic.
The nails of these spaniels grow quickly. This is also due to the low mobility of the dog. To make the climber comfortable to walk, their extra stratum corneum must be removed often. The tool for shortening them is clippers.
When carrying out manipulation, in any case, do not cut the nails very short. They have a living layer with nerve endings, touching which blood will flow and the dog will be very painful. Having inflicted such stress on the dog, the next time he will not allow you to cut his claws.
Control the feeding of these dogs clearly. They are prone to gaining weight and, in addition, are terrible gluttons. Try to keep human food out of the reach of the animal. Clumber will not hold back and will definitely eat her. Excess weight will have a bad effect on the already overweight and rather imposing dogs. First of all, their joints and heart will suffer.
If your dog does not have enough physical activity, then he should eat less, regardless of what you feed him, toli dry food, or natural products. Vitamins and minerals are required in a natural diet. Dry food contains everything that is needed for the excellent functioning of the dog's body.
Walking these imposing animals does not require active jogging or cycling. But, of course, physical activity is required for the clamber, they are just different. For example, take your pet for a leisurely walk or play ball with it.
Clumber spaniel training
Teaching them is hard enough. Clumber spaniels are too independent and wayward, so they need to be trained from infancy. The sooner you start, the better. If you miss the time, dealing with the pet will not be easy for you.
Many Clumber Spaniels compete with other breeds in field trials. They can also compete in hunt, tribute, obedience, rally obedience, and other canine sports.
Interesting facts about the Clumber Spaniel
Clumber spaniels don't only work as guides for blind people. Ten percent of them are trained to help the deaf. The problem of people with hearing impairments is that they do not know what is happening around them - they are not guided by sounds. Clumbers are trained to read lips, and become the ears of a person who cannot hear.
For example, when the alarm clock rings in the morning, the dog wakes up the owner, informing him that it is time to get up for work. If the doorbell rings, the pet indicates that it is necessary to open the door. When the phone rings, the Clumber Spaniel pushes the owner and leads him to a device that helps deaf people communicate with someone on the other side of the line. They can also save the owner's life by hearing a fire alarm.
Clumber spaniel puppies price
If you want to have a clumber and you don't have a large plot of land, don't worry, he will feel good in the apartment. Today these spaniels are considered the rarest breed. These canines are good helpers for hunters, but most of these dogs are bought only as companion dogs. The price of puppies is $ 500-1200.
See the video below for what a clumber spaniel looks like:
