Blackman - Clumber Spaniel

Physical Characteristics of the Clumber Spaniel

(from the American Kennel Club breed standard)

Head: Massive with a marked stop and heavy brow. The top skull is flat with a pronounced occiput.

Ears: Triangular in shape with a rounded lower edge, set low and attached to the skull at approximately eye level.

Eyes: Dark amber in color, large, soft in expression and deep set.

Nose: Large, square and colored shades of brown.

Neck: The neck is strong and muscular, fitting into a well laid back shoulder.

Muzzle: Broad and deep.

Chest: Deep and wide.

Forequarters: Shoulder is well laid back. The forelegs are short, straight and heavy in bone, with elbows held close to the body. Pasterns are strong and only slightly sloped. The front feet are large, compact and have thick pads that act as shock absorbers.

Height: For dogs is 18 to 20 inches at the withers and for bitches is 17 to 19 inches at the withers.

Weight: Dogs weigh between 70 and 85 pounds and bitches weigh between 55 and 70 pounds.

Back: Straight, firm, long and level.

Tail: Well feathered and set on just below the line of back.

Hindquarters: The thighs are heavily muscled. The stifle shows good functional angulation, and hock to heel is short and perpendicular to the ground.

Coat: The body coat is dense, straight and flat.

Color and Markings: The Clumber is primarily a white dog with lemon color or orange color markings. The body should have as few markings as possible.

Rear feet: Not as large or as round as on the front feet but compact, with thick pads and are of substantial size.

Contents

Examine the various theories about the origins of the Clumber Spaniel. Whether English, French or Spanish, the breed has developed into a unique and recognizable gundog around the world. Although its popularity has never been comparable to that of the other spaniels, the charming and talented Clumber remains one of the dog worlds best-kept secrets.

Meet the entertaining and affectionate Clumber Spaniel and discover the many endearing characteristics of this rarely seen gundog. This chapter describes the breeds personality and physical traits, including possible health concerns. Are you a worthy Clumber owner?

Learn the requirements of a well-bred Clumber Spaniel by studying the description of the breed set forth in the American Kennel Club standard. Both show dogs and pets must possess key characteristics as outlined in the breed standard.

Find out about how to locate a well-bred Clumber Spaniel puppy. Discover which questions to ask the breeder and what to expect when visiting the litter. Prepare for your puppy-accessory shopping spree. Also discussed are home safety, the first trip to the vet, socialization and solving basic puppy problems.

Cover the specifics of taking care of your Clumber Spaniel every day: feeding for the puppy, adult and senior dog; grooming, including coat care, ears, eyes, nails and bathing; and exercise needs for your dog. Also discussed are the essentials of dog identification.

Begin with the basics of training the puppy and adult dog. Learn the principles of house-training the Clumber Spaniel, including the use of crates and basic scent instincts. Get started by introducing the pup to his collar and leash and progress to the basic commands. Find out about obedience classes and training for other activities.

By Lowell Ackerman DVM, DACVD

Become your dogs healthcare advocate and a well-educated canine keeper. Select a skilled and able veterinarian. Discuss breed-specific health concerns, vaccinations and infectious diseases, the neuter/spay decision and parasite control. Also presented is a special section on canine eye disease.

Step into the center ring and find out about the world of showing pure-bred dogs. Heres how to get started in AKC shows, how they are organized and whats required for your dog to become a champion. Take a leap into the realms of obedience trials, agility trials, tracking tests and hunting events.

K ENNEL C LUB B OOKS C LUMBER S PANIEL

ISBN 13: 978-1-59378-224-5

eISBN 13: 978-1-62187-026-5

Copyright 2007 Kennel Club Books An Imprint of I-5 Press A Division of I-5 Publishing, LLC

3 Burroughs, Irvine, CA 92618 USA

Cover Design Patented: US 6,435,559 B2 Printed in South Korea

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by photostat, scanner, microfilm, xerography or any other means, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the copyright owner.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Blackman, Ricky.

Clumber spaniel / by Ricky Blackman.

p. cm.

ISBN 1-59378-224-1

1. Clumber spaniel. I. Title.

SF429.C53B53 2006

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Photography by Mary Bloom and Isabelle Franais

with additional photographs by:

Alverson Photographers, Ashbey Photography, Baines Photo, Cathy Baker, Ricky Blackman, Robert F. and Jane L. Bonaccorso, Booth Photography, Paulette Braun, Karin Brostam, Gail Budde, Debbie Chance, Fritz Clark/The Standard Image, Vicky and Warren Cook, Isabelle Franais, Pat Fraser, Walter and Janice Friis, Roe and Gordie Froman, John Hatcher, Carol Ann Johnson, Bill Jonas, Kurtis Photography, Prof. Dr. Robert L. Peiffer, Jr., Barbara Stebbins and Chuck and Sandy Tatham.

Illustrations by Eileen Heiple and Patricia Peters.

The publisher wishes to thank all of the owners whose dogs are illustrated in this book including Ricky Blackman, Sue Carr, Margaret Curtis, Connie Drake, Leigh Ehrenkrantz, Walter and Janice Friis, John Haenszel, Eileen Heiple, Judith A. Hiller, Douglas Johnson, the ONeils and Judith and Richard Zaleski.

The author wishes to express special thanks to Roe Froman, DVM, for her excellent work on the health sections of this book. She was kind enough to share with us her particular knowledge as it applies to our breed.