Origin
Clumber Spaniels are quite unique and it’s thought they were first bred in France some 200 years ago. They are heavier than other spaniels and take their work at a much slower and more leisurely pace. Over the years, these lovely natured dogs have found their way into the hearts and homes of many people, although not as many as they deserve. These spaniels are never happier than when they become part of a family and they truly enjoy being part of everything that goes on in a household. Clumber Spaniels are, in a nutshell, a lovely companion and one that always seems to be on their best behaviour around the home and anywhere else their owners take them.
The Clumber Spaniel has an interesting history and boasts being one of the oldest spaniel breeds around. They were given their name by the Duke of Newcastle with some people believing that he brought some of these dogs from France over to England where he continued to breed them on his estate, Clumber Park. It is thought that the first spaniels were bred by a French aristocrat and that it was during the revolution that the Duke of Newcastle obtained a number of them from the French noble’s kennels. With this said, there is no evidence of this being the case and as such the Clumber Spaniel is considered by many enthusiasts and fans of the breed to be a purely English dog.
However, what is known is that it was the Duke of Newcastle who developed the breed and that his dogs were renowned for their hunting skills all over England. This naturally meant that other estates around the country were keen to own spaniels that were bred by the Duke’s kennels. There are paintings of white and lemon Clumber Spaniels posing with the Duke which are thought to be the ancestors of the Clumber Spaniels we see today.
Clumber Spaniels were also bred by King George V and many of his dogs were destined to become champion dogs. Other fans of the breed continued to promote them, but with the advent of the First and Second World Wars, the number of Clumbers fell into decline. Luckily a few dedicated people and breeders ensured these lovely dogs did not disappear altogether and continued to produce excellent examples of the breed ensuring these lovely spaniels survived.
Today, the Clumber Spaniel is again becoming a popular choice as a family pet, show dog and companion all thanks to their wonderful natures and charming good looks. With this said, they are still considered to be a British Heritage Breed and with fewer numbers of puppies being registered with the Kennel Club, anyone wanting to share a home with a Clumber Spaniel may need to register with a breeder and accept being put on a waiting list in order to own one.
