Grooming
Clumber Spaniels might have long locks, but that doesn’t mean you’ll spend a ton of time taming their tresses. In fact, their coats don’t require professional grooming, and a thorough brushing one to two times a week with a pin brush followed by a dog comb is all it takes to remove excess hair and prevent matting.
However, Clumber Spaniels are big shedders, so don’t be surprised to see white clouds of hair blowing around the house. Maintaining an at-home grooming routine can help remove excess hair from their weather-resistant coats, and, while it won’t prevent them from shedding altogether, it can keep it to a minimum.
If your Clumber is more apt to hunt for a cozy spot to nap than tag along on an actual hunting trip, bathing them once a month is sufficient to keep their coats clean. This is the perfect time to trim their nails; the bath water makes their nails soft and easier to cut. You’ll know their nails are ready for a trim when you hear that familiar clacking sound on hard surfaces.
Between baths, you’ll need to tackle a few special grooming tasks to keep the breed looking and feeling their best. Wash their faces with a damp washcloth, cleaning out dirt that collects between the thick folds on their heads. If you skip the wipe-downs, you’ll risk stinky yeast infections. Ditto for their ears: Check them regularly for debris, redness and swelling, and contact your vet if you see anything unusual. They may recommend at-home ear cleaning.
Like all breeds, Clumber Spaniel 101 also includes routine dental care that includes dental chews or rinses, daily at-home toothbrushing and annual professional cleanings by your veterinarian. Your vet can provide some guidance on brushing their teeth, starting when your Clumber Spaniel is a puppy to help establish the routine and make it a lifelong habit.
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Training
You know those children who whine “why?” when they’re asked to put on their shoes or power down their screens? Clumber Spaniels take a similar approach to training. Originally bred to be hunting dogs who flushed birds from brush, Clumbers are intelligent and have a mind of their own. If training sessions are too long or too boring, they will find other ways to entertain themselves.
Keep their training sessions short and fun to avoid boredom, about 10 minutes each time. Incorporate a combination of physical and mental stimulation for an added challenge. Clumbers belong to the American Kennel Club’s Sporting group, which includes dogs who were specifically bred to hunt and retrieve. As hunters, the Clumber Spaniel breed excels at scent work, so engage them in training games to take advantage of their desire to follow their noses. Just remember not to let them off-leash without a secure fence, or else following a scent could get them lost. And be sure to provide lots of positive reinforcement in the form of praise and treats for a job well done.
Let’s not forget socialization! Giving your Clumber Spaniel puppy many opportunities to experience new things (people, other dogs and environments) helps them be more at ease with new experiences as they grow up. Take them on walks so they can see new people and other dogs. Also consider enrolling them in puppy school; this is a great place for them to learn how to play nicely with other puppies and meet new people in the process.
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Diet
It takes a lot of dog food for Clumber Spaniels to maintain their massive frames. They typically do well on high-quality commercial dog foods that provide a complete and balanced diet to meet their calorie and nutrient needs. Choose a food based on their life stage (puppy, adult, senior) and that meets the nutritional standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Work with your veterinarian to create a feeding chart to ensure you’re providing the right type and amount of food for your pup.
Clumbers aren’t a super-active breed, and marathon afternoon naps aren’t enough to burn off the calories from overeating, so keep portions in check to prevent weight gain. Being overweight puts Clumber Spaniels at risk for a number of health issues, including arthritis. In addition to monitoring their portions, steer clear of table scraps and keep dog treats to a minimum. Again, your vet can recommend the right food and amounts to keep your pup at their ideal weight.
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Exercise
Clumber Spaniels were bred to hunt and retrieve, so bring on fast-paced games of fetch, but expect these scent dogs to take lots of breaks to sniff around the yard and nap in the sunshine. Your Clumber will happily tag along for hikes, play with other dogs at the dog park or engage in games of tag with children, but they do not require nonstop activity to thrive. They really only need about 30 minutes a day.
These pups were bred as bird dogs and, with a little training, will become excellent hunting partners—even if you’re only hunting out a great spot for a short hike.
While Clumber Spaniels enjoy some time sniffing around the backyard, these dogs are happiest spending time with their families, so prioritize exercises that involves time together and play on their retrieving skills like games of fetch or even dog sports like agility, tracking or conformation (dog shows).
Leash walks are great, especially when you take the long route, but their speed is slow, so expect a lumbering pace and prepare for your Clumber to sniff everything in their path. Think twice before allowing off-leash play in areas without a secure fence, as these hunting dogs love to follow their noses.
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Environment
The Clumber Spaniel is the epitome of adaptability. The breed can be a copilot for RV life, exploring new trails and meeting new friends from coast to coast, or they could settle into a hectic family schedule complete with morning walks, afternoon carpools and lots of Little League games.
They are big dogs, so they do love large yards to run around in, but as long as you can meet their exercise needs and they have the space to crash, smaller abodes, like apartments, can do just fine.
What the Clumber Spaniel needs most is someone to love. They want to be your fluffy, four-legged BFF, taking long walks on the beach and curling up for movie nights. They are equal opportunity companions, happy to bestow their affection on almost everyone they meet.
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