Clumber Spaniel Breed Profile

Head: Mesaticephalic skull type, moderately large, yet always in proportion to the rest of the body. The topskull is broad, being as broad (measured across the top in front of the ears) as it is long (from occiput to stop). The head is flat when viewed from the front and flat or just slightly arched on top when viewed in profile. The occiput is pronounced, and the brow is heavy. The head exhibits moderately strong bone and substance throughout, giving an almost massive appearance. There is a defined median furrow starting at the stop and disappearing toward the occiput. The head is fairly clean-cut, without excess skin or wrinkles.

Eyes: Moderate in size and open-almond in shape or lemon-shaped. Color may range from hazel to amber to medium brown. The eye rims are fairly well-fitted and well-pigmented. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes. Any signs of entropion or ectropion are incorrect for this breed. An exposed haw poses a threat to a field dog, as it can catch debris. Therefore, dogs showing excessive haw should be penalized.

Ears: Moderately large in size, triangular in shape, broad at the base, tapering toward the tip, they are set fairly low on the skull, with the base falling even with the level of the eyes. The ears are dropped, with the tips and inner edges hanging fairly close to the head.

Muzzle: The muzzle is full, deep, broad, and square. The plane, or bridge of the muzzle, is straight. The upper and lower jaws are well-developed, approximately equal in length, and have good bone substance, never appearing snipey or weak. The muzzle is powerful enough to sufficiently retrieve game all day long.

Nose: The nose is broad and square and may be well pigmented with any shade of liver base, including flesh, red, pink, beige, rose, or cherry. The nostrils are well opened.

Neck: Moderately long length allows for a proud head carriage. The neck is thick and powerfully muscled with a slight arch. The neck tapers slightly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is fairly clean and shouldn’t exhibit excessive skin, extreme throatiness, or pendulous dewlap.

Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows.

Body: It is somewhat compact, deep, and of sufficient substance to allow for stamina, endurance, and agility. The body is never racy, refined, heavy, or cloddy. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.

Feet: Oval to round and compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads.

Tail: Set somewhat low on the croup. It is thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. The tail is carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, typically at approximately the level of the topline, but never tucked or carried up over the back. The tail may be left natural (preferred) or docked short. Natural tails are of a moderate length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be straight or gently curved. Docked tails are customarily surgically cut to 1/4th of the original length.

Movement: Effortless, energetic, efficient, active, and merry, but may have a slight roll due to the breadth of the body. The characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the centerline of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.

Temperament: The Clumber Spaniel breed is defined by their easy-going nature, docile disposition, enthusiasm for life, and a seemingly unyielding desire to please. Clumber Spaniels are very people-oriented dogs, being friendly, intelligent, and sociable with other dogs and people. They are highly intelligent, taking on most training tasks with enthusiasm, and are happiest in a home that allows them ample room for running and plenty of mental and sensory exercise. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.