The largest of the spaniels, the Clumber is a low, heavy-boned gundog known for its calm, gentle nature and dignified demeanor. A mellow but determined working spaniel that makes a loving family companion.
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From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
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Minimum
Home with daily structured exercise
Apartment/house + 60 min daily exercise
Medium dogs need at least an hour of varied daily exercise — leashed walks plus off-lead play or training. Apartment living is workable only if exercise commitments are met every day; crate-train and allow supervised free-roam at home.
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Recommended
Home with fenced yard + training time
House + fenced yard + 60–90 min varied exercise
A home with a securely fenced yard, daily walks plus off-lead play, and ongoing training keeps a medium dog mentally satisfied. Add a sport or hobby (fetch, scent games, agility intro) for breeds with extra drive. High-drive working breed — the recommended tier still demands daily structured mental work (training, scent games, herding ball, fetch with rules), not just walks.
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Ideal
Active home with a job or sport
Suburban/rural home + secure yard + canine sport
Slow-working flushing spaniel — field gundog work satisfies the heritage. — ideal is acreage or rural property paired with a daily job or canine sport: herding stock, scent detection, agility, protection sport, sledding, gundog field work, or a structured working role. Without that outlet, expect destructive behaviour, reactivity, and welfare-relevant frustration.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
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Newborn
Newborn mammals are nursed on their mother's milk. Many are born helpless — blind, deaf, and sparsely furred (altricial, as in dogs, cats, and rodents) — while others stand and follow within hours (precocial, as in hoofed livestock).
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Juvenile
After weaning, juveniles grow quickly and become increasingly active, playful, and independent. Adult coat, proportions, and (in many species) the permanent teeth come in as they approach full size.
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Adult
Adults reach full body size and sexual maturity, with the species' mature coat and build. Sexual dimorphism — differences in size, mane, horns, or markings — is pronounced in some mammals and subtle in others.
Senior
Senior animals show aging signs such as graying fur, reduced activity, and a greater need for veterinary monitoring of joints, teeth, and organ function. Lifespan and the onset of old age vary widely by species and size.
Color & pattern variants
Natural variants occur in the wild; selectively bred (man-made) variants were developed in captivity.
Suits houses and can do well in apartments given its calm indoor temperament, but its size and tendency to shed and drool argue for adequate space. Needs moderate daily exercise such as walks and field play; it has good stamina afield but a relaxed off-switch at home. Heat-sensitive owing to its mass and abundant coat; provide cooling and avoid heavy exertion in hot weather.
Diet
Feed a measured large-breed diet and keep this food-motivated breed lean: obesity is common and especially harmful to its heavy frame and joints. As a deeper-bodied breed, observe sensible feeding practices around exercise. Avoid free-feeding.
Behavior & temperament
Sweet-tempered, mellow, loyal, and somewhat reserved with strangers. Clumbers are intelligent but can be stubborn and slow-to-mature; they respond to patient, positive, food-motivated training. Lower energy than most spaniels, they are generally excellent with children and other pets. They tend to drool and can be droolers and snorers.
Health
Predisposed to hip and elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation, and intervertebral/back issues related to the long, heavy, low-slung build. Eye conditions include entropion, ectropion, and 'cherry eye' (prolapsed nictitans gland), partly linked to loose facial conformation. Exercise-induced collapse (EIC) and PDP1 metabolic deficiency occur and have DNA tests. Recommended screening: hip/elbow, eyes, and EIC/PDP1 DNA testing.
Tips, DIY & hacks
The dense double coat needs brushing several times weekly to manage heavy shedding and prevent mats; trim feathering and keep ear canals clean and dry to prevent infections. Wipe facial folds and around the mouth (drool). Manage weight strictly and protect the back: discourage repeated jumping from heights. Patient, reward-based training suits this deliberate breed.
