Handler Profile - The Working Clumber Spaniel Society

Country: UK

My Dogs

There has been a move to restore this ancient breed of spaniel back into the shooting fields and this objective has been led by the Working Clumber Spaniel Society formed in 1984 by a group of people who are passionate about working their dogs.

Achievements

It is nice to have choices in the spaniel world, whether it be a Springer or Cocker, but sometimes, something a little different, a little bit more of a challenge for example a Clumber; that may take longer to train and mature but it makes all your training worthwhile, when occasionally the heads of a few guns are turned. They come up and say to you that they have been reading about these "funny white dogs”. However they are impressed by their pace and style, their stamina and the way that their large pink nose dictates scent from a difficult bird that could have been missed. So whether you are a rough shooter, beater or picker up or looking for a dog on the peg or even for competition, maybe next time you are looking for a spaniel you should have a look at a Working Clumber spaniel.

Biography

"We need to draw on the past for our future, but increasingly adapt to the different needs of the 21st Century."

There has been a move to restore this ancient breed of spaniel back into the shooting fields and this objective has been led by the Working Clumber Spaniel Society formed in 1984 by a group of people who are passionate about working their dogs.

The Aim of the Society

Their aims are to promote selective breeding, from healthy screened and work proven dogs. To hold training events, mock field trials, shooting days, and field trials, to get these dogs back into the right working homes.

What to look for in a Working Clumber

"We are looking for lean well muscled dogs with low hip scores and tighter eyes with less haw showing; but still retaining the vital characteristics of this the largest of the spaniel breeds. An active dog with a busy style and pleasing tail action. They are either white and lemon or white and orange. Bitches weighing 45lbs to 55 lbs and the dogs 55lb to 65 lb. The kind of Clumber our Victorian forefathers respected. We need to draw on the past for our future, but increasingly adapting to the different needs of the 21st Century.”

Breeding for the Right Type

Clumbers have been described as a "vulnerable breed” by the Kennel Club, as have some other spaniels. The only way to carefully restore this vulnerable breed is to select the healthiest stud dogs and bitches with the least faults, so that these are reduced and not duplicated.  In addition they must have proven themselves in the field to be good retrievers and strong hunters but most important of all, a biddable temperament, a dog that you can train. It is no good just breeding numbers or looking at how it reads on paper; they must be of the right working type.

Something a Little Different

It is nice to have choices in the spaniel world, whether it be a Springer or Cocker, but sometimes, something a little different, a little bit more of a challenge for example a Clumber; that may take longer to train and mature but it makes all your training worthwhile, when occasionally the heads of a few guns are turned. They come up and say to you that they have been reading about these "funny white dogs”. However they are impressed by their pace and style, their stamina and the way that their large pink nose dictates scent from a difficult bird that could have been missed. So whether you are a rough shooter, beater or picker up or looking for a dog on the peg or even for competition, maybe next time you are looking for a spaniel you should have a look at a Working Clumber spaniel.

Contact Hon. Secretary Debbie Zurick 01643 831427 www.workingclumber.co.uk