Official ICCF breed description
Brief historical background
The Clumber Spaniel is one of the oldest British gundog breeds, developed in the 18th century and associated with French dogs supposedly brought to England by the aristocracy. The breed takes its name from Clumber Park, the estate of the Duke of Newcastle, where systematic work on type development was carried out. These dogs were intended for hunting in dense cover and difficult terrain, where a calm, methodical searching style and soft game retrieval were required. In the 19th century, the Clumber Spaniel became popular among the English nobility and was mentioned as a reliable working companion. After a decline in numbers in the 20th century, conservation efforts helped restore population stability. Today, the Clumber remains a rare breed and is highly valued for its balanced temperament and traditional hunting qualities.
General appearance
The Clumber Spaniel is a powerful, low-set gundog with heavy bone, a long body, and well-developed musculature, bred for slow but persistent work in thick cover. The topline is straight and stable, the chest deep and broad, the back long and strong. The head is massive, with a characteristic expression of calm concentration. Limbs are strong and straight, providing secure movement and endurance on uneven ground. The neck is short and powerful; the tail was historically docked but is now generally left natural. The coat is dense, predominantly white with lemon or orange markings. The overall impression is of a heavy but functional dog, balanced and dependable, without excessive liveliness.
Important proportions
The Clumber Spaniel has an elongated format: body length clearly exceeds height at the withers, providing a low center of gravity and stability when moving through dense undergrowth. Height at the withers in males and females is similar, but males are noticeably more massive. Chest depth is approximately half the height, giving sufficient volume for respiration during prolonged work. The head is large and broad, with muzzle shorter than skull. The neck is short and powerful, blending smoothly into the body. Limbs are strong with correct angulation, without excessive sharpness. All proportions serve to maintain a slow, methodical, but confident working style, allowing the dog to move low to the ground and withstand effort without losing balance.
Behavior and temperament
The Clumber Spaniel has a calm, balanced, and thoughtful temperament without excessive excitability. At work, it acts methodically, unhurried but confident, maintaining focus and persistence while searching. It has a soft mouth and reliable game delivery. At home, it is attached to its family, friendly and patient with children, but not overly demanding of attention. With strangers, it is usually reserved, not aggressive, yet remains watchful. It does not tolerate rough handling and requires calm, consistent training. Inner stability and the absence of nervousness are key breed traits. Excessive shyness, hysteria, or aggressiveness are considered serious deviations, as they contradict the traditional Clumber type as a reliable, composed hunting companion.
Head
The Clumber Spaniel’s head is large, massive, with a broad skull and characteristic skin looseness that does not create coarseness. The skull is broad and slightly domed, the stop well defined but not abrupt. The muzzle is deep and broad, almost rectangular, shorter than the skull. Lips are full but not overly pendulous, the corners of the mouth moderately marked. The nose is large with wide nostrils and dark pigmentation. Jaws are strong with a scissor bite. Cheekbones are not prominent. Expression is soft, serious, and attentive. The skin on the head is somewhat loose but should not form excessive folds that interfere with vision. The head emphasizes breed type: a combination of massiveness, calmness, and working functionality without caricature or over-heavy appearance.
Facial part
The muzzle of the Clumber Spaniel is broad, deep, and straight, without tapering. The nasal bridge is straight, without a bump. Lips are full, moderately pendulous, but do not form excessive folds; pigmentation is preferably dark. The chin is pronounced but not coarse. The nose is large, usually with brown or dark pigmentation, and wide, open nostrils. Cheeks are moderate, not overhanging; the skin lies freely and may show slight folds without affecting function. Cheekbones are not protruding. The skin must not cover the eyes or form heavy folds. The overall appearance of the facial part emphasizes softness of expression and seriousness while preserving working character. An overly dry, narrow, or excessively loose muzzle is considered a fault.
Eyes
Eyes are medium-sized, almost round, set deep, with a soft, kind, and slightly thoughtful expression. Color ranges from amber to dark hazel; very light eyes are undesirable. Eyelids are tight but not excessively pendulous; slight droop of the lower eyelid is allowed if it does not cause irritation or expose the conjunctiva. Pigmentation of the rims is preferably dark. The whites should not be overly visible. The gaze is calm and thoughtful, without anxiety or aggression. Any signs of irritation, redness, or excessive looseness are undesirable. Eye expression is a key breed characteristic and should convey softness, confidence, and restraint typical of the Clumber Spaniel.
Ears
The Clumber Spaniel’s ears are large, long, and low set at or slightly below eye level, lying close to the head with a characteristic soft, velvety texture. The shape is elongated with rounded tips, well covered with straight or slightly wavy hair that forms a smooth frame without excessive “fringing.” The cartilage is flexible, not rigid, but holds the ear in correct position. Ears must not be too thin, overly long, or coarse. Excessively high set, lifted ears or insufficient length are considered faults. The skin must be clean, without irritation or thickening. Correct ears highlight the breed’s soft expression and calm temperament, preserving its working type without decorative exaggeration or heavy silhouette.
Neck
The neck is short, powerful, and muscular, blending smoothly into the shoulder girdle without abrupt angles and without a sense of clumsiness. The upper line is slightly arched, emphasizing stability and compactness of the body. The skin on the neck is loose but does not form a pronounced dewlap; slight looseness is acceptable due to dense coat and the breed’s general format. The neck should allow confident forward movement and support of the heavy head without strain. Too long or thin a neck upsets balance, while an overly short neck gives coarseness and restricts movement. Correct neck shape supports the slow, confident working style typical of the Clumber, maintaining stability and control when moving through thick cover.
Body
The Clumber Spaniel’s body is long, strong, and massive, with pronounced width and depth but without looseness. The topline is straight and stable; the back is long, powerful, and not sagging. The withers are moderately defined, well connected to neck and back. The loin is short, broad, and muscular, ensuring transmission of drive. The chest is deep, broad, and well let down; ribs are rounded but not barrel-shaped. The belly is moderately tucked up without excessive dryness. The croup is broad, slightly sloping, giving stability and driving power. The body should give an impression of strength and functionality, retaining the ability to work slowly but confidently. An overly light or excessively soft, loose body is a deviation from correct breed type.
Tail
The tail of the Clumber Spaniel is thick at the base, gradually tapering toward the tip and covered with dense, straight hair without excessive adornment. Set is moderately low; the tail is carried level with or slightly below the topline, especially in movement. Historically, the tail was docked, but in modern breeding it is mostly left at natural length. The tail must not be carried too high, curled, or tucked between the legs. Tail movement is calm and in line with the breed’s gentle temperament. Excessive liveliness, high carriage, or a short, coarse tail are considered faults. The correct tail finishes the silhouette, emphasizing the long body and the dog’s stability while working in difficult terrain.
Exterior description
Forequarters
The forequarters of the Clumber Spaniel are straight, powerful, and well-boned, set under the body to provide stability and slow, confident forward movement. Shoulder blades are long, sloping, and closely fitting, forming correct angle with the upper arm and allowing free reach without abrupt action. The shoulders are muscular but not overloaded. Elbows are directed backward, not turned in or out, moving in a single plane. Forearms are straight and strong; pasterns are short and slightly sloping but not weak. Feet are large, round, with thick pads and well-arched toes, providing grip on wet ground. Toe-in, toe-out, narrow front, or weak pasterns are serious faults, as they disturb stability and reduce working ability.
Hindquarters
Hindquarters are strong, broad, and well-muscled, providing powerful drive. Thighs are long and deep; stifles well defined and not turned in or out. The lower legs are sufficiently long and strong. Hocks are low set, solid, neither over-extended nor weak. Metatarsi are straight and parallel when viewed from behind. Feet are large, round, with thick pads and arched toes. Insufficient angulation, cow-hocks, sickle-hocks, weak hindquarters, or signs of lameness are considered serious faults. The hindquarters must support the Clumber’s stability and slow but confident movement, maintaining power without excessive heaviness.
Gait and movement
The Clumber Spaniel’s movement is slow, even, and steady, without sharp thrusts or excessive lift. The stride is wide and confident, with good support and forward drive, but without haste. The topline remains stable, without rolling or sagging. Limbs move parallel; as speed increases, they tend to converge slightly toward the center while maintaining straight lines. Stiffness, short stride, crossing, pronounced pacing, or light, springy movement that does not suit the breed are unacceptable. Movement should give an impression of strength and endurance, not speed. Correct gait emphasizes the breed’s functionality, designed for prolonged work in thick cover at a controlled pace and with high stability.
Coat
The Clumber Spaniel’s coat is dense, straight, close, and fairly heavy, lying flat to protect against damp and cold. The undercoat is soft and thick, providing insulation. Hair on ears, chest, belly, backs of limbs, and tail is longer, forming moderate feathering but must not be excessively heavy or wavy. Texture is silky but not fluffy or curly. Excessive softness, open coat, or pronounced curls are faults. Trimming is allowed for hygiene only and must not alter the natural outline or texture. The coat is an important working feature of the breed, providing protection in wet and dense vegetation.
Acceptable colours
The Clumber Spaniel’s color is predominantly white, with lemon or orange markings of varying intensity on the head, ears, and base of the tail; small body patches are allowed if they do not dominate and do not disturb the overall impression of a clean coat. Pigmentation of eyelids, lips, and nose is preferably dark. Excessively large patches, strong red coloration, pronounced pied pattern, or nonstandard combinations are undesirable. Completely white dogs are acceptable if pigmentation is not reduced. Merle, brindle, and other nonstandard patterns are excluded. The coat should maintain a natural shade without artificial lightening or coloring.
Size
The Clumber Spaniel is a large, heavy spaniel. Height at the withers in males and females is similar, but males are more massive and powerful in format. Weight should be substantial but not excessive so that the dog remains functional and capable of prolonged work. The emphasis is on balance rather than absolute measurements: the relation of body length, chest depth, and limb strength is crucial. Excessive heaviness leads to loss of mobility and stability; an overly light type reduces breed character and working ability. Minor deviations are acceptable if proportions, strong bone, and stable movement are preserved.
Faults
Faults include deviations that do not compromise health but reduce breed type: weak musculature, excessive looseness of body, insufficient chest depth, narrow front, toeing-in or toeing-out, weak pasterns, slight topline sagging, overly loose eyelids, very light eyes, insufficient pigmentation of nose and lips, overly soft, wavy, or open coat, excessive excitability, sluggishness, or loss of working persistence. Evaluation must consider the overall impression, with priority given to functionality, health, and stable temperament.
Disqualification
Disqualifying faults include severe deviations from the standard: unprovoked aggression or pronounced shyness, lack of pigmentation of nose, lips, and eyelids, pink skin, serious bite defects, absence of many teeth, pronounced entropion or ectropion, significant exposure of the conjunctiva, nonstandard colors, large dominant patches, merle, black, or brindle. Lameness, severe movement disorders, absence of undercoat, tail docking in countries where prohibited, and any artificial alteration of appearance are grounds for disqualification.
Important notes
When evaluating the Clumber Spaniel, its historical working purpose must be taken into account—slow, methodical searching in dense cover. Minor cosmetic deviations should not outweigh functionality, stable movement, and temperament. Seasonal shedding is acceptable; temporary thinning of coat is not considered a fault. Females after whelping should be judged with adjustment for altered body shape. Special attention must be paid to the eyes: looseness is permissible only within limits that do not affect health. The main criteria are stability, calmness, working character, and preservation of a heavy but functional breed type.
Conclusion
The Clumber Spaniel is a rare but highly valued breed that has preserved the traditional British working type. A correct representative combines a powerful, elongated body, stable movement, soft mouth, and calm temperament. The psyche must be stable, without aggression or nervousness, with clear attachment to the owner. The coat is dense and protective, predominantly white with lemon or orange markings. Preservation of the breed requires responsible breeding, prioritizing health, absence of eye problems, and maintenance of functionality. With proper care, the Clumber Spaniel becomes a reliable companion and a fully capable working assistant.
