Apartment fit
A Clumber can adapt to apartment life if walks are consistent and stairs are managed, but a home with easy outdoor access is usually more practical for this heavy, shedding gundog.
SportingLarge
United Kingdom
United KingdomClumber Spaniel
Weight
55-85 lb
Height
17-20 in
Lifespan
10-12 yrs
Coat
Dense Medium
The Clumber Spaniel is the heaviest flushing spaniel, a long, low British gundog known for a white coat with lemon or orange markings and a steady, dignified temperament.
Heaviest of the flushing spanielsWhite coat with lemon or orange markingsSteady, kind, dignified, and determinedNeeds weight control and joint-friendly exercise
Breed Names
Official, native, and commonly used variants
Clumber
SteadyKindDignifiedDeterminedIntelligent
Weight
55-85 lb
Height
17-20 in
Lifespan
10-12 yrs
Coat
Dense Medium
At A Glance
Daily living snapshot
A quick read on energy, upkeep, and what day-to-day life with this breed usually feels like.
Energy
Moderate
Barking
Low
Drooling
High
Shedding
High
Grooming
3/5
First-time owner
No
Overview
The Clumber Spaniel is a substantial British gundog developed to work slowly and powerfully through heavy cover. It is long, low, heavily boned, and built more for determined scent work and retrieving than for flash or speed.
At home, the Clumber is usually steady, kind, dignified, and a little reserved compared with many spaniels. It still needs exercise and training, but it is often more deliberate than frantic. Owners should expect drool, shedding, dirt from outdoor work, and a dog that may be stubborn if training becomes dull.
The standard coat is mainly white with lemon or orange markings. Care should focus on keeping the dog lean, protecting joints, cleaning ears, checking eyes, and brushing feathering so the coat does not collect debris or mats.
Temperament & Personality
SteadyKindDignifiedDeterminedIntelligent
This breed tends to suit homes looking for a steady, kind, dignified companion, with daily rhythms shaped by moderate energy, low barking, and high drooling.
Coat type
Dense
Coat length
Medium
Shedding
High
Colors
White, Lemon Markings, Orange Markings
Lifestyle Compatibility
Family Friendly4/5
Good with Kids4/5
Good with Dogs3/5
Good with Strangers3/5
Apartment Friendly2/5
Exercise Needs3/5
Grooming Needs3/5
Trainability3/5
Good fit if you want
- A family-friendly companion
- Room for routine exercise
- Confidence handling structure and training
Plan ahead for
- 3/5 exercise needs
- high shedding and coat upkeep
- low barking in daily life
Owner Fit & Everyday Behavior
Best for
- owners who like steady gundogs
- homes prepared for shedding and drool
- people who can keep a heavy dog lean
- families that enjoy relaxed outdoor routines
Not ideal for
- owners wanting a tidy low-shedding dog
- homes that cannot manage stairs, heat, or joint strain
- people who want high-speed sport work
- owners unwilling to clean ears and brush coat regularly
Common challenges
- weight gain
- ear infections
- drooling
- heavy shedding
- stubbornness when bored
Barking & behavior
The breed is usually steady and not overly noisy. Reward calm door behavior and give scent or retrieving work so boredom does not turn into stubborn household habits.
Training style
Use rewards, patience, and variety. Clumbers often work well when training includes scent, retrieving, and practical manners rather than long repetitive obedience drills.
Grooming & shedding
Brush regularly, clean ears, check eyes, trim nails, and expect hair and drool. After field walks, remove debris from feathering and check skin folds or damp areas.
Care Guide
Exercise
Clumber Spaniels need steady daily exercise, not sprint work. Walks, sniffing, retrieving games, and low-impact field-style training suit their body better than repetitive jumping or forced running.
Grooming
Brush the dense coat and feathering several times a week, especially after field walks. Clean and dry ears, trim nails, check eyes, and expect regular shedding and some drool.
Training
Use patient reward-based training and keep lessons practical. Clumbers are intelligent but can be determined, so vary work with scent games, retrieving, polite leash manners, and calm handling.
Nutrition
Keep a Clumber lean with measured meals. Extra weight is hard on the breed's heavy frame, joints, back, and heat tolerance.
Behavior & Environment
Energy level
Moderate
Barking level
Low
Drooling level
High
Watchdog ability
2/5
Guard dog ability
1/5
Climate tolerance
Cold weather3/5
Heat tolerance2/5
Health Considerations
Common concerns to discuss with your vet and breeder.
Hip dysplasiaElbow dysplasiaEntropion or ectropionEar infectionsIntervertebral disc diseaseObesity
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Clumber Spaniel a good apartment dog?
A Clumber Spaniel can live in a roomy apartment with reliable walks, but its heavy body, shedding, drool, and outdoor-dirt habits make houses with easy outdoor access simpler.
Does the Clumber Spaniel bark a lot?
Clumbers are generally not known as constant barkers. They may alert, but their bigger household issues are usually shedding, drool, weight control, and slow stubbornness.
Is the Clumber Spaniel good for first-time owners?
It can work for committed first-time owners who accept grooming, drool, health monitoring, and patient training. It is not ideal for someone wanting a tidy, low-maintenance dog.
How much exercise does the Clumber Spaniel need?
Most healthy adults need moderate daily exercise such as walks, sniffing, and retrieving games. Avoid too much jumping or hard impact, especially with puppies or overweight dogs.
Is the Clumber Spaniel good with kids and other dogs?
Clumbers are often kind and steady with respectful families. Supervision still matters because they are heavy dogs, and introductions with other dogs should be calm.
Does the Clumber Spaniel shed a lot?
Yes. The dense white coat sheds and needs regular brushing, especially around feathering and friction areas.
What is the biggest challenge of owning the Clumber Spaniel?
The biggest challenge is keeping a heavy, deliberate spaniel lean, clean, comfortable, and motivated without overworking joints or letting grooming slide.
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