General Appearance
Well balanced, heavily boned, active with a thoughtful expression, overall appearance denoting strength.

Characteristics
Stoical, great-hearted, highly intelligent with a determined attitude enhancing his natural ability. A silent worker with an excellent nose.

Temperament
Steady, reliable, kind and dignified; more aloof than other Spaniels, showing no tendency towards aggression.

Head and Skull
Square, massive, medium length, broad on top with decided occiput; heavy brows; deep stop. Heavy, square muzzle with well developed flews. No exaggeration in head and skull.

Eyes
Clean, dark, amber, slightly sunk, some haw showing but without excess. Full light eyes highly undesirable. Free from entropion.

Ears
Large, vine leaf-shaped, well covered with straight hair. Hanging slightly forward, feather not to extend below leather.

Mouth
Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck
Fairly long, thick, powerful.

Forequarters
Shoulders strong, sloping, muscular; legs short, straight, well boned, strong.

Body
Long, heavy, near to ground. Chest deep. Well sprung ribs. Back straight, broad, long. Muscular loin, well let down in flank.

Hindquarters
Very powerful and well developed. Hocks low, stifles well bent and set straight.

Feet
Large, round, well covered with hair.

Tail
Customarily docked.
Docked: Set low. Well feathered, carried level with back.
Undocked: Set low. Well feathered, carried level with back.

Gait/Movement
Rolling gait attributable to long body and short legs. Moving straight fore and aft, with effortless drive.

Coat
Abundant, close, silky and straight. Legs and chest well feathered.

Colour
Plain white body preferred, with lemon markings; orange permissible. Slight head markings and freckled muzzle.

Size
Ideal weight: dogs: 36 kgs (80 lbs); bitches: 29.5 kgs (65 lbs).

Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

April 2004

Browse our selected list of related publications:

• CLUMBER SPANIEL CLUB. Sec. Mrs Page. Tel No: 01489 589734

SHORT BOOK LIST

1. Ironside, W J + Charlesworth, I'm the Aristocrat of Spaniels. UK: WJIronside, 1996
2. Grayson, P + Furness, R. The Clumber Spaniel. UK: Boydell, 1991, ISBN 0851152805

(Details are correct at time of publishing).

•     The Gundog Group