Clumber Spaniels
Rita. She came with that name. Three years ago my family adopted a one-year Clumber Spaniel puppy named Rita. She flew all the way from Indiana to North Carolina to be our dog. She’s the best.
So you’re probably wondering what a Clumber Spaniel is. Many people recognize the breed from dog shows but other than that, they are relatively rare. My dad discovered the breed on the Internet and was interested in Clumbers because they are described as “dignified, charming, loving, entertaining, inquisitive, affectionate, intelligent, and gentle”.
The history behind Clumber Spaniels is a mix of folklore and legend. Because of their known origins however, it is rue that the breed’s name is attributed to the 2nd Duke of Newcastle’s estate at Clumber Park in Nottingham, England. The families in this area went hunting with these spaniels.
Vintage painting such as the one pictured are remarkably similar to Clumbers today. In the United States, the Clumber Spaniel was one of the first breeds to be recognized by the American Kennel Club when it arrived in the late 1880s.
Clumber Spaniels are great family dogs, intelligent and loving. They are often aloof to strangers at first but never aggressive. After awhile they warm up to strangers and become playful and affectionate.
Our Rita is quite a character. She is gentle and loyal to our family and loves to rest her head on pillows. Other times, Rita is rambunctious, she loves to run around and playfully jump up on us. She’s really smart, she’s demands to be the center of attention and she’s quite sneaky.
Clumbers might be a rare breed, especially in the United States but they are an all-around great breed of dogs. Visit: http://www.clumbers.org/ to learn more!
