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Good to Know
At BeachwalkSTONECREST all things Clumber are front and center.
The easy fiction that boils Clumbers down to "Slobber" "Shed" "Snore" doesn't tell the whole story about what makes a Clumber.
We realized that there are many things newer fanciers might enjoy knowing.
Each AKC Breed has a written standard that evolved through the work of long time breeders. These standards are the blueprint that meld a breed's form and function. It is an important predictor of attributes both physical and temperamental.
What is the Breed Standard?
Sadly over time, many breeds throughout the world have splintered into show vs field. BeachwalkSTONECREST supports the thinking that a well-bred Clumber can do its job in the field or in the show ring.
Clumbers are one breed.
Dog shows are not ‘beauty contests’ but rather the important means by which to assess breeding stock. This is no different than other livestock shows…even chickens. Understanding the Breed Standard is at the heart of dog shows.
Breed Standards are imprinted in the mind’s eye of a judge when assessing an entry of dogs in the ring. The judge assesses each entry based on what is in his mind’s eye and how each dog in the entry matches the breed standard on that given day.
See this brochure "All About Dog Shows"
https://images.akc.org/pdf/events/conformation/GESHW1.pdf
Why Dog Shows?
Why do the dogs stand 'that way' at a show?
The dogs stand in a 'stack' position. In this position, the dog's structure is aligned...spine, legs, head and tail.
When dogs are stacked simultaneously in the ring, the judge can assess their silhouette in the sweep of an eye.
Dogs line up with the dog and handler facing to their right and move around the ring in a counter-clockwise direction with the handler on the outside so as not to block the judge's view.
Why do dogs stand 'that way' at a dog show?
While many breeders separate a litter into ‘companion' vs ‘show' and assign a price accordingly.
At BeachwalkSTONECREST, we feel that since each puppy took the same resources to arrive on this earth, the price is the same.
Companion vs Show
There are many 'kinds' of breeders and the quality is not the same.
Preservation Breeders work to preserve and protect the original bloodlines of their chosen breed in conjunction with the guidelines of their parent breed club.
Health clearances and pedigree research are key first steps to getting a quality litter on the ground.
For Preservation Breeders, dogs are not a revenue stream.
For BeachwalkSTONECREST, as Preservation Breeders, it is a labor of love.
Preservation Breeder vs Backyard Breeder
In a word: "longevity".
While there is no crystal ball, making careful breeding choices using the best health testing information available is the place to start.
The longevity of Clumber Spaniels has increased dramatically in the last fifteen years.
Today Clumbers can now have lifespans upwards of 12 years.
Why are Health Clearances important?
Twenty years ago, most dog food was found on the supermarket shelf.
In the last five years, this is no longer the case as more new foods arrive in the marketplace monthly.
BeachwalkSTONECREST puppies start their life on a quality large breed puppy food for at least the first year and a half to promote slow growth. Fewer carbohydrates and proper calcium/phosphorous ratios are important for proper bone growth.
A joint supplement is important from the beginning.
Nutrition
While at first glance, it might seem like Clumbers are proverbial couch potatoes. After all, most are happy to nap for an inordinate amount of time.
But owners do a grave disservice to their dogs by not having a routine exercise schedule.
Clumbers are a large breed dog and as such they must remain well-muscled to hold themselves together. They are known for hip, elbow and spinal issues.
Keeping them lean but well-muscled is critical to their health in later years.
Clumbers thrive with long walks over varied terrain, beach walking, swimming and more formal fitness activities.
Clumbers are NOT built for sustained jogging and agility.
These links are at the forefront of canine fitness:
Clumber Fitness
Crate training is often a misunderstood concept. Sadly, it is thought to be a means of unnecessary confinement and implies a negative experience.
A crate is first and foremost, a safe and secure zone.
A crate becomes an important safety measure to prevent ingesting foreign objects when left unattended. Clumbers are known for ingesting a vast array of foreign objects, and sad stories abound.
A crate is invaluable when riding in the car...much like car-seats are mandated for children.
At BeachwalkSTONECREST, our dogs are used to their crates and come and go at will with open doors.
http://www.midwestpetproducts.com/midwestdogcrates/ultima-dog-crate
Crate Training
Sadly, the world of dog shows has not been readily accessible to the general public.
Most public awareness comes via annual televised shows on Thanksgiving and Westminster.
But this is not a complete picture. At televised shows, not all the dogs entered have screen time. The dogs in those shows are usually nationally ranked champions.
But dog shows actually happen weekly throughout the country.
At these shows, younger dogs work toward their championships.
There are also specialty shows and regional shows that draw large entries.
Dog show superintendents manage dog show entries and represent geographic areas.
Superintendents publish their schedules that are accessed via these websites:
How does one find out about dog shows?
For purebred dogs, there are two kinds of names: a registered name and a call name.
The registered name consists of a prefix which is typically the kennel name of the breeder.
The second part of the registered name is usually thematic.
For instance, at BeachwalkSTONECREST have had The British Sayings Litter, The Cookbook Litter, The Apple Harvest litter and The Dress for Success litter.
These themes can help identify which litter a puppy came from.
Along with their registration number, these names are also used to enter a dog show and will appear in the show catalog.
The "call name" is the everyday name - the one used when calling the dog in for dinner.
Just as with baby names, these names tend to trend in popularity.
At BeachwalkSTONECREST we have usually tried to have the call name relate to the registered name in some way. They don't tend to be in the following list:
https://www.rover.com/blog/dog-names/#full-list
What is in a name?
With their lush coats, Clumbers are notorious shedders. They are 24/7 365 day shedders.
Clumber fanciers tend to not wear black.
Almost all dogs shed, but the vast difference is due to the texture of their coat.
Clumber hair is a silky, soft texture that becomes tumbleweeds on the floor.
However, unlike coarse and curly hair, Clumber hair does not weave itself into fabric like sharper and shorter kinds of dog hairs.
For Clumber owners, the use of the swiffer and vacuum become zen-like daily routines.
While it has been said that certain breeds do not shed, in actuality they do indeed.
The coarse hairs become trapped in other coarse and curly hairs before they hit the ground. These become massive mats and are the bane of all groomers with doodle clients.
Those dogs are routinely and often painfully shaved. And once shaved, have no protection against the elements.
The lush coat of a Clumber is the perfect insulation against cold...and hot.
Dried mud seems to fall away with the shedding coat.
Please do not shave the body of a Clumber because it changes the prized very silky, dirt and water repellant texture on its body.