Dogue De Bordeaux vs Clumber Spaniel - Breed Comparison

Ever since winning in Confirmation at Westminster Kennel Club’s annual show, the popularity of the Clumber Spaniel has increased markedly. The breed of Clumber Spaniel comes from the United Kingdom and it is the largest of all the spaniels. The breed is named for the Clumber Park where it was developed in Nottinghamshire. The Clumber Spaniel a=was designed to be a gundog or hunter in heavy weeds or cover. They have been popular with the Royal Family and were kept by King George V, King Edward VII, and Prince Albert.

The ancestry of the Clumber is not really known, only theorized:

It is possible that during the French Revolution, the Duc de Noailles gave his spaniels to the Duke of Newcastle in Nottinghamshire, These spaniels, Alpine Spaniel, are extinct. At the time they were bred with Basset Hounds and Great Pyrenees.

Another line of thought has the Clumber Spaniel descending form an ancient Bleinheim Spaniel, which was used to later develop the King Charles Spaniel.

Whichever theory is true, we know that they were first bred and improved by William Mansell. They were shown in 1859 in England. They were bred almost exclusively by nobility until the mid-19th century. Then World War 1 caused all breeding to be discontinued and the number of Clumbers declined drastically, only to be redeveloped after the was by King George V.

The Cumber won Best in Show at the prestige’s Crufts 1991 Centenary Show. When the American Kennel Club recognized the Clumber Spaniel, there were only 9 other breeds officially recognized. They came to Canada in the same year of 1884. They are also recognized by the UK Kennel Club as a Vulnerable Native Breed. A Clumber bred by Doug Johnson won Best in Show at the 1996 Westminster Dog Show.

The Clumber Spaniel is a loyal, gentle soul who is not very friendly with strangers. They shed all the time and snore loudly.

The Dogue de Bordeaux is an ancient French dog breed and his history goes so far back that it is difficult to have accurate records of his origin.

During the 1700s he was used as a guard dog, with theories suggesting that several Mastiff type breeds were the closest ancestors.

For centuries the Bordeaux Mastiff, also referred to as the Bordeaux Bulldog, came in two size varieties, with the larger version being the Dogue de Bordeaux. It is this large dog which made its appearance in the Hollywood movie ‘Turner & Hooch’, shooting him into more recognition and interest.

The Clumber Spaniel is heavy-boned, with a very large head and a square muzzle. Of all spaniels, he is the biggest. His expressive face wears a dopey, sad look and his eyes are large, shaped like leaves. The muzzle is as large as the head and his nose is square. He has freckles on his muzzle and a deep chest. His legs are straight, and his feet are solid.

The Clumber Spaniel gives off a dignified air and despite his expressions, he is ready to play or to work at any time.

The Dogue de Bordeaux is a large molosser type dog with a large head, standing at 60 – 67cm and weighing anything between 54 and 65kg. His weight comes more from his muscular, powerful build rather than his height.

He is a powerful looking dog and his short coat is loose-fitting and is an attractive rich reddish brown color. There are wrinkles around the face with the nose being somewhat pinkish-orange as opposed to black.

The eyes are wide apart and are hazel. He has short to medium length floppy ears and where once the thick tail was docked, giving him a powerful, distinctive look, it is mostly left long today.

Temperament:

He is a confident, self-assured, territorial dog who will require training and socialization if he is to know his place in the home. He is a powerful mastiff-type dog, who without training can be stubborn, arrogant and somewhat aggressive towards strangers.

His looks and his territorial nature make him an excellent watchdog. He is no push-over and isn’t a good choice for the first time dog owner.

Without a strong, firm owner, he could prove difficult to handle. He is calm and laid back with children in the home and he can get along well with other pets if he has been brought up with them since puppy-hood.

This is a gentle, loving dog though he is wary of strangers. He is loyal, dignified and affectionate with his own family. If there ever was a canine couch potato this breed is it. They love to curl up and sleep or eat on your living room couch. He has a great sense of smell and he has good stamina

The Dogue de Bordeaux isn’t a big, boisterous kind of dog but is rather calm and relaxed. As a watchdog however, he can surprise you and become quite active, showing agility for such a hulk.

He can adapt to life in the city or the country but even though he appears lazy, he will need moderate daily exercise.

He loves his human family and wants to be constantly with them. He is stubborn but will do well with training and socialization.

Calm and easy-going and with his easy-to-maintain short, soft coat, be prepared for some drooling and snoring from this loving, devoted large pet of yours.

The Clumber Spaniel can suffer from a variety of conditions due to its very design and genetics. Lameness early in life can be attributed to the large and fast-growing bones in the Clumber. This lameness will dissipate when the pup is fully grown. Other issues include:

• Impacted anal gland sacs
• A vet may need to empty them regularly.
• Heat Stroke or Sensitivity

Can become dehydrated and all the problems that arise from a dog being overheated and dehydrated.

Difficulty giving birth

Must have a caesarian section. They may also have a sensitivity to the anesthesia used in the procedure.

Hypothyroidism with ear and skin complications.

They cannot take sulfa drugs.

The Dogue De Bordeaux doesn’t have as long a lifespan as many other dogs, but with good care, can go to 7 – 10 years of age.

Because he is a brachycephalic breed – a short-nosed dog such as the Boxer, Pug and Bulldog – he may well have the same number of teeth as other dogs, but the teeth are crowded, putting dogs like this at higher risk of getting dental disease.

His teeth will need to be brushed 2 or 3 times a week to prevent plaque and tartar getting trapped.

Brachycephalic Syndrome is also something to watch out for with your Dogue de Bordeaux. It’s an upper respiratory disorder which can bring on difficulty with breathing because of the crowding of tissue and narrower airways.

Feeding

The Clumber has a tendency to gain weight and become obese. Feed them wisely. Feed about ¼ to ½ of a cup of high quality dry dog food twice a day.

Health issues

Additional health issues faced by the Clumber Spaniel include:

• Dysplasia of the hip and/or elbow
• Can cause lameness
• Spinal Disc Herniation

This can be cervical or spinal. The discs can be bulging or ruptured. Can lead to paralysis if not treated properly.

Eye issues

Entropion with inward rolling of eyelid or Ectropion with outward rolling of eyelid.

Exercise and games

The Clumber Spaniel is not the most energetic of canines. He still needs moderate exercise daily but don’t overdo it. Walks, fetch, swimming, chase or confirmation are good activities for a Clumber.

Exercise:

He isn’t the most active dog and he is inclined to snooze quite a bit throughout the day. It will nonetheless be a good idea to include him in your daily walks and allow him to take part in a ball game now and again.

Diet:

The Dogue de Bordeaux needs to be fed a high-quality dog food in keeping with his large size and age.

Grooming:

This dog is known for drooling, and because of his wrinkled face, you’ll need to be watching the facial area that it is kept clean and dry to avoid skin infections. Check his ears at the same time to ensure they are free from dirt and wax.

The short coat does shed throughout the year, and you will need to be brushing him down twice a week to remove all those loose hairs.