Clumber Spaniel vs English Springer Spaniel

A Clumber Spaniel
Photo: Canarian
An English Springer Spaniel
Photo: Kruming

Side by side

Clumber Spaniel
English Springer Spaniel
Adult weight
Males 29.5–34 kg (65–75 lb); females 25–29.5 kg (55–65 lb)1
Males 22–25 kg (49–55 lb); females 18–22 kg (40–49 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
Males 45.7–50.8 cm; females 43.2–48.3 cm1
Males 48.3–53.3 cm; females 45.7–50.8 cm3
Lifespan
Median 12.3 years4
Median 13.5 years4
Fully grown
12 months, both sexes5
10 months, both sexes5
Group
Retrievers & water dogs1
Retrievers & water dogs6
Coat
Coat with feathering1
Coat with feathering6
Shedding
Sheds through the year
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
Exercise
Plenty
Health
Inward-rolling eyelid (far more likely)7
Insulin-secreting pancreatic tumour (more likely); Elbow joint disease (more likely)8,9
Class
Companion
Field

Which suits you

Size
The Clumber Spaniel is larger on average: about 30 kg (65 lb) as an adult, against 22 kg (48 lb) for the English Springer Spaniel.
Lifespan
In UK vet records the English Springer Spaniel lives longer: a median of 13.5 years, against 12.3 for the Clumber Spaniel.
Temperament
They differ most on intelligence (Clumber Spaniel: easy-going, simple routines; English Springer Spaniel: needs daily brain work) and on affection (Clumber Spaniel: affectionate on its own terms; English Springer Spaniel: a lap or leaning dog).
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Clumber Spaniel
Retrievers & water dogs · Large

In temperament the Clumber is calm, affectionate and steady, often reserved with strangers but rarely sharp. It has a reputation for a sense of humour and for carrying objects in its mouth.

English Springer Spaniel
Retrievers & water dogs · Medium

In temperament it is friendly, eager to please and busy, and it thrives when it has work to do.

The Clumber Spaniel page →The English Springer Spaniel page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Clumber Spaniel
English Springer Spaniel
Activity
Differs
A good daily walk and play
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Differs
Easy-going, simple routines
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Differs
Suits a first-time owner
Needs steady training
With people
Clumber Spaniel
English Springer Spaniel
Affection
Differs
Affectionate on its own terms
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Bonded to its family
Bonded to its family
Independence
Differs
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Clumber Spaniel
English Springer Spaniel
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Differs
Quiet
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Chases; needs managing
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour10. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home11,12.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Clumber Spaniel grows to the heavier adult, about 30 kg against the English Springer Spaniel's 22 kg.
Clumber Spaniel
English Springer Spaniel
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More comparisons

Compare the Clumber Spaniel with
English Cocker Spaniel vs English Springer SpanielBrittany vs English Springer SpanielBoykin Spaniel vs English Springer SpanielEnglish Setter vs English Springer SpanielClumber Spaniel vs Sussex SpanielEnglish Springer Spaniel vs Golden RetrieverAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·