Clumber Spaniel vs Golden Retriever

A Clumber Spaniel
Photo: Canarian
A Golden Retriever
Photo: Johan Spaedtke

Side by side

Clumber Spaniel
Golden Retriever
Adult weight
Males 29.5–34 kg (65–75 lb); females 25–29.5 kg (55–65 lb)1
Males 29–34 kg (65–75 lb); females 25–29 kg (55–65 lb)2
Height
Males 45.7–50.8 cm; females 43.2–48.3 cm1
Males 56–61 cm; females 51–56 cm3
Lifespan
Median 12.3 years4
Median 13.2 years4
Fully grown
12 months, both sexes5
Group
Retrievers & water dogs1
Retrievers & water dogs3
Coat
Coat with feathering1
Coat with feathering3
Shedding
Sheds through the year
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
Exercise
Plenty
Health
Inward-rolling eyelid (far more likely)6
Blood blister in the ear flap (much more likely); Underactive thyroid (much more likely)7,8
Class
Companion
Family

Which suits you

Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Clumber Spaniel sheds through the year, the Golden Retriever moults most as the seasons change.
Temperament
They differ most on intelligence (Clumber Spaniel: easy-going, simple routines; Golden Retriever: needs daily brain work) and on affection (Clumber Spaniel: affectionate on its own terms; Golden Retriever: a lap or leaning dog).
Alike
They are much the same size as adults, about 30 kg (65 lb) for the Clumber Spaniel and 29 kg (65 lb) for the Golden Retriever.
Alike
Both are rated the same on handler demand: suits a first-time owner.
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.

Golden Retriever
Retrievers & water dogs · Large

The Golden Retriever's temperament is friendly, intelligent and devoted. It is eager to please, gentle, keen to work alongside people and seldom a good guard dog.

The Clumber Spaniel page →The Golden Retriever page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Clumber Spaniel
Golden Retriever
Activity
Differs
A good daily walk and play
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Differs
Easy-going, simple routines
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Suits a first-time owner
Suits a first-time owner
With people
Clumber Spaniel
Golden Retriever
Affection
Differs
Affectionate on its own terms
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Differs
Bonded to its family
Friendly with everyone
Independence
Differs
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Clumber Spaniel
Golden Retriever
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Differs
Quiet
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Differs
Chases; needs managing
Usually fine with small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour9. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home10,11.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
Both grow to much the same adult weight, about 29 kg.
Clumber Spaniel
Golden Retriever
0102030402m4m6m9m12m18m
0102030402m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the Clumber Spaniel with
Golden Retriever vs Labrador RetrieverEnglish Cocker Spaniel vs Golden RetrieverFlat-Coated Retriever vs Golden RetrieverGolden Retriever vs HovawartGolden Retriever vs Nova Scotia Duck Tolling RetrieverGolden Retriever vs Great PyreneesAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·