Clumbers are heavy shedders throughout the year, but especially more so during the Spring time and then again in the Autumn. Their leave copious amounts of white hair about the place if they are not regularly brushed. On top of this, the heavy feathering around their legs tends to pick up a lot of mud and debris which needs to be cleaned off when dogs come back from a walk. The same can be said of their bellies which also tend to get covered in mud if the weather is wet thanks to the feathering they have on their undersides.
It's a good idea to keep a Clumber's feet neatly trimmed to avoid any knots and tangles developing in between their toes. It's also important to keep a close eye on a dog's ears and to make sure they are always dried once a dog comes back inside for a walk. If any moisture is allowed to build up in a Clumber's ear canal it can lead to a nasty yeast infection taking hold and this type of problem can be notoriously difficult to clear up. It also pays to have these dogs professionally groomed from time to time because their coats do need to be occasionally trimmed.
Young Clumbers don't need to be given an excessive amount of exercise because their joints and bones are still developing and putting too much pressure can cause problems later in their lives. At around 6 months old, the amount of exercise a young Clumber is given can be gradually increased. With this said, Clumbers are not high energy dogs and like to take things at their own pace which means a good thirty-minute, interesting walk would suit these dogs right down to the ground.
Being very intelligent dogs, Clumbers do need to be given a lot of mental stimulation to prevent boredom setting in. Older dogs, when they reach their golden years really do benefit from being stimulated because it helps keep their cognitive function more finely tuned. If left to their own devices for long periods of time, these laid back dogs can develop some unwanted behavioural issues with separation anxiety being high on the list.
If you get a puppy from a breeder, they would give you a feeding schedule and it's important to stick to the same routine, feeding the same puppy food to avoid any tummy upsets. You can change a puppy's diet, but this needs to be done very gradually always making sure they don't develop any digestive upsets and if they do, it's best to put them back on their original diet and to discuss things with the vet before attempting to change it again.
Older dogs are not known to be fussy or finicky eaters, but this does not mean you can feed them a lower quality diet. It's best to feed a mature dog twice a day, once in the morning and then again in the evening, making sure it's good quality food that meets all their nutritional requirements. It's also important that dogs be given the right amount of exercise so they burn off any excess calories or they might gain too much weight which can lead to all sorts of health issues. Obesity can shorten a dog's life by several years so it's important to keep an eye on their waistline from the word go.
