The SSRK (Swedish Spaniel and Retriever Club) requests an annual report from each breed club on the status of the breed. The following text, we have compiled for the Clumber in 2010.
The number of members has not changed particularly, 132 full paying members, 137 in 2009, and the proportion of non-Swedish also remained around 20%. The activities continue, they are many and varied, however, we can see that the members do not participate if the activities that are too far away.
In contrast, our annual Club Show, the all-important breed evaluation, always has good attendance.
In 2010 we began planning for a major events in 2011, when Sweden is hosting the international Clumber Seminar organized every three years. This seminar will be the ninth, Sweden is organizing it for the fourth time. It will be in addition to a full day seminar, two exhibitions, one official and Club Show, Obedience Championships, barbecues and many group meetings. It tends to get participants from several continents and the interest seems high even for this seminar.
RAS (Rasspecifika aveslsstragegier = Breed Specific Breeding Stragegies)
We had planned to present a revised proposal to the Swedish Kennel Club, in 2010 but we have been waiting for Sweden to adopt the revised breed standard. It was revised in early 2009 in England. However, this has not been adopted in Sweden as yet and the revision of the RAS project will instead scheduled to be made during the second half of 2011.
At the seminar, points can be found that we may need to take consider.
Many of the short-term objectives have been achieved and the long-term objectives needs to be reviewed.
Health
During the year we have had some health surveys done regarding hips, elbows and eyes. It is gratifying to see that we continue to have a predominant number of dogs without remarks/issues and we hope that the 2009 year of relatively poor results in terms of elbow was temporarily.
Annual statistics and tables are difficult to make and interpret in numerically small breeds.
Hips
Diagnosis – Number – %
HD grade A – 8 – 32%
HD grade B – 8 – 32%
HD grade C – 4 – 16%
HD grade D – 2 – 8%
HD grade E – 3 – 12%
sum 25
elbows
Diagnosis – Number – %
ED UA (0) – 19 – 76%
ED grade 1 – 4 – 6%
ED grade 2 – 2 – 8%
sum 25
Eye
Diagnosis – Number – %
eye ua (clear) – 9 – 82%
non-hereditary cataracts – 1 -9%
(already known diagnosis in this dog)
mild cataract BP (post polar) – 1 – 9%
sum 11
It will be interesting to discuss the health in our breed health at the next seminar, even though we have what we call a ‘world population’ it differs to what we recognize and feel that they have problems with, in the different countries.
At our Club Show, we handed out a health survey in which we did not really find anything new.
Most people seem to think that their dogs are generally healthy and sound, which is pleasing.
One thing, however, requires our attention and that is that our bitches have become bigger (heavier) than when we did the last poll 1994. The weight is specified in the standard and not a height.
Exterior
Clumber continue to compete well in the group and Best in Show finals at exhibitions. The Clumber is one of the twelve breeds that are identified as being of increased attention in the SRD (= Breed Watch).
During 2010, a revision and review of the texts of the various breeds in the SRD, were made and the Clumber club received a positive response from SKK on its proposals for adjustments. Among other things, we wished that more attention should be directed to the complete dog, not to reward ‘bigger and more’ . It is stated in the breed standard that the breed should be a healthy dog without exaggerations. Not being too large or heavy should be the ideal. Even in the breed’s native country England, they have asked to judges pay attention to this.
Hunting & function
A single Clumber started in a field trial during the year and in the novice class but was unable to gain a prize.
Water – one dog started in a water test in novice class, with a successful result
The basic field trial test – no one started this year
Clumberm�sterskapet – the club’s own hunting championships had ten runners in both the novice and the championship class
Bloodtracking
Seventeen starts with twelve different dogs:
Basic Class – 6 starts, 100% approved.
Open Class – 10 starts, including 4 with first price, 3 second prize and 3 without prizes.
Again the club organized its own championship, an official test in collaboration with the SSRK.
Obedience
One dog has this year started three times in obedience class 1 with varying results.
Attitude/temperament
In 2010, two dogs completed the MH (Mental Health test) and had known mental status.
We currently have 43 Clumbers who have completed the MH, and now have the recorded mental status, males and females 22 and 21 Clumbers. On two of these, the owner did not do the shooting part but no one has discontinued.
Breeding report
In 2010, we happily had the second highest number of registrations ever: 58 puppies, four of them, all females, are imports; Traddles Estella (b) from Denmark, Spice Twice Rapunzel (b) from Finland, Libell’s Always On My Mind (b) from Norway and Micklemess Sugar n Spice (b) from England.
Some pups were exported, for example to Norway, Finland and Ukraine.
Nine females and seven males were involved in the breeding in 2010, nine litters were born during the year with an average litter size of 5.3 puppies.
We continue to have a low inbreeding percentage (COI), 1.8%.