The Clumber Spaniel 225 



Gordon setter among sporting dogs. People who keep them very naturally 

 think a great deal of them, but to the outside public or the man looking for 

 a breed to take up they are a good deal of an educated taste. To the ordi- 

 nary man they lack attraction and cannot compare with the black field 

 spaniel, which in turn loses to the active and taking cocker. For these rea- 

 sons we fear the Clumber will never become popular or be taken up by a 

 sufficient number of exhibitors to make competition interesting. 



The standard adopted by the American Spaniel Club was one originally 

 drafted by Mr. Mercer. As a fellow-committeeman in framing the standard, 

 we strongly objected to many of his alterations from the accepted English 

 standard. Some of these objections he acquiesced in, but not all. To bring 

 the matter before the club Mr. Richardson, the chairman of the committee, 

 voted with Mr. Mercer, and the club accepted the standard without dis- 

 cussion. This being a peculiarly English breed we held then and hold now 

 that with the very few specimens we have in this country, the limited number 

 of exhibitors and the very slight knowledge possessed by even spaniel 

 men as to breed, the English club's standard should be adopted without 

 question. What would we think if two or three Englishmen took up 

 Boston terriers and set about making a standard for the breed differing 

 from ours in just the points wherein their dogs differed from our standard ? 

 That is what our Spaniel Club did with the Clumber standard, and for 

 that reason we give the standard of the English club. We have already 

 commented on the recent alteration regarding the suppression of the 

 haw, and are pleased to say that our views are in complete harmony with 

 those of that recognised spaniel authority in England, Mr. Farrow. So 

 much has been said in opposition to this change that it would not be at all 

 surprising to have it altered and the prior standard again govern on this 

 point. 



The standard is printed in a manner to show the recent alterations, 

 the additions being within brackets. The only depletion made was in 

 striking out "and showing haw" in the description of the eyes. From the 

 defense of the alteration made by the Clumber Club secretary it would appear 

 that the alteration was made to fit a condition, and it is claimed, though 



o 



not apparent how, that dogs with the haw showing are still all correct. 

 An exaggerated haw is of course as faulty as it is in other dogs showing that 

 peculiarity, but the haw has always been a Clumber characteristic and is 

 in keeping with the thoughtful look of the dog. 



