SunMagic Clumber Spaniels

The start of the New Year is a good time to think about what you want to accomplish in the coming months with your Clumber Spaniel. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Get healthy– Start by taking him/her for walks. This is a great way to exercise your Clumber Spaniels and to build your bond with him/her.

Learn something new– This goes for new puppies needing training and for our older dogs who need stimulation. Pick one command or trick at a time and enjoy the fun of training. Remember shorts sessions with Clumber Spaniels; they get bored with repetitive training….or nagging.

Do something positive for others– Consider therapy work with your mature Clumber Spaniel. Becoming a therapy animal team can be very rewarding. Kudos to team Susan & Macy who are already doing this type of work.

Meet new friends– Keep your Clumber Spaniel socialized. This includes the older dogs, as well. Schedule play dates with friends, take walks to meet new fur friends, join a dog club, or just get out and about!

Go to the vet– Keep on schedule with your annual exams and appropriate vaccinations. Preventative care is the best approach.

Send an update– It’s always a thrill for a breeder (SunMagic Clumber Spaniels), previous owner, or rescue group to hear from you and see pictures of your Clumber Spaniel enjoying his/her forever home. We are fortunate to get updates on all of our dogs who have been placed in their forever homes- we thank you!

Chip & I wish you the best in 2019. May your year be filled with health, peace, happiness, and excessive tail wagging, U-shaped dances, Woo-woo’s, peaceful snoring, a sea of white hair, and daily kisses from your beloved Clumber Spaniel.

SunMagic Clumber Spaniel NuNews

Molly & Edna receive their first points towards their Championship title.

On invite, Henry & I are honored to win Best of Breed at the 2018 AKC National Championship Owner-Handled Series.

Please mark your calendar to attend The Clumber Spaniel Club of America’s National Specialty held in Sanford, North Carolina from March 16th- March 21st. Details can be found at www.clumbers.org.

Stay well, stay safe!

 

First impressions matter!  How the dogs interact in their first encounter together can set the tone for their relationship.

 

 

Step 1:

Start by letting them get to know each other slowly and carefully. Begin by walking the dogs together on the leash, keeping a distance (about 10 feet) apart so they can’t greet each other or stare.  This will allow them to acclimate to each other’s presence without causing tension.

Step 2:

Have them meet on a leash in a nonthreatening neutral area. Keep both dogs on a leash but keep the leash loose while you remain relaxed. A tight leash may communicate that you are fearful or anxious which in turn makes the dog more fearful and anxious.

Step 3:

Allow the dogs to meet with leashes dragging but avoid confined areas like gates, doorways, or small spaces- the more room they have to move about the less tension they will feel. Wait two minutes while they sniff each other then call them away. If they play nicely and its going well let them play for a few minutes, then call them away. Always ending the initial session on a positive note!

Step 4:

Introduce the dogs to the house only after they have had a successful meeting outside.  Take the resident dog out to the yard and bring the new dog inside.  This helps the resident dog to behave less territorial once he is brought back into the house with the new dog. Keep the interaction short and pleasant.  If signs of tension occur, separate the dogs immediately and try again later.

When introducing a puppy to an adult dog use the same steps as listed above.  If the puppy is less than 6 months, both the dog and puppy may need frequent breaks from each other.

Finally, if you are not confident or comfortable, at any point, please seek help from a relationship based trainer who has ample experience with dog to dog interactions.  And remember, Clumber Spaniels have a very long memory, so let’s make it a long lasting, positive first impression.

Stay well, stay safe!

SunMagic Clumber Spaniel Nu News

Lillie Mae earns Select Bitch award at the 15th Annual Clumber Spaniel Fanciers of Michigan Specialty.

Henry continues to WOW the crowd with multiple Owner-handler group placements.

We’re expecting! Yes, puppies on September 28th out of Lillie Mae & Derby.  So excited to bring these two beauties together.

Leptospirosis, often referred to as Lepto, is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be passed on to humans. It is a bacterial infection that is shed in the urine of infected animals, commonly seen in skunks, opossums, raccoons, mice or rural livestock. The infected urine will taint water and soil. It is through drinking or exposing mucous membranes or open wounds to these sources that puts our Clumber Spaniels at risk for the infection.

Signs- Signs of infection can vary. The most common symptoms are abdominal discomfort, decreased appetite, diarrhea, and vomiting. Dogs can also show other nonspecific flu-like symptoms, including fever, muscle weakness, and disorientation.

Treatment- Early antibiotic therapy with doxycycline or penicillin is effective. Supportive care is dependent on the severity of the infection and may include IV fluids, critical care monitoring, or dialysis for renal failure.

Prevention- Reduce your Clumber Spaniel’s exposure. Avoid stagnant or slow moving water. Do not allow your Clumber Spaniel to drink from standing water or swim in bodies of water that may be contaminated.

Clumber Spaniels who are in field training are at higher risk of exposure. Please discuss with your veterinarian the benefits of the leptospirosis vaccination. While it does not cover every serovar, it does cover 4 of the most common bacteria types.

Please note: This article is written to provide general information only. If your Clumber Spaniel is showing signs of illness, consult your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Stay well, stay safe!

Your puppy’s 28 teeny tiny razor milk teeth will start to fall out between 12-16 weeks to make room for the new adult teeth that follow. During this time you’ll notice your sweet, cuddly Clumber Spaniel will turn into an irritable white chew monster! Yep, your puppy will mouth everything in sight- your fingers, your toes, your heels, the banister, the window sills, shoes, socks, etc.

So, what to do? Teething is uncomfortable and confusing for your pup, so its important to direct them to things that will soothe sore gums. Consider offering hard rubber toys, especially ones that can be filled with water and frozen. A cool toy in the mouth will relieve sore gums. Offer plenty of toys to chew on, use positive redirection to safe toys when the pup drifts to the furniture leg to chew. Also, ice cubes, bully sticks or himalayan cheese chews, all used sparingly, can be helpful and satisfying at this trying time.

Good news! This process doesn’t last long. By 6 months of age your Clumber Spaniel puppy’s adult teeth should be in. However, chewing is a dog’s natural desire, so redirection towards safe toys is a good practice at any age.

SunMagic Clumber Spaniel NuNews

We’ve been busy this fall raising a litter of 4 beautiful puppies who were born on September 5th.

Henry- GCH. SunMagic King Of The Kastle, TD, CD, CGC earned his Companion Dog title, was invited to the AKC National Championship Owner-Handler Series competition, and is soon to compete for a Tracking Excellence title.

Lillie Mae- SunMagic Castles Quest earned a major in conformation after being away from the show ring for over 6 months while she was hunt test training at Brier Creek Southern Kennels. www.briercreekkennels.com  She will soon be competing in AKC licensed Spaniel Hunt Test.

Edna- SunMagic Saucerful of Secrets is our new addition out of Eli & Biscuit.

Stay well, stay safe!

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Those of us who live with Clumber Spaniels know how they love to carry things in their mouths. It’s a part of their breed type. They will greet you with a toy, shoe, string, kitchen towel, anything, as a gift of endearment. But, we know how dangerous it can be if or when the Clumber Spaniel decides to ingest their prize. Intestinal obstructions are very real, and something you want to avoid.

Foreign Body Ingestion and Obstruction- a partial or complete blockage of the flow of nutrients from the stomach into and through the intestines.

Possible Symptoms- stop eating, stop drinking, vomit, diarrhea or difficulty defecating, drooling, painful abdomen, bloated, whining, acting PUNK.

Action Steps- Seek treatment as soon as you see symptoms or suspect your Clumber Spaniel has consumed something indigestible. The longer you wait, the worst the prognosis will be.

Items Clumber Spaniels will ingest- Money ($20 bills, not $1 bills), leather (the better it is, the more likely it will be ingested), books, toys, hand towels, nylons, socks, baseboard molding, ear buds, drywall……to only name a few.

Story Time- I have experienced two obstruction surgeries, two near misses, and several other close calls with our SunMagic Clumber Spaniel crew. We had a 7 month old Clumber Spaniel who vomited. After washing off the glob, it was a leather glove that was not mine! Puzzled, I traced my steps to realize that while at obedience class the night before the dog must of gotten into someone’s handbag while I was not looking.  As it turned out, he ate the PAIR of loves.  Two days later our puppy was in surgery to remove the second glove.

So What Does This Mean-SunMagic Clumber Spaniels have only the following items in their toy chest: Extreme Kongs, Nylabones, White Bones, and Cuz balls with the feet cut off. And, growing a set of eyes in the back of your head and quick reflexes can be helpful.

Please take proper precautions and stay alert. Clumber Spaniels are smart and stealthy consumers of foreign objects. They tend to be repeat offenders, too.

Stay well, stay safe!

SunMagic Clumber Spaniel NuNews

Henry earned his tracking dog title in December 2016.  Most recently he was awarded Select Dog for 5 points toward his grand championship at the prestigious American Spaniel Club 97th Annual Flushing Spaniel Show. Now known as CH. SunMagic King Of The Kastle, TD, CGC

Derby earns a 5 point major towards his championship and an Award of Merit at the American Spaniel Club 97th Annual Flushing Spaniel Show.

 

SunMagic Nu News

We are excited to announce that Henry & I will be on TV!  Look for us on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24th at 12 noon ET on NBC.

Henry, CH. SunMagic King Of The Kastle, age 22 months, won Best of Breed over gorgeous Clumber Spaniel competition at The Kennel Club of Philadelphia dog show under AKC Judge Mrs. Kimberly Meredith-Cavanna.

15th Anniversary

The National Dog Show Presented by Purina

Broadcast at Noon Thanksgiving Day November 24

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

Last week there was a horrible accident in which several show dogs lost their lives from heatstroke. This devastating event made me think, it’s a good time to remind our SunMagic Clumber Spaniel subscribers of the safety tips necessary to keep your dogs safe this summer.

These safety tips on prevention, early detection, and immediate action can help ensure the health of your Clumber Spaniel.

Prevent overheating

1. Use common-sense
2. Limit outdoor activity to early morning & late evening
3. When outside, provide plenty of fresh, cool water & shade
4. Let your Clumber Spaniel play in a kiddie pool
5. Think twice about shaving your Clumber.  All that hair can look hot, but it actually helps to keep your dog insulated- cool in hot weather & warm in cool weather.  Plus, it protects them against sunburn.
6. NEVER leave your dog in an unattended car, even for ‘a minute’.  The car acts like an oven- it cooks your dog!

Signs of Heatstroke

Early signs- heavy panting, rapid breathing, excessive drooling, bright red gums

Advanced signs- labored breathing, unwillingness to move, lethargy, white or blue gums

Cooling Methods

1. Get your Clumber Spaniel out of the sun and into a cool building or shade
2. Wet him down with cool water
3. Allow him to lick ice chips or drink small amounts of cool water
4. If you don’t see a rapid improvement with these measures contact your veterinarian.

PLEASE, take precautions!

SunMagic Clumber Spaniel Nu News

We are happy to brag that Henry (SunMagic King Of The Kastle) won Winners Dog, for a 5 point major, at the Clumber Spaniel Fanciers of Michigan’s 13th Annual Independent Specialty……..among some very strong competition.  Pictures are soon to come.

Please join us in welcoming Lillie to the SunMagic family.

Are you wondering how your cute, cuddly Clumber Spaniel became so rambunctious & full of energy?  Or, what has happened to all your hard work teaching him good manners? Well, if you are asking these questions, your Clumber Spaniel may be experiencing what is known as the teenage phase.

This phase varies from breed to breed and among individual dogs.  However, the Clumber Spaniel will generally experience adolescence starting around 9 months and lasting until 18 months. It is during this time that their brain is flooded with an increase in hormones that contribute to the dreaded behavioral changes of teens:  moodiness, testing rules & boundaries, disobedience, resource guarding, intense response to external stimuli, the ‘zoomies’, and selective hearing , among others.

So, YES, you and your teenage Clumber Spaniel CAN survive!  Here are a few tips on how.

1. Exercise- once tired your Clumber Spaniel will become more calm.
2. Continue training- it is important for safety and mental stimulation to be well-mannered.  This work does eventually pay off.
3. Continue socialization- enjoyable interactions with strangers, both dog & human, will help ward off behavior problems.
4. Be patient, persistent, and consistent

This can be a challenging time, but it is nevertheless considered normal for your Clumber Spaniel. With preparation and understanding the time can be used to set good habits for both you and your dog. Again, with patience, persistence and consistency you will survive & it won’t be long before you are back to that cute, cuddly, Clumber Spaniel that you fell in love with at the beginning.

*Note- consult your veterinarian and/or a professional dog trainer or behaviorist as soon as a behavior concern develops.