Clumberton

The name Clumberton is a combination of the names of its two parent breeds: Clumber Spaniel and Bedlington Terrier. The Clumber Spaniel is believed to have originated around the time of the French Revolution. The breed descended from Basset Hounds and Alpine Spaniel hybrid varieties. Clumber Spaniels migrated to Europe when the French Duke of Noailles moved his kennels to Clumber Park, the English estate of the Duke of Newcastle. In the United Kingdom, the Clumber Spaniel became popular with British nobility and was admired for its sense of smell and retrieving abilities. It was brought to North America in the 1800s, but has never been a popular breed in America. Clumber Spaniels were, however, recognized by the AKC in 1878. The Clumberton’s other parent breed, the Bedlington Terrier, hails from the United Kingdom. It is thought to have descended from several breeds including the Dandie Dinmont, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, and Whippet. Bedlington Terriers were originally bred for game hunting and early versions were called the Rothbury Terrier and/or the Northumberland Fox Terrier. Legend has it that a resident of the town of Bedlington bred two Rothbury Terriers in the early 1800s and called them Bedlington Terriers – the name we know the breed by today. Bedlington Terriers quickly became a popular dog to the elite classes and eventually spread to North America. Though it has not been a wildly popular dog in America, it was recognized by the AKC in 1886. Given the parent breeds’ long history in the same European and North American areas, it is possible that the Clubmerton has been bred for a long time. However, there is no exact date for the Cumberton’s origin and it is not recognized by the AKC.