Clumbers are gundogs, they are athletes, they have inquirying minds and a need to be active a lot of the time, although they do sleep lots too.
Organized competitive sports you may like to try include
SHOWING
Showing involves training YOU and YOUR DOG, best person to train your dog,
is you! The Dog Ate My Homework is good primer, but there is much more to
learn, and a book in delayed preparation, but there is also a DVD available
that will get you off to a good start, available for purchase online look for
SHOWING THE CLUMBER DVD (very limited stock left).
Released 2020 is the book dedicated to showing Clumbers, covers a huge range of topics.
OBEDIENCE and RALLY O and DANCING
If you are a good trainer and have a good rapport with your dog, Clumbers are going to be spectacular at this, and at dancing …. as with showing .. you will need to get some ‘ring miles’ to conquer your apprehension and get the super razzle from a Clumber … they share when exulted and the thing is not an everyday drain on their spirit. They’ll handle competitive obedience but that is an older sport very much entrenched for the likes of Border Collies.
AGILITY
I would not anticipate any Clumber to be a class winner in agility, they can do it but their forte is more on one plane.
FLYBALL
plausible but not competitive and it is a repetitive high strain sport
TRACKING and NOSEWORK
should be a doddle for a Clumber and they adopt these sports and really get into them with little handler knowledge, speaking from personal experience here. Check out this tracking article by Jan http://www.erinrac.com/tracking/
GUNDOG TRIALS
are very much for the razzle and speed of a Springer but a Clumber would mull through with good results, but not the speed to win the trial
DOCK DIVING (not ANKC)
I still have not warmed too, I don’t think you’d get the length of leap to win, assuming that is what it is about, I don’t doubt that most Clumbers would love the participation though … some Americans are doing it.
PARKOUR (not ANKC)
This is aglityin theurban/local environment and the dogs LOVE it and the handlers/owners develop great new skills too
