When our first Clumber Spaniel joined our furry family in May of 2021, I never imagined I would end up starting a preservation breeding program two years later.

I had researched Clumber Spaniels for several years before reaching out to a few breeders on the Clumber Spaniel Club of America website. One happened to be Helen Marshall of ShoGun. I was expecting to wait a while for a Clumber, but she had a litter on the ground. Our Gertie was one of those puppies. It was love!! I had intended on getting a pet, but Helen and Otto told me she could do anything. The Cocker Spaniels we’ve had our whole marriage have not been well bred. I have learned so much in that time. To have a preservation bred dog whose litter was carefully planned and all health was taken into consideration was so new to me. I always enjoy a challenge, so with some encouragement from new Clumber friends, Gertie and I set off into the world of dog sports.

We did our first Conformation show on her six month birthday. With two handling classes and a run through session with Colleen, Gertie’s co-breeder, it was rough, but I was hooked. Then came training in our fields for tracking. One of my dearest friends came over weekly and we trained Gertie for success. These dogs noses are amazing. We had taken puppy classes and that had given us a foundation towards Obedience and Rally trialing. With help from those that I consider great teachers, we have achieved and been working towards additional titles. We have had fun with Fast CAT and Trick Dog titles too!

Eleven months after Gertie came home, Helen convinced me I needed another Clumber and Gilda joined our lives. She is a powerhouse in the Conformation ring and beyond! We have attained her Beginner Novice title in Obedience and are now shooting for the next level. She is also training for tracking. Her new baby cousins have slowed down her Fast CAT trialing but plan on getting back at it in the new year. I want to get both girls into Hunt tests, as our breed is a flushing breed and a great way to foster their purpose. As an owner-handler and now breeder, titles on the front and back of my dogs registered name mean a lot to me.

The puppies in August of 2023, what a crazy, scary, wonderful ride! I had done all the recommend health testing the Clumber Spaniel Club of America recommends before breeding after the age of two. Gertie had her hips and elbows evaluated, eyes evaluated and is not a carrier for PDP1. In addition, she was proven to not be a carrier of EIC, degenerative myelopathy and was cleared on an advanced cardiac test. While the heart is not required in our breed, there is some suggestion to do it. I lost a Cocker to heart issues, so I needed to do it for me and will continue to in the future. Gertie attained her CHIC number from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. All future Clumbers in our program will go through all of this testing before breeding to strive for the healthiest offspring. Great temperament, soundness in structure and maintaining breed type are also important when breeding. I am so proud of our two baby girls from our first litter.

The beginning of my breeding program is originating from my lemon ShoGun girls. The tree’s roots in our logo recognize all of those that have come before me and put in the work, consideration and love to bring into the world the best Clumber Spaniels they can. My ShoGun girls are the trunk and the first pups and beyond are the fruit of those that have come before them. So, welcome to the sprouting of Lemontree. Can’t wait to see how we grow!

I have learned so much in the past two-plus years and have so much more to learn! I definitely have stumbled over my own feet, but that is what makes us better each time we try. As we go forward with our breeding program, I will look to my mentor for feedback and advice. I appreciate all those that have helped me along on this crazy ride and look forward to passing it on and being a mentor to those that want to learn. Lastly, while our girls are part of our breeding program, they are our family first. They sleep and snuggle on the couch and bed with us, go on outings, get to work with me, take walks and get treats like any other pet. These pups just get to have a little more fun beyond that bonding with their mom.

Thanks for visiting,

Tracy and Jim Klemm