Sussex Spaniel

The Sussex Spaniel was bred in the south of England as a field dog. It is likely several centuries old as breed type. Its development is documented in the later part of the 18th century, when it was being used as a field dog. Although it is a slow-moving dog, its sturdy build and scenting ability allowed it to work well in dense underbrush, alerting the hunter to quarry, and flushing game from places where it could normally hide from the hunter more successfully. The Sussex is the only spaniel that bays when hunting. The Sussex Spaniel is the stockiest of all Spaniel breeds. It is low to the ground, rather massive in body, and very sturdy. Standing an average 13 to 15 inches at the shoulder and weighing 35 to 45 pounds, it is much longer than it is tall, presenting a rectangular profile. The head is broad and long, on a short strong neck. The eyes of the Sussex are hazel in color and large and expressive. Due partly to the drooping character of the eyes, this dog has a somber, very gentle and rather sad facial expression. The ears are very long and drop and somewhat feathered, falling to the jaw line. The tail is naturally long and heavily feathered; it is never carried higher than the backline. This breed has a unique golden liver color to its coat, which is fairly long and straight or slightly wavy. This breed has a rolling gait, but is never clumsy of movement. The Sussex Spaniel was developed in the Sussex County area of England as a field dog and a companion. In the last decade of the 18th century, a nobleman named Foster from the estate of Rosehill Park outside Hastings was developing a gun dog that could excel where others could not: hunt well in slow, rough terrain, working well in underbrush with a hunter on foot, and consistently alert the hunter to quarry. It was bred by combining spaniel type dogs with hounds. The result was a dog that possessed the nose and tracking sense of the hound with the hunting and retrieving ability of the spaniel. Hunters used the dog while on foot to flush upland game. Foster bred the same line for 50 years. By the middle of the 19th century this breed had gained considerable fame as a favorite hunting dog on estates all over southern England. When the American Kennel Club was founded in 1884, the Sussex Spaniel was one of the nine breeds it first recognized. However, it was not widely accepted as a hunting companion outside its native Sussex: its slow pace was not suited to the faster style of the American Sportsman, which was dictated by a much different terrain than that of Sussex. With the coming of World War II, the Sussex Spaniel all but disappeared. An English woman named Joy Freer saved eight specimens of the breed and took them to the United States for safekeeping. After the war she began a breeding program from these eight, and in the 1950's they were bred back to dogs in the United Kingdom to further strengthen the original integrity of the breed. It is believed that today's Sussex Spaniels owe their ancestry to these eight dogs of Joy Freer. Oddly, despite being little used for hunting in the U.S., the Sussex has continuously enjoyed what popularity it has had in America rather than in its native land. The Sussex is considered rare today, but it maintains a group of devoted fanciers who work to promote and preserve the breed. In 2009, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show was won by "Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee,"� a Sussex Spaniel more commonly known as "Stump."� At ten years of age, Stump was the oldest Best-of-Show winner in the show's history. The Sussex Spaniel is a slow moving breed, but the owner should not construe this as a reason for offering the dog little exercise. The Sussex was after all bred to work, and is quite capable of long walks. To stay healthy it should have a long walk daily. This dog needs to be on leash, because its strong nose and hunting instinct make it prone to wandering away from the owner or into traffic. Care should be taken not to over feed this breed; extra weight will put undue stress on its spine and lead to musculoskeletal problems that can become serious and even life-threatening. This breed is also prone to heart disease, the development of which keeping the weight down can prevent. The average lifespan of the Sussex Spaniel is 12 to 15 years. The coat of the Sussex requires regular attention in order to keep its condition healthy. One of the wonderful features of this breed is the luster of its coat. Twice weekly brushing will help to keep its luster and keep the coat clean. Bathing should be done occasionally, but excessive bathing should be avoided because it can ruin the quality of the coat's shine. The fur between toes should be trimmed regularly to ensure that debris does not become collected and lodged between toes. It is important to keep the toenails monitored and clipped on the Sussex, because they tend to overgrow and make walking painful. The Sussex Spaniel can be quite prone to ear infections, and it is important to check the ears often for signs of mites and infection, and to clean them regularly at least once a week. Any sign of infection should be brought to the attention of a veterinarian. Neglecting the care of possible ear infection can result in a painful situation for the dog and in permanent damage to the hearing apparatus. The Sussex is an easy-going and affectionate household companion that enjoys the company of visitors, children and other pets. It is an excellent watchdog. As with any breed, early socialization will ensure that all future interactions are trouble free. Owners of the Sussex will enjoy involving the dog in scenting and tracking trials.

Back to iAnimals.com home page Copyright Notice: This website is © . All Rights Reserved.  Click Here to contact us. Link Partners: Animals Go to Heaven | Adopt Me | Salt And Pepper | Singing Animals | Animal Noises