Sussex Spaniel

Character

“Good things take time” – This saying seems to embody the Sussex Spaniel. With its short legs, droopy nose, and distinctive rolling gait, it navigates slowly and leisurely through dense underbrush. Thanks to its thorough search methods and keen sense of smell, it usually finds success in the end.

Its immense endurance and diligent work style earned it an excellent reputation as a flushing dog by the end of the 18th century. Despite retaining its valuable hunting traits, the Sussex Spaniel has become rare nowadays.

At Home: A Calm and Friendly Family Dog

Not just as a hunting dog, but also as a family dog, the Sussex Spaniel struggles to compete with other breeds. This strong British dog with lion-like fur is an excellent family and companion dog. Its sociable nature and ever-friendly character make it a lovable and loyal partner.

The Sussex forms very close and intense bonds with its “pack”, particularly with children. It loves being included and follows its people everywhere. Thanks to its human-oriented nature, the affectionate and sensitive Spaniel is also easy to train, learns quickly, and adapts without issues.

Outdoors: A Spirited Hunting Dog

Its calm nature and slow gait should not mask the fact that the Sussex Spaniel also possesses a lot of energy. Especially outdoors, the hunting dog shows its spirited side. Enthusiastically, it takes on hunting tasks and enjoys any kind of alternative activity that challenges it physically and mentally.

Even though it is known as the calmest among Spaniel variants, the Sussex is an active and spirited dog outdoors, enjoying long walks through meadows and forests, as well as varied exercises and intelligent games. Its “hunting fever” can strike at any moment, so despite its affectionate and human-oriented nature, it should always be supervised when out and about.

Appearance

The energy of a Sussex Spaniel is often underestimated – largely due to its appearance. Weighing about 23kg with a shoulder height of just 38 to 41cm, the Sussex looks quite massive. Its rather slow, rolling gait and short legs (the lowest among Spaniel breeds) reveal nothing of the energy it possesses.

Colour and Movement of a Lion

Joy Freer, an English breeder who bred Sussex Spaniels from 1923 to 1984 and significantly influenced the breed with her kennel “Fourclovers”, often compared her favourite breed to a lion. She described its unique rolling gait, the way it moved its strong bones and large paws as similar to a lion. The dense, golden liver-coloured coat, growing more golden towards the tips, also resembles that of a lion.

Gentle Expression under Dense Fur

The Sussex’s abundant fur is medium-long and smooth. Its ears, tail, hindquarters, and legs are heavily feathered. The golden liver-coloured top coat is complemented by a very dense undercoat that protects the Sussex Spaniel reliably from wind and weather. Its hazel eyes beneath dense, slightly wrinkled eyebrows give it a very gentle, sometimes thoughtful expression.

© avarand / stock.adobe.com

History

Despite being rare today, the Sussex Spaniel played a significant role in the development of many English Spaniel breeds. Its history dates back to the late 18th century when the first Sussex Spaniels were bred in 1795 in the English county of Sussex. E.A. Fuller, who ran his kennel “of Rosehill” until his death in 1847, is credited as the trailblazer of the breed. Over more than fifty years, he solidified the Sussex’s temperament and appearance. Through crossbreeding with other Spaniels, which gained relatively more attention, the Sussex lost significance as a pure hunting dog for dense underbrush.

Eight Dogs Survived World War II

Although the Sussex Spaniel was one of the first ten breeds registered in the American Kennel Club’s studbook in 1884, it never gained popularity like the English Cocker Spaniel or the English Springer Spaniel. When breeder Joy Freer took up the breed in 1923, the pure Sussex Spaniel was on the brink of extinction. It was thanks to Freer’s dedication that eight pure Sussex Spaniels survived World War II, enabling the breed to continue.

Breeding and Distribution Today

Today, the breed is recognised by all major canine organisations: the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), the American Kennel Club, the Kennel Club of Great Britain, the Canadian Kennel Club, the National Kennel Club, and the New Zealand Kennel Club. However, the breeding base of the Sussex Spaniel remains very narrow. The breed is most common in North America and is also bred in France, Belgium, and the Czech Republic. In its homeland of Britain and other European countries, the Sussex Spaniel is extremely rare.

Purchasing a Sussex Spaniel

Those interested in this rare breed may find it challenging to meet a “true” Sussex, let alone acquire a purebred puppy. The best way is to contact your country’s official Spaniel Club to see if there are any breeders and where there might be upcoming litters. Sometimes, it takes a trip abroad to fulfil the dream of owning a pure Sussex puppy.

Beware of “Fake” Puppies

Offers from the internet or newspapers advertising cute Sussex puppies are tempting considering the rarity of breeders. However, please check carefully whether the ad is genuine. Typically, reputable breeders do not “advertise” their puppies. They want to place their dogs with people who are genuinely interested in the breed and aware of their responsibilities as owners. People captivated by the cute puppy in the ad photo do not necessarily fall into this category.

Identifying a Reputable Breeder

To ensure you buy a puppy that truly embodies the Sussex Spaniel, is well-tempered and healthy, you should only purchase from a reputable breeder. Reputable breeders adhere to the breeding requirements of the FCI and provide certified papers and pedigrees with their dogs. Ensure that important health checks, such as X-rays of the hips to rule out HD (hip dysplasia in dogs) and eye examinations, have been conducted. Parents and siblings should also test negative for these diseases.

Before deciding to buy a puppy, you should definitely meet the breeder in person. This way, you can get a real impression of the breeder’s quality and reliability and ensure that the Sussex Spaniel puppy is indeed “the one” for you.

Learn more: Important Questions for the Dog Breeder

Keeping an Eye on Health

The responsibility for your dog’s health begins before you even purchase a puppy. Only a dog from a reputable breeder can – at least verifiably – meet the prerequisites for a healthy life. Genetic tests and X-rays can rule out a higher risk of breed-specific diseases like HD or eye problems. Fortunately, purebred Sussex Spaniels are generally very healthy with no known specific diseases. Joint problems are also rare, despite the Sussex’s heavy bones.

Sussex Spaniel Food: Tips for a Proper Diet

Having healthy ancestors and good health certificates does not guarantee a long life free of significant diseases. Diet, living conditions, and care also play a crucial role in your dog’s well-being. So what does a proper diet for a Spaniel look like?

First, the food should meet your dog’s nutrient needs – whether it’s raw, cooked, dry or wet is initially insignificant. The dog’s nutrient requirements are very individual, influenced by factors such as size, weight, age, and activity level. A puppy needs different food than an adult dog, and a “lapdog” requires different nourishment than a hunting dog.

The food you choose for your Sussex Spaniel should depend on its age, weight, and daily activity level. A detailed analysis of your pet’s nutrient needs and an overview of which nutrients are in which foods are incredibly useful. Generally, all dogs need meat to live. Meat is the most important protein source for our four-legged friends and should always be on the menu. It can be supplemented with vegetables, rice, pasta, and flakes. Fresh drinking water should always be available. Food should be given only at fixed times of the day, with one or two meals per day sufficient for an adult Spaniel.

Grooming Needs of the Sussex Spaniel

Just as with diet, the care of your dog should follow a certain regularity. The medium-length, silky-dense fur of your Sussex should be brushed two to three times a week. Its thick paws and droopy ears should also be regularly checked and cleaned to prevent infections. Regular checks also help identify potential changes that could indicate disease and should be examined by a vet.

Keeping a Sussex Spaniel: Country or City?

A Sussex Spaniel is tough to rattle. As long as it can live close to its family, neither noisy children nor city noise bothers it. At first glance, there’s no reason it can’t live in a city. In fact, this small breed doesn’t need a large flat to feel comfortable. However, it does need plenty of exercise and opportunities to roam freely in nature – something not always possible in a city. Those willing to take their dogs to a nearby park, dog lawn, or forest daily need not give up their city living. It’s crucial to provide lively and hard-working Sussex with enough exercise and activities.

Limiting it to a family dog role would not do justice to this original hunting dog and would eventually make it unhappy.

Dog Sport as a Substitute for Hunting

Though the Sussex retains an excellent sense of smell and makes an excellent flushing dog, it doesn’t necessarily need to be used for hunting. Non-hunters will also find great delight in this friendly and easy-going breed. Dog sports are a great way to channel the Sussex’s energy and meet its need for physical activity and mental stimulation. Research what activities are available near you and which suit you and your dog. Fetching exercises or nose work are generally well-suited for the Sussex Spaniel.