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About Sussex Spaniel Dogs
The Sussex spaniel is a breed of
spaniel that, as its name suggests, originated
in Sussex, a county in the south of England. It
was first bred in the final years of the 18th
century from a variety of spaniel breeds in order
to create a gundog with a barking ability atypical
of spaniels at the time. The Sussex spaniel was
one of the first ten breeds to be included in
the AKC's stud book.
While it did not enjoy great popularity
prior to the 1940s, the Sussex spaniel fell out
of favor during World War II, when people were
discouraged from breeding dogs. An English breeder
saved several Sussex spaniels during this period,
and all Sussex spaniels that live today descend
from her Sussex spaniels. Today, the breed enjoys
popularity in the United States, and is recognized
by a variety of kennel clubs in many countries.
The Sussex spaniel has a stocky,
compact build, and is a relatively short dog,
with a long body that sits low to the ground on
short, strong legs. Its frame is somewhat rectangular
in shape. The Sussex spaniel typically measures
between 13 and 15 inches in height at the shoulders
and weighs 35 to 45 pounds.
Unique to the Sussex spaniel is
its coat, which is a golden liver in color. However,
black and lighter brown Sussex spaniels have existed.
In texture, the coat is thick, silky, and either
straight or somewhat wavy, and it features feathering
on the ears, chest, and legs. Underneath the Sussex
spaniel's silky fur is an undercoat that protects
it against undesirable weather conditions.
The Sussex spaniel is a fairly relaxed
dog, but tends to approach play and work with
great energy and enthusiasm. While it may be less
enthusiastic than other spaniels around strangers,
it loves the company of people and is gentle and
sociable, making them a good choice for households
with children or other pets. The Sussex spaniel
is known for its charming, clownish manner. It
is loyal and may be very protective of its humans.
A great choice for a companion dog,
the Sussex spaniel most often serves as a family
pet. However, it also serves well as a therapy
dog. Despite tending to be a bit stubborn and
difficult to train, the Sussex spaniel can also
do a good job of hunting and retrieving small
game.
It is important that a Sussex spaniel
goes on a walk every day. Additionally, it should
also be given other opportunities to exercise
and play, and particularly enjoys running and
playing in outdoor spaces, retrieving, and swimming.
If a Sussex spaniel does not receive enough exercise,
it is likely to gain weight quickly and may howl,
bay, or engage in other disruptive behaviors.
The Sussex spaniel's coat requires
regular brushing. Its ears should be cleaned when
needed, and should excessive hair grow beneath
them, it should be trimmed. It is also best to
trim excess hair in between the pads on only the
bottoms of the paws.
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