Sussex Spaniel

FCI 127 . Flushing Dogs

The Sussex Spaniel gets its name from the county of England where it was favored as a hunting dog. It comes from the farm of Rosehill Park, where it was developed in the 18th century, and it was already mentioned in 1803 in a magazine called Sportsmen’s Cabinet.

The Knights of Sussex created a dog adapted to its heavy clay soil, to the dense undergrowth and thick hedges, a dog that could spend all day barking with bell tones to alert hunters that they were on the right track. The dogs were exposed in the dog show of the Crystal Palace in 1862 and they were among the 10 first breeds admitted to the registry of the American Kennel Club in 1884.

Because they were primarily confined to the county of Sussex, the Sussex Spaniel they were necessarily inbred, with only an occasional brood with the Field Spaniel to bring new blood. With the passage of time, the hunters developed new interests and the Sussex stayed on the road. could have been lost to history, like so many other dogs, but the breeders Moses Woolland y Campbell Newington intervened to bring them off the brink of extinction and even improved. The breed again faced extinction during WWII, but it was saved thanks to the efforts of the breeder Joy Scholefield.

Today the Sussex still weird, but in no danger of disappearing. Occupies the position 155 between breeds registered by the AKC.

The Sussex Spaniel It is a short dog with a compact and rectangular body and a weight between 16 and 20 kg. It stands out for the color of its fur, a deep golden liver, and for his big sad hazel eyes, so typical of the spaniel family. Historically, However, there have also been examples of Sussex black, black and tan, and liver colored gold and white.

The fur is thick (sometimes with a slight wave), with fringes on the chest, legs and ears and consists of a weather-resistant underlay, the outside being silky.

The long, silky ears are lobe-shaped, typical of Spaniel, and are moderately low

In the countryside, it's slow but steady, making his way through the thick canopy to make the birds disappear and retrieve for a hunter on foot.

Appearances can be deceptive when it comes to the Sussex Spaniel. Under a gloomy and serious expression hides a friendly and cheerful dog with a placid character. Loves being around people and joins any activity with controlled enthusiasm. More than many Spaniels, the Sussex has a protective character, always keeping her big sad eyes on her family to make sure all is well. She loves the children, and his calm demeanor makes him an excellent therapy dog.

As a hunting dog, the Sussex moves at a slower pace than other sporting dogs, but that doesn't mean i'm lazy or i don't need a lot of exercise. Not much less. He loves to hunt and has a lot of energy and stamina. Thanks to its ability to avoid the thicket, it is an excellent companion for walks or excursions, wagging the tail all the time. If you are a bird watcher, will help you find your prey. With its great olfactory capacity, you might like to put a tracker title or two on it.

It is a very intelligent dog that is not always easy to train. Can be stubborn, but his soft Spaniel nature can make him cringe at any correction. Be firm but kind, rewarding the behavior you like with praise, games and goodies. Keep in mind that it matures slowly. You will not be instantly trained, and that includes home training. It is a breed that requires patience to get the best of itself, not to mention a sense of humor for the times when he makes fun of you or embarrasses you, that there will be.

Start training your puppy the day you bring him home. Even with 8 weeks of age, is able to absorb everything that can be taught. Don't wait until he is six months old to start training him, or you will have to deal with a bigger and stubborn dog. If possible, take him to a trainer when he has between 10 and 12 weeks, and socialize him.

Talk to the breeder, describe exactly what you are looking for in a dog and ask for help selecting a puppy. Breeders see puppies daily and can make incredibly accurate recommendations once they know something about their lifestyle and personality. Regardless of what you want from a Sussex, look for one whose parents have a pleasant personality and who has been well socialized since he was a puppy.

He is very smart, but can be stubborn, so it is not always easy to train. Having said that, if the right motivation is found - how to take advantage of your great olfactory capacity- can be taught to Sussex to do almost anything. Train him with positive reinforcement techniques. He especially likes food rewards. Be patient in training. One Sussex, especially the females, it may take a long time to be reliable in this regard.

The Sussex walks at a slow pace and doesn't require the frantic levels of exercise some other sporting breeds need, but he's not a couch potato either, at least not when he's young. You will enjoy moderate or long walks or hikes, although not the companion of a runner or jogger. Its versatility and athleticism make it suitable for a number of dog sports, like hunting trials, freestyle, obedience, the rally and the crawl. The Sussex easily learn to recover, making it a great playmate for the kid who likes to play ball. Once it reaches maturity, his calm demeanor makes him a natural for therapy work.

When a Sussex Spaniel grows up with children, both usually go together like strawberries and cream. But, the puppies of Sussex can be too unruly for families with young children, and Sussex Spaniel adults unfamiliar with children may not feel comfortable with them.

like most dogs, the Sussex Spaniel get bored when left alone, and the damage they can do is considerable. Do not give them control of the house until they have reached trustworthy maturity.. Cubs Sussex tend to develop slowly, so they may not reach maturity until 2 or 3 years of age. And keep your Sussex busy with training experiences, play and socialization. One Sussex boring is a Sussex destructive.

The Sussex Spaniels they are healthy in general, but some conditions can be worrisome, especially if you are not careful when buying. These include some heart problems, such as cardiomyopathy and pulmonary stenosis, as well as an exercise intolerance syndrome called pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency (PDH). Hip dysplasia has also been reported, deafness and eye problems (such as entropion and retinal dysplasia). Females may have difficulty giving birth and often require cesarean sections.

PDH deficiency is present in the 20 percent of Sussex Spaniel, but there is a genetic test to identify normal dogs, carriers and affected. Ask the breeder to show proof that at least one of the puppy's parents is free of PDH deficiency.

Do not buy a puppy from a breeder who cannot provide you with written documentation that the parents are free of health problems that affect the breed.. Veterinary examination of dogs is not a substitute for genetic health tests.

The Sussex has thick fur, smooth or slightly wavy, with fringes on the legs and tail and a nice curl under the neck. The coat can be cared for by brushing it at least once or twice a week to remove tangles or mats and distribute skin oils. Bathe him when necessary. The Sussex changes moderately, and daily brushing will reduce the amount of hair that falls on the floor, the furniture and clothes.

The rest is basic care. Trim nails when needed and keep hanging ears clean and dry. Good dental hygiene is also important. Brush teeth frequently with a vet-approved pet toothpaste for overall good health and fresh breath.

Coexistence is important that you have with your new friend. Before considering the acquisition of a dog of the breed "Sussex Spaniel" you know certain factors. Not all breeds of dogs are apt to live in an apartment, you must take into account his character, their need for exercise, their interaction with other pets, their care and if you have small children, their level of tolerance towards them.

Sussex_spaniel at the World Dog Show in Poznan by Pleple2000, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons	Group 8 SUSSEX SPANIEL, Marquell Replay MyDOG, The largest dog event in the Nordics: www.mydog.seby by Svenska Mässan from Sweden, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

• FCI CLASSIFICATION: 127
• Group 8: Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs
• Section 2: Flushing Dogs. With working trial.

Federations:

• – FCI – Group 8: Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs – Section 2: Retrievers ⓘ
• – AKC – Sporting ⓘ
• – ANKC – Group 3 (Gundogs) ⓘ
• – CKC – Sporting Dogs ⓘ
• – ​KC – Gundog ⓘ
• – NZKC – Gundog ⓘ
• – UKC – Gun Dogs ⓘ

FCI - Sussex Spaniel

1. Sussex (English).
2. Sussex (French).
3. Sussex (German).
4. Spaniel de Sussex (Portuguese).
5. Sussex (español).