Sussex Spaniel

A Sussex Spaniel on a scent does something no other British gundog is supposed to do. It gives tongue, a rolling bay that tells the handler where the dog is in cover too thick to see through, bred in deliberately. The breed was developed from the 1790s by Augustus Fuller at Rosehill Park near Hastings, for shooting men who walked slowly through the dense woodland and heavy clay of the Weald and needed a dog that pushed through rather than raced.

The result is distinctive. It stands about 40 centimetres but weighs around 20 kilos, long and low with heavy bone, a large head with a frowning expression and a coat of rich golden liver that no other breed carries. It is also very rare, and the Kennel Club lists it among the vulnerable native breeds, with only a handful of litters born in some years.

Suitability

Sussex Spaniels are calm, affectionate and rather serious at home, content to lie near their people for most of the day. They bond closely with the family and take a while to warm to visitors, greeting them with a considered look rather than the bounce of a springer. The voice is the main thing prospective owners need to hear about in advance. The breed barks and bays when working and many carry that into daily life, announcing the post, the neighbour and the fox at the end of the garden, a real consideration for thin walls. They can be possessive of food and toys and some are grumpy with strange dogs, so early socialising and resource management matter. Children usually do well with a Sussex provided they learn not to hurry it or hang on its ears. Long stretches alone are tolerated better than by many spaniels but not enjoyed.

Exercise

An hour a day is plenty for most adults, taken at the dog’s pace, a deliberate walk with the nose down. Pushing a Sussex into a fast march defeats the point, and it will simply slow down. Scent is the enjoyment, so a walk through woodland or across a common where the dog can investigate is far more satisfying than the same distance on a pavement. Many owners take them to gundog training or working tests, where the breed’s steadiness and retrieve show well. Puppies should be kept to short outings and off stairs, because a long, low, heavy body strains immature joints and the back. Heat is a limitation, and summer walks belong early or late. Recall is reasonable by spaniel standards, but a Sussex on a rabbit line can be stubbornly deaf and the lead goes on near livestock and roads.

Grooming

The coat is abundant, flat or slightly wavy, with a thick weatherproof undercoat and feathering on the legs, chest, belly and ears. It sheds moderately all year and more heavily in spring and autumn, and the golden liver hair shows up clearly on pale carpets. Brushing two or three times a week with a slicker and a comb keeps mats away, with the feathering and behind the ears needing most attention, and the feet, hocks and ears are trimmed every month or so to stop mud and burrs collecting. A groomer tidies the whole dog two or three times a year for most pet owners. The ears are long, low set and heavy, and lifting and checking them weekly is not optional in a breed that pushes through wet undergrowth. A Sussex that has spent an hour in a Wealden wood needs a hose and a towel before it is allowed back inside.

Health

The lifespan is good, with twelve to fifteen years usual. Hip dysplasia occurs in a heavy, low breed and hip scoring under the BVA and Kennel Club scheme is standard for both parents. Heart conditions, including pulmonic stenosis and patent ductus arteriosus, are recognised, and a breeder should be able to say the parents have had their hearts checked. A DNA test exists for pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase 1 deficiency, an inherited disorder causing exercise intolerance and collapse, and results for both parents should be available. The long back makes disc problems possible, and any sudden reluctance to jump or weakness behind needs same day veterinary attention. Ear infections are the routine nuisance, and weight is the everyday battle, since every extra kilo lands on the joints and spine.

Choosing and training

Anyone serious about a Sussex Spaniel starts with the breed club, because litters are so few that buyers usually wait a year or more. Puppies are rarely advertised and a Sussex offered cheaply online is almost certainly something else. Ask for hip scores, heart checks and PDP1 DNA results, and look at the parents’ temperaments. Training takes patience and a sense of humour. The breed is thoughtful rather than quick, stubborn about anything it sees no reason for, and responds to food, praise and short, calm sessions rather than repetition or pressure. A raised voice gets a slow blink and a lie down. Teaching a quiet cue early, alongside a reliable recall and a retrieve, addresses the two things most likely to cause friction later. Grooming, ear handling and being lifted should be introduced early.

Verdict

The Sussex suits a patient household that wants a steady, affectionate, slow moving gundog with real character, can accept a vocal dog and a certain amount of hair, and is prepared to wait for a puppy from a responsible breeder.

It is not the right choice for terraced housing with sensitive neighbours, for anyone wanting a fast or quiet dog, or for buyers who need a puppy soon. A cocker will do the job of an everyday spaniel far more easily, and the Sussex is chosen for what it is rather than for convenience.