Sussex Spaniel

The Sussex Spaniel is a breed of dog developed in England. It played a part in the foundations of the Field Spaniel and is very similar in appearance to the Clumber Spaniel. It is used as a Gundog, and in Dog Shows.

Appearance
The breed is long-bodied, muscular and heavily built. Its head is broader in the skull than the English Cocker Spaniel and its wrinkled brow gives it a kind, gentle, and sometimes slightly sad expression. The tail is usually docked except in countries where docking is not permitted. Its bones are quite large for a short-legged dog.

Coat and color
The only acceptable colour is golden liver with hazel eyes. The coat is thick, either straight or slightly wavy, and does not curl. The nose and eye-rims must be of the same colour as the coat.

Size
The Sussex Spaniel is short and should be no taller than 13 to 15 inches at the withers. The acceptable weight range is between 35 and 45 pounds.

Temperament
The breed is friendly and makes an excellent companion for the country household. Calmer than Cockers but not as calm as Clumbers.

History
In 1795, Mr. Fuller of Rosehill park, Hastings in East Sussex, England began breeding dogs for a special purpose-Gun dogs to work in districts where the terrain was rough and the undergrowth very dense- which meant that a spaniel was needed which could give tongue or to alert the hunter on his quarry. This was a trait not desirable in any other spaniel. So Mr. Fuller decided to cross various dogs like the now extinct liver and white norfolk, the Field Spaniel and possibly some early springer spaniels.

The Sussex Spaniel was one of the first breeds admitted into the stud book by the American Kennel Club in 1884. As the name implies, the breed originated in Sussex, England in the 18th century where it was used as a hunting dog. Because of its short legs and narrow body the breed could easily maneuver through the undergrowth, which made it the ideal hunting companion.

The breed lost what little popularity it had in the 1940's. In 1947, only 10 sussex spaniels were registered in the English Kennel Club.

Today this breed is more common in the United States than even in England.