Gundog group · England
Sussex Spaniel
What makes them remarkable
After the Second World War, the Sussex Spaniel’s survival depended on a tiny handful of remaining dogs.
- Friendly
- Calm
- Cheerful
- Social
- Devoted
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 16 to 20 kg35 to 45 lb
- Lives
- 13 to 15 years
- Energy
- Low
- Trains
- Moderate
- Barks
- High
Training
Training a Sussex Spaniel
Gundog breeds. Quick to learn and quick to get over-excited. The work is calm around distractions, not obedience.
Rewards first
Start here
Sensitive to correction. Treats, praise and play get the best results.
Vocal Breed
Sussex Spaniels are the most vocal of spaniels. Train a quiet command early and manage barking expectations.
Slow and Steady
Not a high-energy breed. Training sessions should be low-key and patient, matching their deliberate nature.
The app turns this into five to fifteen minutes a day.
Add your Sussex Spaniel and it builds the plan around their age, where they came from and what they already know, one step at a time.
Free to start. iPhone. No card needed.
At home
Living with one
Bred to find, flush and retrieve game alongside a person. Biddable, busy, and happiest with a job.
Gets on with
- ChildrenHigh
- Other dogsHigh
- StrangersModerate
- CatsHigh
Breed averages. Early socialisation and the individual dog matter more.
- Exercise
- 30-60 minutes daily. Moderate walks and play. Not highly active but enjoys outdoor time.
- Grooming
- Moderate. Regular brushing, attention to feathering. Professional trimming occasionally needed.
- Drool
- Low
- Coat
- Medium length, Flat or wavy, Abundant, FeatheredGolden Liver
- In a flat
- Can work, with enough exercise outside it.
Health
Things to ask a breeder or vet about
Intervertebral Disc Disease
Moderate
Long back prone to spinal issues
Hip Dysplasia
Moderate
Joint condition requiring health screening
Cardiac Issues
Moderate
Heart conditions including pulmonic stenosis
Where they come from
History
Developed in Sussex, England in the late 1700s at the Rosehill estate. Bred for slow, methodical work in dense cover. Nearly extinct after World War II with only five dogs remaining. The breed was saved by a devoted breeding effort but remains rare.
- Stump · Won Best in Show at the 2009 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at 10 years old, the oldest dog to win
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