Sussex Spaniel

Grooming

The coat of these dogs is straight or slightly wavy, but it shouldn't be curly. Sussex Spaniel dogs shed through the year moderately, and daily brushing will keep the hair under control. Besides brushing, regular baths and combing will help this dog look good.

Sussex Spaniels also demand basic care:

• Nail trimming
• Teeth brushing
• Ears check-up

Exercise

Sussex Spaniels need moderate daily activities to be happy. Long walks, hiking, and swimming can all do the trick to keep this dog satisfied. These are adaptable dogs but are suited for in-house living.

Be careful that you don't over-exercise your puppy because their joints and bones are developing, and providing them with a lot of exercise could leave them with some serious health problems later in life.

Personality

Sussex Spaniels are intelligent, gentle dogs that don't like being handled roughly. You must use positive training methods full of treats and praises during training. Sussex Spaniels have a mind of their own and can be stubborn so you will have to be patient and consistent with the training.

You should start socializing your puppy as soon as it arrives home. With proper socialization, you can be sure that your dog will develop into a well-behaved dog with whom you will not have problems later in life.

Sussex Spaniel and kids

Sussex spaniel is an excellent choice for families with children. However, they are best suited for older kids who know how to properly approach, interact, and play with a dog. No matter how good you do is, you should never leave him alone while they are playing.

Supervision is required so any unwanted behavior wouldn't emerge.

Sussex Spaniels and other animals

These dogs can live with other dogs and animals if they are raised with them from the start. Toward cats, they can be a little bossy. This is also where the correct socialization will play its part because Sussex spaniels can act aggressively toward strange dogs.

Since they were bred for hunting, birds aren't a good choice for these dogs to be around.

Health

Sussex spaniels have a life expectancy of 13-15 years and are generally healthy dogs. They are, however, prone to some health issues that you should be aware of. That doesn't mean that every dog will get them, but it is best that you know what these issues are so you can react on time.

Sussex Spaniels are prone to:

• Bloat
• Intervertebral disc disease
• Hip dysplasia
• Pulmonic stenosis

Sussex Spaniel Breeders

If you decide that this is the right dog for you, we advise you that you buy Sussex Spaniel only from an official dog breeder. Good and responsible breeders regularly perform health tests on their breeding dogs to ensure their puppies will be in the best possible health.

While talking to breeders, ask them to show you health certificates. If possible, always see the mother and puppies in person. For any question that you have about raising or caring about these dogs, you can ask breeders, and they will gladly answer all your questions because it is also in their best interest that their puppies go into a good home.

Photo by: Vera Reva

World Dog Finder team

In the English country of Sussex around the 1700s, a sportsman developed a dog breed with short legs and a great ability to hunt feathered game. These dogs could cover a lot of ground, and they developed a language of their own barking to let the hunter know where they are.

Even today, these dogs are excellent hunters and are a bit more vocal dogs compared to other spaniel breeds.

FUN FACT: Sussex Spaniel was officially been accepted in the AKC in 1884.