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Sussex is a long, low-bred bird dog of great strength and endurance. Topping just 15 tall at the shoulder, Sussex is nonetheless described as “huge”, with a deep chest and massive bone. His trademark is an abundant, feathery coat of rich golden-liver. The classic spaniel head, with its waving ears and large brown eyes, projects a happily drowned expression at odds with Sussex’s innate hilarity.
In the 1700s, English county sportsmen from Sussex developed a spaniel, whose short legs and thick torso plowed through the area’s heavy clay soil, dense underbrush and thick hedgerows to hunt winged game. Were compatible with. Because the dog was built so low and the cover so high, Sussex developed barking and barking language to mark its location for human predators. And to this day, Sussex is more vocal than other Spaniels.
Its short legs, huge build, long body, and the habit of giving tongue to odor made the breed ideally suited to sneaking into dense underground and flushing games within gun range. Power, mobility and will were necessary for this purpose. While it has never gained huge popularity in numbers, the Sussex Spaniel is still essentially unchanged in character and general appearance from those 19th-century game dogs. The Sussex Spaniel presents a long and low, rectangular and rather large-scale appearance with free movements and good tail action. The breed has a serious and serious expression. The rich golden liver color is unique to the breed.
The gestation period in lasts for 60-64 days The primary period of the reproductive cycle of the female is called Proestrus and goes on for around 9 days. During this time the females begin to draw in males. The subsequent part is the Estrus when the bitch is receptive to the male. It goes on for around 3 to 11 days. The third part is the Diestrus. Usually, it happens around day 14. In this period the bitch’s discharge changes for distinctive red and reaching its end. The vulva gets back to average, and she will no longer allow mating. The fourth part called the Anestrus. The time span between heat periods ordinarily keeps going around a half year. The litter size ranges between 6 to 8 puppies at a time’
The usual grooming for the breed is to bathe, brush and comb. The hair under the feet should be cut to prevent the dog from slipping. If the dog is neutered, the coat becomes fuzzy and cotton-candy, and is very difficult to deal with. Sussex should not be shaved unless absolutely necessary, as the coat takes a long time to recover. Like all breeds, nails should be cut regularly.
Sussex can be stubborn; They have long memories and they will never forget nor forgive the rough handling. Sussex owners should try to clearly tell the dog what they want, and praise the dog very much when it gets it right.
Sussex Spaniels should not exercise vigorously before they are at least one year old. Sussex is growing slower, and too early exercise can damage the growth plates. Puppies should be allowed to self-exercise by playing. Adult Sussex loves swimming and long walks, but should not start jumping and agility-type work until the dog is at least 18 months old.
The Sussex Spaniel is a very slow growing breed. Sussex Spaniels should perform well on high quality dog food, whether manufactured commercially or prepared at home with the supervision and approval of your vet. Any diet should be appropriate for the age of the dog (puppy, adult, or senior). Intact Sussex is almost never overweight, as they only eat as much as they need. Know which human foods are safe for dogs and which are not. Contact your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet. Clean, fresh water must be available at all times.
Sussex is difficult to breed, and bitches often skip the season, re-absorb puppies, and require a c-section. Puppies are fragile by about two weeks of age. Responsible breeders check their stock for health conditions such as heart problems. Bloat can affect some Sussex, and cancer occurs mostly in older dogs. A genetic test is now available for pdp1, a genetic metabolism that allows breeders to identify carriers and avoid producing affected offspring.
Recommended health tests from the National Breed Club: