Sussex Spaniel - breed description and dog character

The Sussex Spaniel is a medium-sized dog, notable for its considerable strength. However, among the breed of spaniels, sussex it is considered to be the largest and most impressive. He has a large head, the skull is wide and massive.

The Sussex Spaniel has expressive and large eyes, pigmented with a pleasant brown tint. Many people can discern sadness and longing in them. Perhaps this effect is caused by the lower eyelids drooping slightly in the dog. The spaniel has large and hanging down ears, which are covered with a thick coat of wool, which by standards should not be excessively wavy. In general, the Sussex Spaniel has a beautiful, long and somewhat wavy coat. She needs to be a bright brown-red tint.

The tail in dogs of this breed is not long, limbs are strong and strong, bones are large. The hind legs are slightly longer than the forepaws. Between the fingers there is a thick coat.

The Sussex Spaniel has a rich, thick coat, completely smooth or partly wavy, without a tendency to curl and curly, the limbs and tail are also perfectly covered with wool. The color is chestnut-golden, the hair at the end acquires a bright golden color, therefore, in general, the golden color is predominant.

History of occurrence

The breed was named after the English county of Sussex, where nurseries were first founded, in which representatives of the breed were bred. The first dog of the breed, the Sussex Spaniel, lived with M. Fuller, who managed to fix the golden chestnut coat color of these dogs.

Currently, the breed is considered rare, and she managed to survive only at the expense of the efforts of the English resident D. Freer. Along with many other breeds, the spaniel almost disappeared completely from the face of the earth during World War II. And it was Freer who was able to keep alive eight representatives of the breed, which gave a new impetus to the long-term work to restore the Sussex Spaniels. And in 1885 the breed standard was approved, and from that moment the Sussex Spaniels were taken to a separate group.

Breed description

The Sussex Spaniel is a short dog, barely reaching 40 cm with a weight (average) of up to 22 kg. The breed standard is as follows:

1. The head of the spaniel is wide, the superciliary arches are clearly pronounced, formed, which adds some viciousness to the dog. The skull is not flat, wide.
2. The muzzle is of medium length - up to 8 cm, in profile has a square shape, wide. The tip of the nose is pigmented brown, the nostrils are developed and wide.
3. Lips slightly saggy, massive jaw, scissor bite.
4. The eyes are not large, pigmented in a pleasant brown color. Dogs stand out against the background of others by the presence of a blinking membrane, which adds to the dog’s look a certain warmth and softness.
5. The ears are large, similar to the lobes, hanging down.
6. The neck is powerful, muscular, slightly curved.
7. The body of the Sussex Spaniel is down to earth, partly rectangular in shape, longer in relation to the height of the dog. It is characterized by developed muscles.
8. Forelegs strong, short, located immediately below the body, shoulders slightly inclined.
9. The hind legs are massive, muscular, parallel to each other.
10. Tail no more than 15 cm long, docked. In the process of movement, the sussex can energetically wag them, not positioning above the back.

Color

The wool of the Sussex Spaniel is shiny, looks excellent, can be smooth or partly wavy. Representatives of this breed are not accepted to cut, except, however, paw pads and metatarsus.Any speck of white on the body is a strong flaw in the standard.

Character Features

If the pet lives in an apartment or at home, it will be a calm, stable obedient and balanced dog, which will be distinguished by a special affection for its owner. However, the spaniel will behave courteously and warmly and with the other inhabitants of the apartment.

Due to the fact that this dog is not just calm, but somewhat phlegmatic, having a benevolent character, nature-based patience with each member of the family, it is often bred in families where other pets and small children live. Toddlers adore Sussex with adoration, and he responds to them the same.

To a stranger, the dog will begin to show some suspicion and alertness, while not showing open aggression or anger. A number of owners of Sussex Spaniels point out one feature of their pets, marking it as not the best - if a representative of the breed feels a serious danger or hears an unfamiliar noise, he is accepted loudly, tirelessly and continuously to give a voice. This may result in some inconvenience to the neighbors.

With other dog breeds and other domestic animals, the spaniel can perfectly coexist in one territory, while it does not have problems with the struggle for its own place. The only exception to the rule are birds, because the hunting instinct of the Sussex Spaniel can work on them, and even high-quality socialization will not help get rid of this predisposition.

In general, the dog has a cheerful and good-natured character, he is distinguished by amazing devotion to his family members, is gentle and obedient, calmly perceives the training process, which does not prevent him from sometimes showing obstinacy. Activity, tranquility, tremendous vigor in the process of hunting or walking, non-malignancy to other pets and an excellent attitude towards children turn the Sussex Spaniel into a universal subject of adoration.

The process of education and training

Representatives of this breed calmly perceive training and training, so it is only important to be patient and affectionately treat the pet. In order to raise an energetic and healthy dog, you will need to not only provide him with a balanced diet, but also provide the opportunity to exercise. You will need to arrange long, active training, games and outdoor activities. Then this will turn into a benefit for the Sussex Spaniel, allowing him to obtain not only excellent physical condition, but also emotional stability, without turning an ordinary phlegmatic person into a real neurasthenic.

If possible, it is advisable to walk with your pet without using a leash or a muzzle, in places where this is allowed. It is best to give him the opportunity to engage with professional dog handlers on the run, in training, where your pet will certainly show all his abilities.

It is only important to remember in the process of training that the pet will memorize the commands, and then execute them with some reluctance and leisurelyness. But this is not a consequence of low ingenuity or lack of perseverance, it is only a matter of natural phlegmatism of the Sussex Spaniel. Therefore, the owner of the dog will need to be patient and praise his pet with a pleasant delicacy after any command that was performed correctly.

How to care for a pet

Caring for a representative of this breed is very simple, the procedure does not require serious efforts from the owner.

1. Initially, it is important to periodically comb the coat of a pet once or twice a week.
2. You will also need to regularly monitor the condition of the ears, as tassels can appear there, and cut the hair between the toes.
3. It is necessary to fully bathe a pet about 3-4 times a year, or if such a need arose.
4. It is important for ears to pay attention to the issue of cleanliness - if particles of dirt and sulfur have accumulated inside, the ears should be cleaned with a regular cotton pad, which is moistened in clean water or a special solution. If you experience an unpleasant characteristic odor, you will need to consult a veterinarian doctor.
5. It is necessary to cut nails if they grow excessively. It is not recommended to use scissors, for these purposes there is a claw cutter. However, it often happens that adults can grind their claws themselves, but the puppy will definitely need to do this to the owner.
6. It is periodically important to examine the eyes of your pet. If contamination is noted, soak a cotton pad in tea leaves or chamomile broth, and then gently process.
7. Despite the fact that the sussex has strong and beautiful teeth, it also does not hurt the care. Removing plaque from teeth or tartar is easy if you offer the dog special treats, dry granular food or large bones.

Of course, you will need to devote time to passing all the necessary vaccinations, regular visits to professional examinations. All this will help to maintain the physical shape and health of the Sussex Spaniel.

Sussex Spaniel Diseases

Representatives of this breed have excellent and excellent health, inherent in nature: they live on average up to 14 years. Veterinarians call their eyes and mouth the only weak point, so you will need to ensure proper care and control of these areas, periodically inspect and clean, remembering that dogs are susceptible to infections.

Also, these dogs often have hip dysplasia, which is congenital, which will require the owner to periodically examine the pet, offer him only high-quality balanced food and provide the necessary vitamins and minerals.

In addition, osteochondrosis and auricle infections are on the list of the most common diseases in the sussex spaniel.

Any disease can be avoided if you make it a rule to steadily and timely bring your pet to the veterinarian for examination, as well as to be able to properly examine the Sussex Spaniel - then any disease will be determined in advance, and the course of therapy will help keep your pet healthy.

Feed

It is customary to feed an adult dog twice a day - in the morning and evening, and a puppy will need to provide food from 5 to 6 times a day, while always offering the pet clean water for drinking around the clock. The owner can choose between dry and natural food. If ready-made feeds are selected, then you will need to opt for high-quality rations for small energetic dogs.

The natural type of feeding involves the presence of crops and meat, a small amount of vegetables. At the same time, it is important to consider the activity of dogs when calculating the portion sizes. The diet can be diluted with offal - starting from a boiled heart or liver, ending with a scar or welded lungs. But it is important not to dwell only on meat, it will be necessary to introduce cottage cheese or other sour-milk products into the diet. Sometimes you can treat your dog to fish.