Breeds / Medium
Sussex Spaniel puppies
Calm, affectionate and somewhat solemn, the Sussex Spaniel is a slow working flushing spaniel with a deep voice and a strong attachment to its own household.
The facts
- Size class Medium
- Country of origin Great Britain
- Adult weight 15.9 to 20.4 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 35 to 45 lb
- Adult height 33 to 38 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Medium double
- Typical lifespan 13 to 15 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Fine with supervision
Where these come from:
About the Sussex Spaniel
The Sussex Spaniel was developed on estates in the south of England as a slow, methodical flushing spaniel that gave tongue as it worked, so a hunter on foot could follow it through dense cover. It is long and low, 33 to 38 cm at the shoulder and 15.9 to 20.4 kg, with a rich golden liver coat found in no other breed. At home it is calm and rather serious, affectionate with its own people and steadier than most spaniels.
Exercise is moderate. Walks and swimming suit it well, but jumping, agility and hard running should wait until the dog is grown, because the breed matures slowly and the growth plates close late. The coat wants brushing and combing weekly, with the hair under the feet trimmed for grip. Sussex are vocal and will bay, which not every neighbour tolerates. The breed is genuinely rare and waiting lists are long. New owners most often exercise puppies too hard too early.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Sussex Spaniel puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase deficiency (PDP1), detectable by DNA test on both parents
- Heart disease, detected by auscultation and echocardiogram
- Bloat and gastric torsion, a surgical emergency in deep chested dogs
- Hip dysplasia, which breeding stock should be x-rayed and scored for
- Ear infections in the long drop ears, caught by weekly checks and cleaning
From Sussex Spaniel breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/sussex-spaniel/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your Sussex Spaniel puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Sussex Spaniel.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 15.9 to 20.4 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Other medium breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.