Sussex Spaniel puppies

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 they worked, so a hunter on foot could follow them through dense cover. They are 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 they are calm and rather serious, affectionate with their own people and steadier than most spaniels.

Exercise is moderate. Walks and swimming suit them 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 they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their 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

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.

Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 20.4 kg; chew toys made for medium breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other medium breeds

Previous: Standard Schnauzer · Next: Swedish Lapphund

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Sussex Spaniel breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/sussex-spaniel/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Pleple2000, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.