How does the Sussex Spaniel work in the field?
The Sussex spaniel is a low, heavy, golden liver spaniel that hunts dense cover slowly and thoroughly. Unusually, it gives tongue, barking as it follows a scent.
The Sussex spaniel is a low, long, heavily built spaniel with a rich golden liver coat, bred in Sussex to work dense cover on foot. It hunts slowly and thoroughly, and unusually among spaniels it gives tongue, barking as it follows a scent, which once let guns on foot track it through thick undergrowth. It flushes game and retrieves to hand. Today the Sussex is one of the rarest native gundog breeds, and very few are worked, so anyone wanting a working Sussex should ask the breeder how the parents are used and be prepared to wait for the right litter. A slow, steady dog for walked-up days is what the breed offers.
What is the Sussex Spaniel like to live and work with?
Calm, friendly and steady indoors, enthusiastic outside, and sometimes vocal. It suits owners who want a gentler, slower spaniel.
Sussex spaniels are calm, friendly and steady, with a laid-back manner indoors and plenty of enthusiasm outside. They are affectionate with their family and generally good with children and other dogs. Some are vocal, which is part of their heritage rather than a fault, and they can be stubborn once they have found something interesting. They suit owners who want a gentler, slower spaniel, like the Clumber, and enjoy a dog with a strong character. Look for parents that are sound, confident and easy to handle, and that are happy to work with their owner.
Which health tests matter for the Sussex Spaniel?
Both parents should have hip scores and a current eye certificate. The key DNA test is PDP1 deficiency, which causes exercise intolerance.
Ask for both parents' hip scores under the BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme and a current eye certificate under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme. A DNA test is available for pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase 1 (PDP1) deficiency, which causes exercise intolerance in the breed. It is inherited recessively, so a puppy is not expected to be affected by the tested variant when at least one parent has a reliable clear result. Because the population is very small, breeders have to balance health against keeping the gene pool as wide as possible, so ask how the mating was chosen and what is known about health in the wider family. Results for Kennel Club registered dogs can be checked on the Kennel Club's Health Test Results Finder. See our checklist for buying a gundog for everything else to ask.
How much training and exercise does the Sussex Spaniel need?
Patient, consistent training with plenty of reward, and a reliable recall. An adult needs about an hour of exercise a day, with care taken while young.
Sussex spaniels respond best to patient, consistent training with plenty of reward. Start with recall and the stop whistle, then quartering, steadiness to flush and shot, and retrieving to hand. Their slower pace keeps them within range more easily than a fast spaniel, but their nose can lead them into stubborn moments, so a reliable recall is essential. Keep sessions short and varied. An adult Sussex needs about an hour of exercise a day, and youngsters should not be worked hard while their long, heavy frame develops. Brush the coat weekly, and check the long, heavy ears regularly.
How long does it take to train the Sussex Spaniel?
For the Sussex Spaniel, readiness for the intended role matters more than a birthday. Check demonstrated foundations, physical suitability and the support needed for the next stage.
During early learning, the puppy learns recall, its name and basic manners, and is introduced gently to cover and new places. After comfortable everyday foundations, it learns to hunt close, to stop on the whistle and to retrieve to hand, and its habit of giving tongue on scent becomes clear. With reliable foundations, it meets game and is steadied to flush and shot on quiet walked-up days. Litters are few and far between, so keep an eye on the Sussex spaniel puppies for sale. Use the training progression guide to discuss readiness with a reward-based trainer. Ask your vet about physical demands, and plan game, water and gunfire introductions with competent help.