Sussex Spaniel breed guide

Sussex may be stubborn: AKC says they have long memories and never forget or forgive rough handling. Owners should convey clearly what they want and give lots of praise when the dog gets it right.

The trademark is an abundant, feathery coat of rich golden-liver and a classic spaniel head with wavy-coated ears and big hazel eyes.

Sussex live 13 to 15 years. AKC says the breed is difficult to breed and breeders screen for heart problems.

Bloat can affect some Sussex, cancer occurs mostly in older dogs and a genetic test for pdp1, a heritable metabolic condition, lets breeders identify carriers.

General grooming is bathing, brushing and combing and the hair on the bottoms of the feet should be trimmed to keep the dog from slipping. A neutered Sussex's coat turns fuzzy and cotton-candy-like and is much harder to handle. AKC says the dog should not be shaved down unless absolutely necessary.

The Sussex should not have strenuous exercise before at least a year old, since it is slow growing and early exercise can damage the growth plates. Adults love swimming and long walks, but jumping and agility-type work should not start until the dog is fully grown.

Sometime in the 1700s sportsmen in the English county of Sussex developed a spaniel whose short legs and burly torso suited hunting game birds through heavy clay soil, dense underbrush and thick hedgerows.

Because the dog was so low and the cover so high, Sussex developed a language of barks and babbling to mark their location for human hunters and to this day they tend to be more vocal than other spaniels.