Spaniel (Sussex)
Group: Gundog
Size: Medium
Coat length: Medium
Grooming required: More than once a week
Coat sheds: No
Home size: Small or Large House
Garden size: Large
Lifespan: Over 10 Years
Exercise: More than an hour per day
They are a heavily-built dog with a long, low body and quite a wide head and they move with a characteristic rolling gait. They have the typical Spaniel long hanging ears and silky, though flat, coat, which comes in a rich golden-liver colour.
They are slow but have good stamina and scenting ability and were bred in England in the 1800s to accompany hunters on foot, flushing and retrieving game.
They are not as out-going and playful as other Spaniels but are affectionate, gentle and loyal. With enough exercise they are stable and calm inside the home but they do have a tendency to bark. They are naturally friendly and sociable with other animals and strangers and excellent with children. They need more exercise than it might seem, especially as they have a tendency to gain weight.
They need regular brushing and combing and their ears need checking. Their main health issue is that they are prone to ear infections. There have also been some reported cases of intervertebral disc syndrome, otitis exerna, heart murmur and enlarged heart.