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SUSSEX SPANIEL |
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While the rest of Europe was developing the pointing spaniels, the British created their equivalent in the form of the flushing land spaniel. Although the flushing spaniel owes most of his inheritance to the couching dogs of early days, other additions changed his size and style of hunting. What these crossings were is a matter of conjecture, but they may have come from the small, though massive, heavy-skinned influence of the low-stationed hound. The result was a passionate and happy hunting dog that flushed rather than pointed. These dogs became very popular with British gunners, and a variety of sizes and color types developed. The Sussex is
probably a remnant of the oldest type, maintaining a hint of hound in
both his heavy-skinned appearance and his urge to give tongue when on
scent (especially fur). His earliest proponent, in the 1790s, was A.E.
Fuller of Rosehill Park, in the British county of Sussex. By 1803, the
British dog press was praising "the golden Spaniel of Sussex, the
largest and strongest of the Spaniels." This proves that not only
was the Sussex in England at that time, but other types of spaniels also
existed with which to compare him.
Since its original
introduction, this rare spaniel has constantly verged on extinction. Despite
fine abilities and the beautiful golden color, the breed has never attracted
a wide circle of fanciers. British breeder Joy Freer may have held the
longest interest, acquiring her first Sussex in 1923 and maintaining her
sponsorship until her death in 1984. She literally carried the breed through
the Second World War, borrowing a little of her hogs' rations here and
butcher's scraps there to maintain her eight dogs through the years of
food rationing. She continued a limited breeding program through those
difficult years, regimentally and carefully placing the one litter a year
with others who loved the breed. Nearly all modern dogs trace to these
eight survivors of the War.
To say the
breed base is narrow does not begin to define the problems. With so
few in existence, all closely inbred through necessity, it has been
a difficult task to upgrade stock. But much to the credit of fanciers
on both sides of the Atlantic, improvement is being accomplished. Great
care is taken with the placement of each precious puppy, since every
dog may be needed for promotion of the breed or for breeding stock.
In appearance,
the Sussex has a tendency to loose skin, heavy and long, low-set ears
and prominent flew, reminiscent of the hound—with the setter's heavy
fringed coat and merry, docile disposition. The breed is a sturdy hunter
with great stamina, though not quick. This probably proved its downfall
in later years, against the more agile swift retrievers and setters.
This is a
laid-back spaniel who, while friendly, is a bit more territorial than
most others of his group. Devoted to his family, he rarely lets them
out of his sight. Owning one means having a shadow around the house.
Sussex Spaniels take correction well and learn quickly. Many have the
endearing habit of "smiling" when excited, or when asking
forgiveness after a scolding. Swimming is a passion taken to naturally.
If not hunted, the Sussex will find his own quarry: birds, insects and
butterflies.
Joy Freer
described them like this: "There is no other animal which has his
coloring except the lion . . . [the Sussex] also have the same big bone
and big feet, and something of the same steady way of regarding you
that the lion does."
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