Rarer Gundog Spaniel Club of Victoria Inc.

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Sussex Spaniels

Introduction:   The Sussex faces the greatest challenge to its survival as a breed, with a negative surge of feeling in the UK as docking can now only be carried out by a Vet and poor breeding records in Australia. Perseverance and love of a breed can reverse these fortunes-it has in other breeds (in the 1970s there were claimed to be only 15 Shar Peis in the world, today the breed is known world wide). His loving and happy nature and unique colour are essentials of this low and heavy dog.

Breed Standard

SUSSEX SPANIEL Kennel Club, London 1994

F.C.I. Standard No 127

GENERAL APPEARANCE - Massive, strongly built. Active, energetic dog, whose characteristic movement is a decided roll, and unlike that of any other Spaniel.

CHARACTERISTICS - Natural working ability, gives tongue at work in thick cover.

TEMPERAMENT - Kindly disposition, aggression highly undesirable.

HEAD AND SKULL - Skull wide, showing moderate curve from ear to ear, neither flat nor apple headed, with centre indentation and a pronounced stop. Brows frowning; occiput decided, but not pointed. Nostrils well developed and liver in colour. Well balanced head.

EYES - Hazel colour, fairly large, not full, but soft expression and not showing much haw.

EARS - Thick, fairly large and lobular, set moderately low, just above eye level. Lying close to skull.

MOUTH - Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. Upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

NECK - Long, strong, and slightly arched, not carrying head much above level of back. Slight throatiness, but well marked frill.

FOREQUARTERS - Shoulders sloping and free; arms well boned and muscular. Knees large and strong, pastern short and well boned. Legs rather short and strong.

BODY - Chest deep and well developed; not too round and wide. Back and loin well developed and muscular in both width and depth. The back ribs must be deep. Whole body strong and level with no sign of waistlines from withers to hips.

HINDQUARTERS - Thighs strongly boned and muscular; hocks large and strong, legs short and strong with good bone. Hindlegs not appearing shorter than forelegs or over angulated.

FEET - Round, well padded, well feathered between toes.

TAIL - Set low and never carried above level of back. Lively actioned. Preferably docked to a length of from 5-7 ins.

GAIT/MOVEMENT - True fore and aft with distinctive roll.

COAT - Abundant and flat with no tendency to curl and ample undercoat for weather resistance. Ears covered with soft, wavy hair, but not too profuse. Forequarters and hindquarters moderately well feathered. Tail thickly clothed with hair but not feathered.

COLOUR - rich golden liver and hair shading to golden at tip; gold predominating. Dark liver or puce undesirable.

SIZE - Ideal Height: 38-41 cms (15-16 ins) at withers Ideal Weight approx. 50 lbs

FAULTS - Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

NOTE - Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.