Sussex Spaniel
About the Sussex Spaniel
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Medium (25-50 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 13-15" |
| Weight | 35-45 lbs |
| Coat Type | Double |
| Coat Length | Medium |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
Moderate (30-60 min/day)
45 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
Moderate - Weekly
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Moderate mental stimulation needed
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $1,500-$2,500 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $1,300/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, Sussex Spaniels may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Families with Children
- Apartment Living
- First-Time Owners
Guides for your Sussex Spaniel
The story behind the Sussex Spaniel
The breed takes its name from the English county of Sussex, where it was developed from around the late eighteenth century by local sportsmen who needed a slow, heavy, methodical spaniel able to push game from dense woodland undergrowth on foot, giving tongue as it worked so the gun could follow. One estate in particular is credited with establishing the type. The breed was among those exhibited at Britain's earliest dog shows in the nineteenth century, but its numbers were always small, and it came perilously close to extinction during the Second World War, when the surviving population is generally described as having been rebuilt from a handful of dogs. It remains one of the rarest British native breeds, listed as vulnerable, with limited annual registrations, and is kept largely as a companion and show dog with occasional working use.
Originally bred for: Flushing spaniel, woodland gundog, foot-hunting bird dog. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a Sussex Spaniel
Weight management is the priority for a long-backed, heavy-boned dog with a leisurely lifestyle. Feed a measured complete diet in two portions, resist topping up, and account for every treat, checking the ribs by hand since the abundant coat conceals gradual gain.
Watch for: No breed-specific food intolerance is documented. Heavy pendulous ears predispose spaniels to ear inflammation from moisture and poor ventilation, which is usually a grooming issue; if it recurs despite good care, a vet may consider dietary allergy among other causes.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a Sussex Spaniel
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse our favorite dog toys and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a properly sized crate.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.