In the last Edition of "British Dogs," the article on Sussex Spaniels commenced with a question as to whether this variety had become extinct! This question, at that time asked satirically, could not be, at any rate as regards the Rosehill strain, answered to-day with an unqualified negative. For, sad though it is to have to write such words, the fancy Sussex of to-day is only fit - for a dog show; and though possibly he may still claim to be Sussex, the Spaniel - i.e. the working - element exists in him no longer. It is safe to say that the only good workers of the present day are of very mixed descent; but whether the fresh blood will be successful in electrifying the breed into new life, depends on whether a band of practical sportsmen will take the necessary trouble. As this is more than doubtful, we must prepare to look upon this grand old breed as moribund, especially as the Sussex, when young, is as delicate to rear as the Clumber himself.

Personally, the writer has refreshed his strain with much outside blood of other liver-coloured Springers, and by this he has restored its excellent working properties; but he has failed so far in grafting a vigorous constitution on to the old characteristics.

No doubt the so-called Rosehill breed of self-coloured golden livers was much in-bred before leaving its birthplace, on account of the colour being purely the whim of its founder and his followers. In Sussex, before the Rosehill, there had been for generations a breed of Spaniels which were chiefly liver-and-white. "A Quartogenarian," writing to the Sporting Magazine in November, 1833, mentions "the large brown-and-white Springer, chiefly in use in the large, wet, clayey woodland coverts in Sussex, Kent, etc."

Indeed, in a heavily wooded county like Sussex, it seems surprising that this whole liver should ever have been seriously cultivated by sportsmen, as such a colour is the most unsuited of all for woodland shooting, being nearly invisible in dark places, and at all times presenting a perilous resemblance to that of the hare. The writer always uses one of these Spaniels when he is on the prowl after duck and snipe, and he has found none other so useful for this sport, on account of this very unobtrusiveness of tint.

Although "Castra," who wrote the article for the first Edition of "British Dogs," quotes Youatt as if that author had written of Sussex Spaniels, Youatt's language hardly justifies this interpretation; for it evidently refers to the Spaniel breed generally, and not to any one of its modern subdivisions. Youatt says: "The Spaniel is evidently the parent of the Newfoundland dog and the Setter; while the Retriever, the Poodle, the Bernardine, the Esquimaux, the Siberian, and the Greenland dogs, the shepherd and drover's dog, and every variety distinguished for intelligence and fidelity, have more or less of his blood in them." Whatever we may think of this theory (and its improbability is patent), its author does not refer to a golden-liver coloured dog, for he proceeds immediately to describe this parent of such markedly opposite varieties as "varying in colour, but most commonly white, with brown or black patches."

The only reference of Youatt to the Sussex, by name, occurs in his description of the Springer, where he says: "The largest and best breed of Springers is said to be in Sussex, and is much esteemed in the wealds of that county."

"Castra" was a gentleman who, years ago, took an enthusiastic interest in the true Sussex Spaniel, and did much to save it from being annihilated by absorption into more modern strains. Not only was he a successful breeder and exhibitor, but, at the present day, many winning dogs of this variety are descended from his kennels.

It is a pity that we do not possess some reasoned expression of "Castra's" own opinion of the breed, based on his long experience, and that we have to content ourselves with the following brief and inconclusive observations: "This variety of Spaniel is one of the oldest known breeds of English sporting dogs, and is probably the one from which the Setter has been produced, by the simple process of selection. Such appears to be the opinion of 'Idstone,' and such was the opinion of the king of Setter breeders, the late Mr. Laverack, who went so far as to admit that, in breeding the animals for which he became so justly famous, he always aimed at producing an enlarged Spaniel, and maintained that the formation of a pure Sussex Spaniel was perfection for the purposes of endurance."

It is evident that no weighty argument is here advanced for the theory that the Sussex is the variety of Spaniel from which the Setter has been produced, to counterbalance its inherent unlikelihood and the numerous facts and opinions of authoritative writers that may be arrayed against it.

Although known among sportsmen of the county, and to some beyond it, "Stonehenge" was the first minutely to describe the Sussex Spaniel in his book "The Dog in Health and Disease." He says: "The Sussex is a distinct and a very old-established breed. He divides the honours of old family with the Clumber, and he always has been, and always will be, in demand." The present state of what, in the circumstances, may be not inaptly called the Sussex Fancy, shows how unsafe it is to prophesy anything about sporting dogs when they are bred for the bench and not for work: at the present time the Sussex is certainly not in the demand he was years ago.

"Stonehenge," in his work published 1857, selected a brace of the Rosehill Spaniels as representing the true type of the Sussex. These were bred by Mr. A. E. Fuller, of Rosehill, Brightling, Sussex, and descended from the celebrated stock of Mr. Moneypenny, of Rolvenden: one of the brace, named George, "Stonehenge" retained in his later works, because he so perfectly represented the breed. This George is undeniably typical and workmanlike; but he does not resemble in the slightest the pudding-headed, distorted cripples of the present show-ring.

Lord Tredegar, in Monmouthshire, has an old painting of some Sussex Spaniels, the breed of which he still possesses. It dates from about 1820, at which time these Spaniels were acquired by the grandfather of the present peer. In the picture there are about a dozen dogs, all typical in their sturdy, yet active build, and all of a uniform, dark liver-colour, with an occasional white chest or foot: they are gathered round a gamekeeper in the characteristic dress of the period.

Writing in 1872, "Idstone" declared the Sussex to be nearly, if not quite, extinct. He also makes a statement regarding them that is not supported by any other authority - namely, that "these dogs were as silent as Clumbers; but, as a rule, they would fling their tongue under strong excitement, and especially on view, unless they were broken to drop to game." The full and bell-like note of the Sussex has usually been considered a special characteristic, and as distinguishing that breed from mute-working Spaniels.

The Rosehill strain was in great force at our shows for a number of years, Mr. T. B. Bowers, Mr. Marchant, Mr. Saxby, and a few others, doing much to popularise the variety by the excellent specimens bred and exhibited by them.

Mr. Jacobs, who was a large breeder of Spaniels, crossed the Sussex and the Black Spaniel; his object being, as he stated, "to improve the type of both. I wanted to get more bone, longer body, and shorter legs in the Blacks, and longer heads in the Sussex." Neither his object nor his method was commendable, and the desire for "more bone, etc.," is an unwholesome craze of the modern "fancier.

Here is the description of the Sussex Spaniel, published by the Sporting Spaniel Society: -

The Sussex is by no means so slow and heavy as the Clumber - he is higher on the leg and shorter in the body ; still, he is a weighty Spaniel. He is adapted for moderately thick covert and moderately hard work. Intelligent, docile, and keen of nose, he is not signalised either by his build or by his colour as suitable for work in dense undergrowth. On a hot scent he should throw his tongue and have a pleasant note ; some good dogs will inform their master the kind of game they are questing by a variation of tone.

Skull

Massive and heavy, with the forehead projecting over the eye.

Jaws

Longish and square, with flews fairly developed, the nostrils large.

Eyes

Hazel coloured, large and soft, not showing the haw.

Ears

Large and well furnished with silky hair, narrow where they issue from the head, but broader at the tips; should be rather low set on.

Neck

Strong and muscular, crest a little arched.

Shoulders

Strong, sloping, and muscular.

Fore Legs

Strong, straight, and fairly short, with plenty of feather down to the foot.

Body

Long and round, with chest deep and ample.

Loin

Very strong, without slackness, straight and broad, well let down in flank.

Hindquarters

Very muscular, not too much sickled ; hocks well let down.

Feet

Round, well arched, and hairy.

Stern

Set low, with a downward action, and well feathered. A low carriage of the tail is a mark of purity of blood.

Coat

Straight or slightly wavy, thick, soft, and abundant.

Colour

Deep golden-liver, by no means gingery ; nostrils liver-coloured.

Sussex Spaniel Moses.

Fig. 66. - Sussex Spaniel Moses.

General Appearance

A sedate and thoughtful dog when at rest, but full of life and activity when at work. Weight of dogs from 401b. to 451b., of bitches from 35lb. to 401b.

There is one point calling for observation in the description issued by the Spaniel Club, in contradistinction to the Sporting Spaniel Society - namely, that the colour of this dog should "vary and go darker when the dog is kept out of Sussex, especially in those parts where the climate and soil differ materially from those of Sussex." Presumably the Club based this statement on facts within its observation; but the theory that the slight variations of soil and climate in our counties are able to influence the colour of this dog, is certainly startling, and we may well ask for proof before accepting such an astonishing declaration. Do the soil and climate of Sussex affect the colour of its cattle, sheep, rabbits, and hares? These are under the same climatic influence, and more directly supported by the soil. Or does the Club contend that there is something peculiar in the nature of the Sussex Spaniel which, acted upon by the soil and atmosphere of Sussex, produces a golden-liver shade in the hair?

Doubtless those who are responsible for this mare's-nest have observed changes in the colour of Sussex Spaniels when in other parts of the country, but their deductions therefrom seem ridiculous; and to establish them they must, among other things, show that these dogs never vary in colour in their native county, which would be a fact as marvellous as their theory of climatic influence.

Fig. 66 represents the Sussex Spaniel Moses, a dog that has never been exhibited. He is descended from the Bridford and Rosehill strains, and is a remarkable instance of reversion to type.