The original habitat of the Sussex Spaniel leaves no ground for conjecture, his name indicating sufficiently the locality whence he sprang. The end of the eighteenth century saw him established in various parts of "Sussex by the Sea," and there he stood a good chance of dying as well as originating, until the dog-showing men, deciding that he was goodly to look upon, took him in hand. His first appearance on the show bench was at the Crystal Palace in 1872, and men, ever on the look-out for something new, promptly raided the southern county and boomed the breed into more than local popularity.

His Work

He has the reputation of being a good worker, with plenty of stamina, and a freedom from any tendency to •change from fur to feather, or vice versa. Being higher on the leg and shorter in body than some varieties of Spaniel, he is not so well adapted to working dense undergrowths. He gives tongue freely on a hot scent, and he has a full, deep note. Like the Clumber, he will be found useful when one is out after duck or snipe.

His Points

The Sporting Spaniel Society describes him as being a moderately heavy Spaniel, dogs weighing up to 45 lbs. and bitches up to 40 lbs. His most distinctive feature is his deep golden liver colour, sandy being objected to. His body should be long and round, with deep chest, and muscular hind-quarters; fore-legs straight and moderately short, with plenty of feather; coat thick and soft.