| The Sussex Spaniel has a unique characteristic not | | | | which is the country of his origin and it is in rough |
| seen in other spaniels, in that he gives "voice" or | | | | terrain that the Sussex excels as a hunting |
| "bays" when he is on a particular game scent in a | | | | Spaniel.The Sussex is a particularly beautiful dog |
| manner similar to that of the hounds. Perhaps it is | | | | because of its distinctive reddish golden coat , |
| because there is a lot of hound blood in his | | | | often called "golden liver" because the liver color is |
| background, as can be surmised from the | | | | tinged with a gold. This is the only acceptable color |
| thickness of his skin, the leathery ears and | | | | of the Sussex Spaniel. The coat is flat and lies |
| prominent flews, all of which are characteristics of | | | | close to the body, with a little wave. It is a dense |
| the hounds. The bell-like tones of his baying when | | | | double coat and because it lies close to the body |
| he is on game are unique for the different game | | | | with only a small amount of feathering except on |
| and often his master can tell which game he is | | | | the chest there is considerable resistance to burrs |
| hunting from the sound the dog makes.The | | | | and snags. He is only 13-15 inches at the shoulder |
| Sussex Spaniel is low to the ground with a | | | | but the weight is 40-45 pounds. His body is long in |
| compact massive body in comparison to his | | | | back and quite muscular, with a deep round girth |
| height. He works an area quite thoroughly and is | | | | to the chest which allows for plenty of endurance |
| methodical and close ranging in his technique. | | | | for the dog. The legs, both front and back, are |
| Often considered too slow for many hunters, he | | | | set wide but he is not bow-legged. The tail is |
| is still one of the top gun dogs where terrain is | | | | always docked, the ears are long and set low and |
| rough because of his thoroughness when | | | | there is considerable flew on the muzzle.This |
| quartering an area. Like most Spaniels, he will | | | | breed is affectionate and people oriented by |
| "flush" the game birds up and is also known to be | | | | nature, preferring human companions to canine |
| a competent retriever.The short but powerful little | | | | friendships. He is a quiet and peaceable dog in the |
| Spaniel is not necessarily popular in the show ring, | | | | home, tolerant of children and never aggressive. |
| however in the United States he is seen more in | | | | Not necessarily a watch dog, he is more prone to |
| the show ring than on the hunt. He is a great | | | | bark or bay when he is on the hunt that he is in |
| companion dog and has an affectionate and | | | | the home. He does well in the country or in urban |
| winning personality, so he is also seen more as a | | | | areas, but of course because of his hunting |
| pet dog and a therapy dog. The terrain in the | | | | instincts he must be kept in a fenced area or |
| United States is not nearly as rough as some of | | | | supervised and on a leash when outside. |
| the hunting ground which is found in Great Britain | | | | |