A spaniel who sways while walking. According to the FCI standard, the Sussex Spaniel has a pronounced rolling movement unlike any other spaniel’s. Together with golden liver colouring, short, strong legs and apparently furrowed brows, it makes for a dog you will not easily mistake for another.
| FCI | Group 8 (Retrievers, Flushing Dogs, Water Dogs), Section 2 Flushing Dogs, Standard No. 127, with working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Great Britain |
| Size (height at the withers) | ideally 38 to 41 cm (no distinction between sexes) |
| Weight | around 23 kg |
| Life expectancy | median 13.5 years among only 108 dogs, confidence interval 12.6 to 15.1 years, in a UK analysis of 584,734 dogs (McMillan et al. 2024) |
| Coat | abundant and flat-lying, without a tendency to curl, with plenty of undercoat against wet weather; soft, wavy ear hair, moderately feathered legs |
| Colours in the standard | rich golden liver, hair shading to gold at the tips, gold predominating; dark liver or puce undesirable |
Broad, deep and short-legged
The standard requires a powerfully built, active and energetic dog. The skull is broad, the brows appear furrowed and the body runs straight from withers to hips without a waist. The legs are rather short, strong and muscular. Comparing spaniels, a similarly heavy build appears in the Clumber Spaniel; a cross with the former Sussex Springer lies behind the Field Spaniel.
A friendly flushing dog
The standard gives only two temperament points: a friendly disposition, with aggression unacceptable. The purpose is flushing game. Lively tail wagging is typical. For you, that means an agreeable dog with a hunting nose needing daily tasks, such as searching games and dummy work.
The genetic test before buying
An inherited metabolic disorder is known in Sussex and Clumber Spaniels. In 2007, a research team found a PDP1 mutation disabling an enzyme involved in cellular energy production. Dogs with two copies show severe exercise intolerance, and around 20 percent of the Clumber and Sussex population at that time carried the variant. A genetic test has been available since; dietary change helped affected dogs (Cameron et al. 2007). A case report describes a female whose symptoms became markedly worse after stopping the diet (Abramson et al. 2004). Ask to see both parents’ results.
Life expectancy with a caveat
The median of 13.5 years sounds good, compared with 12.0 for crossbreeds. However, it rests on only 108 Sussex Spaniels, and the difference was not statistically established (McMillan et al. 2024).
Golden hair and feathered paws
Brush the abundant hair and dense undercoat twice weekly if possible. The standard describes plenty of hair between the toes, where dirt and grass awns collect. With around 23 kilos on short legs, keep body condition lean.
Who they suit
People seeking a good-natured, strong hunting dog with plenty of nose, who enjoy searching games and are willing to spend longer finding health-conscious breeders of a rare breed.
Who they suit less well
Anyone needing a puppy immediately or considering genetic tests excessive. With the Sussex, patience pays until the right litter from tested parents comes along.
The breed quiz or our book “Which Dog REALLY Suits You?” (book in German) helps you assess whether a powerful, short-legged flushing dog suits you. If a puppy is moving in, the free Puppy Starter Pack helps you get started. Golden liver colouring looks warm on a magazine cover on canvas; find more ideas among our dog portraits.
Further reading
- Cocker Spaniel: cheerful, led by the nose and troubled by ears
- Is my dog overweight? How to assess body condition and ideal weight
- Older dog, new rules: how to give your senior their best years
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI Standard No. 127 Sussex Spaniel (fci.be, English version dated 06.10.2026, valid standard published on 08.09.2026, no German version); McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024; Cameron JM et al., Identification of a canine model of pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase 1 deficiency, Molecular Genetics and Metabolism 2007; Abramson CJ et al., Pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency in a Sussex spaniel, Journal of Small Animal Practice 2004.
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