Sussex Spaniel
(Picture from the Spaniel Club of
Portugal)
F.C.I. -Standard No. 127
Origin: Great Britain
Massive, strongly built. Active,
energetic dog, whose characteristic movement is a decided roll, and unlike that
of any other Spaniel.
Natural working ability, gives tongue
at work in thick cover.
Kindly disposition, aggression highly
undesirable.
Skull wide, showing moderate curve
from ear to ear, neither flat nor apple headed, with centre indentation and a
pronounced stop. Brows frowning; occiput decided, but not pointed. Nostrils well
developed and liver in colour. Well balanced head.
Hazel colour, fairly large, not full,
but soft expression and not showing much haw.
Thick, fairly large and lobular, set
moderately low, just above eye level. Lying close to skull.
Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular
and complete scissor bite, i.e. Upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and
set square to the jaws.
long, strong and slightly arched, not
carrying head much above level of back. Slight throatiness, but well marked
frill.
Shoulders sloping and free; arms well
boned and muscular. Knees large and strong, pasterns short and well boned. Legs
rather short and strong.
Chest deep and well developed; not
too round and wide. Back and loin well developed and muscular in both width and
depth. The back ribs must be deep. Whole body strong and level with no sign of
waistlines from withers to hips.
Thighs strongly boned and muscular;
hocks large and strong, legs short and strong with good bone. Hindlegs not
appearing shorter than forelegs or over angulated.
Round, well padded, well feathered
between toes.
True fore and aft with distinctive
roll.
Customarily docked.
Docked: Set low and never carried
above level of back. Lively actioned. Customarily docked to a length from 13-18
cms (5-7 ins).
Undocked: Set low, of medium
length, and not carried above the level of the back. It should taper gradually
to a point and be moderately feathered.
Abundant and flat with no tendency to
curl and ample undercoat for weather resistance. Ears covered with soft, wavy
hair, but not to profuse. Forequarters and hindquarters moderately well
feathered. Tail thickly clothed with hair but not feathered.
Rich golden liver and hair shading to
golden at tip; gold predominating. Dark liver or puce undesirable.
Ideal height at withers: 38-41 cms
(15-16 ins). Weight approximately 50 lbs.
Any departure from the foregoing
points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault
should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
Male animals should have two
apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
