It's a dog's lifeThey are known for their smile and have a penchant for a good howl. They’re loveable, cheeky and as stubborn as a mule, so why does no one want a Sussex spaniel? Rachel Leach follows the tale…

Four figures walk

across the foggy Oxfordshire field. “George, are you coming?” A fifth, barely recognisable is sat still. “If you don’t come now I’m leaving you.” The small, silhouette stubbornly starts to move into an uneasy and lopsided run.

Christine Swietalski, an accountant, and her ‘gang’ George, Millie, Douglas and Esme, are on an early morning walk. A sixth member, Chloe, is tucked up in bed at home.

They arrive back home and bundle

in through the kitchen door. A sea of chocolate-coloured fur unable to exercise any patience, to the amusement of the 16-year-old, brown ball flecked with grey, tucked up in the corner who was snoring away just a few minutes before.

After the walk, it can only mean one thing: breakfast time. As Christine prepares the less than gourmet meal of mixed dog food with tripe or liver cake (a favourite), five pairs of eyes look to her lovingly. The hoover of the group, George, drools as he watches.

Looking at them all together, heads down in their bowls, it is hard to believe what an unusual sight this is. Five dogs eating breakfast? Doesn’t sound too out of the ordinary, a likely sight to see in most rural towns and villages.

But this kitchen contains five Sussex spaniels - one of the rarest dog breeds in the world.

Sussex spaniels are rarer than the giant panda. Yes, the animal who has thousands of campaigns to save it, and when one has a baby, it’s national

news. Not quite the same story for the Sussex.

By the time the kettle

has boiled for coffee,

George, aged 11, has already finished his meal and is

loitering around Millie, his sister, eagerly awaiting her leftovers.

So how did an accountant, originally from Scotland end up with five of the rarest canines in the world?

“Back in 1994 the golden retriever that I had owned since I was in my early teens died. I went to the Blue Cross to donate the remaining food, toys and bedding to them.”

Walking around the kennels, Christine saw another golden retriever who looked “very sweet”. However, Arthur, was not alone. He came as a pair with Henry, described at the rescue centre as a spaniel cross.

After attending The CLA Game Fair with the two dogs, people stopped Christine to comment on Henry and pointed her in the direction of the sporting dog tent, where she learned the truth. Henry was not a spaniel cross, a mix match of breeds; he was in fact a pedigree, and one of the most vulnerable dog breeds in the world.

The serendipitous introduction sparked an interest and after the passing of Arthur, Christine decided to rescue another Sussex. “The retriever died at the end of 2001 and I thought taking on a rescue Sussex might be an idea. In

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6.15am

Two's company

The Sussex spaniel’s closest canine counterpart, the clumber.

January 2002 I was joined by Chloe.”It was a turbulent start. Chloe came with a few problems, and combining that with the stubbornness of the breed, it was hard work. “It was advised that if I bred from her it may help with those issues.

“It did, she became a very good mum to eight puppies and we’ve never looked back. At last she learned to trust me and finally settle.”

The Scottish born dog lover decided to keep two of the puppies, born in 2003, naming them George and Mildred (or Millie for short) after the seventies sitcom. Christine added to her brood in later years, introducing Douglas and Esme.

In 2006, the accountant joined the Sussex Spaniel Association. The SSA is an organisation dedicated to protecting and preserving the vulnerable British breed.

It is made up of breeders and owners who feel passionate about their dogs and want to make more people aware of them. The committee is formed of several members, most notably their patron, British fashion designer, Jeremy Hackett.

The founder of designer menswear, Hackett London, often features his

Sussex, Muffin, on his blog, The Mr Classic. The business entrepreneur has also featured his dogs in his work, particularly his first Battersea rescue Sussex, Charley. Jeremy once said his dogs were more sought after than him.

From fashion to finance, the Sussex committee has an array of characters. In 2007 Christine became treasurer of the association. “I joined to get more information on the breed as there wasn’t any out there at that point.”

The association recently celebrated its 90th anniversary. It was formed in 1924 with a goal to protect and preserve the breed.

It is believed that the Sussex first appeared in the 1800s bred to be used as working dogs on large estates. It was agreed that Augustus Elliott Fuller, of Rosehill, Sussex had founded the breed, and his location gave them their name.

According to the SSA due to wartime constraints, only five known Sussex

spaniels were left in 1945, those belonging to Joy Freer.

Mrs Freer devoted her life to the breed and kept them alive during the war by feeding them her rations. Her five dogs are the basis of all today’s Sussex spaniels.

After experiencing breeding problems in the 50s, the SSA decided an outcross was needed. In order to increase the number of Sussex they were bred with their closest canine counterparts, the clumber spaniel.

Lesley and Gordon Nesbitt own five dogs, three clumbers and two Sussex spaniels. However although the clumber is similar to the Sussex in their physique, the Nesbitts find the breed to not at all be similar to them in their traits.

They say: “The Sussex are much noisier than our clumbers. They are very vocal and often howl as well as bark. We are fortunate that we don’t have close neighbours as the Sussex have a lot to say for themselves.

It’s not just their howls that are different; the two breeds also have dissimilar personalities. “The clumbers

Christine showing one of her dogs, Millie, at a County show.

Protect and preserve

are more aloof whilst the Sussex are much more in your face. However, they are much more loving and demanding of attention. They have to be on your knee all the time.”

The retired couple perceive their Sussex as a lot more stubborn than their Clumbers. “They have to think something is their idea before they do it. We also find they are more possessive of us.”

Looking at photos of Henry, Christine’s first accidental Sussex, the outcross is clear, a little patch of white hair grows on his chest. But, you’d have to try hard to find a Sussex with a white patch today - the outcross, which saved the breed from extinction, is barely visible now.

The breed may have had dire numbers in the 1940s but it hasn’t improved much in 70 years. Last year saw 67 puppies registered with The Kennel Club, an improvement on the previous year, which saw 55 registered. The improvement is good, until you

compare it to the 34,715 labrador retrievers registered in that same year. The Sussex is just a small drop in a very big ocean.

Sheila Appleby has been secretary of the association for nine years. The owner of two Sussex, Paz and Lucy, said that there are various reasons for the low numbers. “They’re not hard to breed from but few people are interested as breeding is hard work and time consuming.

“We have none of the professional type breeders with big kennels.. The majority of people who breed cannot truly be described as breeders.”

Most of those breeders don’t breed to make money; they do it simply to have a Sussex of their own. “They usually breed when they want to keep a puppy from a litter. Many have day jobs, they often work and don’t have sufficient time or money.”

Sheila believes the association is doing everything they can to increase numbers. “The SSA promotes the breed via its website, Discover Dogs and Game Fairs.” She says.

The national organisations also do their part too. “The Kennel Club started the initiatives in 2004 for those breeds with less than 300 registrations annually. The Kennel Club help to promote the vulnerable breeds via their website and publicity in the press from time to time.”

It is hard though, to satisfy those who see the breed and want an addition to their family instantly. “After Discover Dogs and Game Fairs there is increased

Breed Group: Gundog

Size (adult): Medium, 33 – 38 cm (at the withers)

Exercise: More than two hours per day

Home: Small, country house

Minimum garden size: Large

Lifespan: Over 10 years

Weight: 16 - 20 kilograms

Grooming: More than once a week

Esme, one of Christine’s gang, having fun on a muddy bank.

Vulnerable

interest but without puppies on the ground people lose interest - they want a puppy now.

“These days on the internet there are a vast number and variety of puppies and dogs available and a puppy can be obtained quickly.”

As Christine settles down

to hard day’s work the chorus begins. When one of the gang starts to howl they all do. The Sussex is known for being one of the more vocal spaniels, if they want you to know something, they’ll tell you.

With them so vocal it works wonders for those who work them. The spaniel will often ‘give tongue’ to keep the hunter informed about the type and location of game being flushed.

Just by looking at the Sussex it’s obvious they are working dogs. The low-to-the ground, stocky and heavy-built gundogs were developed specifically as field hunting dogs to flush out game from thick undergrowth.

Louise Judge owns three Sussex: Henry, Fern and Isabelle or Izzy for short. All of the dogs have been shown and worked, with the first two even competing in field trials.

Louise couldn’t decide what breed to get initially, she knew she wanted a gundog, but one that was small enough to fit into her cottage.

A cocker? Louise decided against that, a show cocker was useless in the field and too hyperactive overall. She ummed and aahed over the possibilities until she read an issue of

The Sunday Times.

“The Sunday Times magazine used to have an article on the back page of ‘Celebrity and their pet’. I was just leafing through and there was Jeremy Hackett with two brown spaniels. I fell totally in love. Oh my god, they are divine, I have to have one. What is it?

“After a lot of research, trips to local breeders and a trip to Crufts to see dogs en masse, I sat on waiting lists from Cornwall to Cumbria, for seven months. Then Henry came along.”

The “very intelligent” young pup was easy to train to an extent, but as a usual Sussex he is under the impression that he knows best. A year and a half later Henry was joined by Izzy, affectionately described as the “devil reincarnated”.

“I don’t know how many times she nearly went back to the breeder.” Says Louise. “She ate my house, killed my garden, wasn’t clean for months, barked all the way somewhere in the car then barked all the way home again, and really naughty at training classes.”

Everything changed when she had her first season. Louise recalls: “She had her first season at one year old and almost overnight turned in to a wonderful dog.”

Louise tried her hand at working the two dogs. “I have competed in working tests and field trials with both dogs, I show them a bit and both are Gold Good Citizens. Izzy also has the Working Gundog certificate on live game, passed in 2011.”

What does working a dog entail? Louise says it’s all about using the dog’s natural instinct while under a handler’s control. They have to be obedient and

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Louise after winning a working competition with Henry.

Natural instinct

willing to work with you. A mutual trust has to be established.

“You should have a dog which walks to heel off the lead all day, is sociable with other dogs, accepts being passed over barbwire fences, getting in loads of different cars, trailers, shoot wagons as we beaters get moved round the shooting ground.”

Louise works her dogs on the beating line, whose job it is to push the birds towards the guns. She says: “If you think of 800 acres of land as a big pie chart split in to six segments, the guns are in the centre and the beaters start on the outer edge walking through the woods, brambles and ditches, pushing the pheasants towards the guns.”

This is one drive, which can be repeated up to six times. “On one shoot I walk 14 miles - God knows how much ground the dogs cover, probably double.”

Unfortunately age catches up with dogs. After being unsuccessful in breeding from Izzy again, Louise found herself facing a problem, retiring her Sussex. After Henry became deaf, Louise found him hard to be worked.“Henry has pretty much retired. I don’t show him any more and he still goes out on every shoot day but only for one to two drives and only has a bit of a potter about.”

Izzy is still able to go on shoots but aged nine, retirement is around the corner. Louise decided to add to her family and get another puppy. After being number one on the breeders’ association waiting list she faced some disappointment when a litter of boys came along - not the girl she was hoping for.

However, Louise got what she wished, and Fern was added to her family. Fern loves to be worked and is easy to train, even if she does have the odd naughty moment. She is also shown. “I showed her at Midland Counties last October where she got two 2nd places so she qualified for Crufts.”

There are some traits that are more comical than anything else. The little browns also have a knack for smiling. Yes, that’s right, smiling.

Seventy per cent of the gundogs have the ability to smile and it’s down to their breeding whether or not they can turn up their jowls in happiness.

Dog control and welfare officer Katherine Edge owns four Sussex aged eight months to 12 years. The 28-year-old can’t resist a Sussex smile. She says: “You forgive everything they have done when they have done something naughty and you go to tell them off and the come up to you smiling.

“Some give me a full smile with both sides of the lips going up and others give me a half smile with just one side of the lip going up.”

A Sussex spaniel also loves their kip, you often find them snoring away loudly in unusual positions. Kat explains: “The way they sleep in unusual positions, upside down – belly showing, half on a bed and half off, so the head and shoulder will be on the floor, but the bottom end will be on the soft bed. It makes you smile wondering how they can find comfortable.”

Say cheese! A Sussex spaniel puppy grinning for the camera.

"You forgive everything they have

done..."

New addition

Not only do they love sleeping but they have one habit that comes with it. “The snoring - it’s a love-hate thing. When you are trying to watch telly or sleep and you can’t because the dog is snoring loudly, but it’s nice to hear the dog is happy and comfy enough to be in a deep sleep.”

A deep sleep is exactly

what Christine’s gang is in as their owner works out accounting sums and mathematical formulas at her desk. Not only does the ocean of chocolate bodies at your feet catch your eye, but also you can’t help to notice the pin board full of rosettes and certificates.

As well as working, Sussex can also be shown in the ring. Like her introduction to the breed, her beginnings in showing were also similar.

She says: “After I became a member and George and Millie were born, I had more contact with SSA members, I got the newsletter and show information. I was persuaded to enter them in the champ show. At the first show Millie qualified for Crufts so I thought I’d give that a go.”

Christine now shows her four of her dogs around the south of England and attends several of them each year,

including at Crufts, the world’s largest dog show.

Liz Bowe is another owner who shows her dogs and is no newbie to the breed. After attending shows with her Cavalier King Charles spaniel, she saw a friend handling a Sussex and in December 1984, Liz got her first brown character.

More than 30 years later and the passion that Liz had for the vulnerable breed is clear. She has now had four generations of show champions.

At present Liz has three Sussex, Tog aged nine, Susie age 21 months, and Watson, nearly nine months old. Tog has retired from showing but had a prosperous time in the ring. “He was Top Puppy in 2006 (number of Best Puppy wins at Championship shows) and won 21 Challenge Certificates with 15 Reserve Challenge Certificates during

his show career. These include three Best in Shows at the Sussex Spaniel Championship Show and three Best of Breeds at Crufts.”

Not only has Tog been shown in Britain, but he also has an international show career. “He went to Ireland in 2013 for

Breed Number of Registrations

Otterhound 22

Collie (Smooth) 33

Skye Terrier 63

Spaniel (Sussex) 67

Spaniel (Field) 70

Bloodhound 74

Glen of Imaal Terrier

74

Retriever (Curly Coated)

77

Spaniel (Irish Water)

88

English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan)

94

The Kennel Club’s top 10 most vulnerable native breeds in 2014

1.00pm

Seven Sussex spaniel puppies sitting on a wall...what’s the worst that can happen?

six months to stay with Evan Ryan, who showed him out there and came back an Irish Show Champion.”

The nine-year-old gundog is not the only one to have a successful time in front of the judges; his family is also adding to Liz’s rosettes. Susie, Tog’s niece, won Best Puppy in Breed at Crufts 2014 and Watson, his great grandson, has also flourished.

“Watson started his show career in December 2014 and has been Best Puppy in Breed at two Open shows and Best Puppy in Breed at Manchester Championship Show this year, qualifying him for Crufts.”

Liz says she loves showing. “The best thing about showing is having a day

out with your dogs and having like minded people around you that talk dogs as their main subject.”

As Christine closes her

laptop for another day and everyone is ready for bed. Red eyes follow her as she makes her way downstairs to relax on the sofa. Tired Sussex make their way to bed after a hard day doing nothing.

There is one Sussex in Oxfordshire, however, who has just woken up; his name is Bruno, George and Millie’s brother.

Bruno belongs to Sue Leach, a single mother-of-two, who was introduced to the breed by Christine. “I’ve been friends with Christine for a while who has had Sussex spaniels for a number of years and I always thought they were characters.

“I’ve never had a dog before and knowing their hair didn’t fall out made me think, yes, I could cope with one.”

When Christine bred from Chloe, The Co-op till assistant knew she couldn’t resist a new addition to the family and so after to talking to her eldest daughter, they went around to check out the puppies, unbeknownst to her youngest.

“He was so cute.” She coos. “I couldn’t resist him. He had the cutest little waddle, always pottering around, he had the softest little ears, crinkly skin and chubby legs. Bruno had the biggest feet I’ve ever seen on a puppy before he kept falling over them.”

Eleven years, a sky remote, numerous packets of biscuits and a couple of socks later, Sue has never regretted her decision of getting a brown. “I couldn’t imagine life without Bruno now, it was one of the best decisions I made for me and the girls. He has given us so much laughter and fun over these last years. ”

As the sun goes down

and curtains are drawn in Sussex households, many out there hope it’s not an omen for the breed. After surviving the war with only five dogs, it woluld be a shame to lose the hitoric British breed. With the rising popularity in pugs and French bulldogs, Sussex owners can only hope a similar fate awaits the breed they love so much.

To find out more visit: www.sussexspaniels.org.uk

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A tool kit, one of the many items Bruno has collected over the years.

Family affair

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"I couldn't imagine life

without Bruno..."