The Sussex Spaniel originated before 1884 and is named after its place of origin, Sussex County, England. It is a very special breed. In the breed manual published by AKC in 1884, it was one of the first ten recognized breeds. It gained popularity in the
It has short legs, a long body, and a very heavy structure. It barks whenever it detects an odor and can be used as a guard dog. Its body shape makes it perfect for hiding in dense shrubs and using its sharp barking within the range of a hunting gun to work for hunters. Strong structure, agile movement, and a love for work are the basic requirements for this breed.
Although this breed has not been introduced to other countries except for the UK, since the development of sporting dogs in the 19th century until now, the breed's characteristics and appearance have remained basically unchanged, quite primitive, which is quite rare.
The Sussex Spaniel is named after its place of origin, Sussex County, England. Mr. Fuller spent a long time breeding this breed, which features a distinctive bright golden-red-brown color. The first important litter of Sussex Spaniels was born in Mr. Fuller's kennel, and he made a great contribution to the development of the breed.
Later, a man named Phinis Bullock, who initially became famous for his work with hunting dogs, made considerable and effective efforts to further elevate the status of the Sussex Spaniel.
The breed first participated in competitions in Great Britain in 1862 at a dog show held at Crystal Palace.
Initially, the breed was used for hunting in Great Britain, specializing in working in complex environments for specific types of hunting. At that time, the British favored hunting on foot, so dogs naturally became their most suitable and reliable hunting companions. Unfortunately, the breed has never been introduced to countries outside of Great Britain, perhaps due to different hunting conditions in each country.
The Sussex Spaniel is not as fast as the English Springer Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel, but it also has its own advantages. Its sense of smell is very sensitive, and it has a strong patience when hunting, which plays an outstanding role in various highland hunts.
It is accustomed to barking when it smells something unusual, so it is quite suitable as a family guard dog or watch dog. Like most common breeds, it is loyal and easy to train, and can become an excellent hunting dog.
1.Heart Disease
Dog heart disease is often related to obesity and old age. When dogs have heart disease, they mainly show symptoms such as fatigue and shortness of breath. It is difficult to detect heart disease in dogs, and by the time owners notice it, the dog is usually severely ill.
2.Infectious Disease
Canine distemper and canine parvovirus are common malignant infectious diseases in dogs, with a high mortality rate. Dogs that have not been vaccinated in a timely manner are very susceptible to these two infectious diseases. Once they become ill, they will exhibit symptoms such as lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.
3.Kidney Disease
When it comes to common diseases and symptoms in dogs, kidney disease must be mentioned. The terrifying thing about dog kidney disease is the unconscious process of the disease. When owners discover it, the damage to the dog's kidney cells often exceeds 75%. When dogs have problems, the symptoms usually include blood in the urine, abnormal urine color, and changes in urination habits.
4.Parasites
Intestinal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, and heartworms are common parasites in a dog's body. When dogs are infected with gastrointestinal parasites, the main symptoms are emaciation, listlessness, diarrhea, worms in feces, and pale gums. Heartworms are parasites that parasitize in a dog's heart. Dogs infected with heartworms will exhibit symptoms such as poor vitality, coughing, anemia, asthma, and ascites.
5.Canine Pneumonia
Pneumonia is also a common disease in dogs, but canine pneumonia is a complication of other diseases. It often occurs in dogs with abnormalities in the upper respiratory system, bacterial infections, canine distemper infections, viral colds, impaired lung function, and heartworm infections. Coughing, nasal congestion, and fever are the main symptoms of canine pneumonia.
When buying a Sussex Spaniel, it is best to ask about its previous food or dog food brand, which can help it adapt to the new environment. Since the puppy's gastrointestinal function is not yet fully developed, it is recommended for the owner to feed this kind of dog food before 8-10 months old. Otherwise, it may cause gastrointestinal discomfort in dogs. Wait until its gastrointestinal function is relatively complete and stable before gradually switching to a higher quality dog food.
When changing to a new dog food later, it should also be done slowly. Mix it with the original dog food and gradually reduce the proportion of the old dog food until completely switching to the new one. This is to prevent the dog's gastrointestinal system from being unable to adapt, which can affect digestion and absorption, and even cause flatulence and diarrhea. It is best to buy a small amount of the new dog food first, and if there is a trial package, let the dog try it first to ensure that it does not reject it before buying a large package to avoid unnecessary waste.
In daily diet, you can add some meat and a small amount of carrots (cook them until soft) to the dog food. If the dog's stool is loose, you can feed some egg yolk (dogs under 5 months old should not eat egg white as it is not easily digestible). Feed some chicken liver every few days (do not feed too much at once, as it can cause vitamin A poisoning). Puppies should not be fed milk, as it can cause diarrhea. A small amount can be fed to adults. At 4-5 months old, you can feed yogurt to promote digestion.
You can also feed some bone soup (made from pig or cow bones). Do not feed chicken or duck bones (they are too hard and sharp, which can scratch the esophagus and cause bleeding or choking). Absolutely do not feed human food (it is too salty for dogs and not conducive to bone and hair development), and chocolate and coffee products are forbidden. Other stimulating substances should also be avoided. During hot summers, you can feed a small amount of popsicles, but be careful not to feed too much. The temperature in a dog's stomach is extremely high, so if there is a large contrast in temperature, it is easy for them to get sick.
In addition to dog food, attention should also be paid to the supplementation of vitamins and calcium. For calcium, it is recommended to buy liquid calcium first, followed by calcium powder, and calcium tablets have the poorest absorption. The most important thing about calcium is absorption. If the dog does not absorb it well, then no matter how much it eats, it will have no effect.
As for other nutritional supplements or medications, if they cannot be bought locally, they can be purchased online. Pay attention to choosing a reputable store. It is not recommended to directly give the dog nutritional supplements made for humans, as the nutrient composition is different and not easily absorbed, which may have the opposite effect.
1. Do not bathe too frequently
Bathing dogs, of course, cannot be too frequent. Bathing dogs depends on the dog's hygiene condition. In hot weather, they can be bathed one or two more times, and in winter, one or two times can be reduced. But overall, it should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage their coat and skin!
2. Brush regularly
Dogs shed almost every day, especially in spring and autumn. If you want their fur to grow well, regular brushing is an important step. Pet owners can use a pet-specific comb to help dogs clean their naturally shed hair and avoid matting. Brushing once in the morning and once in the evening for about five minutes each time is enough.
3. Sunbathe
Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of the dog's coat. In addition to making the fur more shiny, letting dogs sunbathe can also help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, pet owners can let their dogs exercise a bit, which can help improve their physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and grow healthier fur.
4. Deworming
Poor coat quality is also closely related to parasites. Parasites absorb a large amount of nutrients from the dog's body and compete for nutrition. Therefore, deworming is essential. It is recommended to do both internal and external deworming. Deworming drugs can cause significant damage to the dog's gastrointestinal tract, so it is advisable to feed probiotics regularly to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.
5. Pay attention to diet
In order to have a beautiful coat, dogs must have a good nutritional foundation and pay attention to their daily diet. On the one hand, feed dogs with nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a suitable and nutritionally adequate brand that meets the dog's needs. On the other hand, you can also feed dogs with a moderate amount of lean meat, boiled egg yolks, and vegetable oil, etc.