“...GAIT CAN BE SLIGHTLY ROLLING BUT NOT CLUMSY.”
be present depending on age of the dog. Th ese highlights are usually found on the ears and feathering of the legs. Th e lively tail means a wagging tail, especially when moving. Th e tail is normally docked in the U.S. and is never carried above the level of the back. Since our American standard calls for a docked tail, I personally will treat a natural tail as a minor fault. In examining the Sussex, approach from the front quarter. Examine the head for correctness as outlined by the stan- dard, eyes, ear set, broadness of skull to length and muzzle and bite. Concerning bite, scissors is preferred but anything else, overshot, undershot, even, is accept- able and a MINOR fault. Bite is the abso- lutely LAST thing you should consider in making a choice of placement. A scissors bite is preferred but most of the Sussex you see will be even or undershot. Once in a while you will see overshot, but very seldom in my experience. Some of us in breeding Sussex believe that they were actually bred for undershot, as they tend to scoop up the bird rather than going over it to pick it up. Undershot would be an advantage in this instance. Next, you will feel for depth of chest, shoulder angulation and the forelegs for heaviness of bone. Th e forelegs can be straight or slightly bowed with legs set well under the dog. Th e pasterns are short and heavily boned and the feet large and round with short hair between the toes. Th e topline should be straight and the hindquarters are full and well round- ed. Th e hind legs should be short from hock to ground and heavily boned, par- allel to each other and set wide apart to
approximately the same width as the front. Hocks should not turn in or out and the rear feet are like the front. Th e coat should abundant, flat or slightly waved, not curly. No trimming is acceptable except for the for the feet to shape the foot feather and remove hair between the pads of the feet. Feather on the feet must cover the toenails. In checking for gait, you must check both side gait and down and back. Th e gait can be slightly rolling but not clumsy. Th ey should move in a straight line and are best shown on a loose lead. Please have some tolerance for lack of a loose lead, especially for puppies. Also, watch for pacing, as this is a very comfortable gait for most Sussex, but not correct movement. Basically, in judging the Sussex, the most important features of the breed are color and general appearance, meaning balance or proportion. Secondary features are head, ears, topline, back ribs, legs and feet. Th e lesser important features are eyes, nose, neck, chest, shoulders, tail and coat. Faults are also in three catagories. Major faults are incorrect color, white on any part of the body except a small patch on the chest and a curled coat. Serious faults are narrow head, weak muzzle, pres- ence of a top knot and a general appear- ance that is sour and crouching. Minor faults are light eyes, white on chest, light- ness of bone, shortness of body (remem- ber rectangular) a body that is flat sided and a bite other than scissors (Remember Minor and not to be considered unless you have two specimens that are equal in every other way, then the bite can be the tie breaker).
Sussex are generally fun loving, gre- garious and have a friendly disposition. Although the numbers are increasing, please understand that all Sussex are important and deserve a good look. Th e breed numbers about 700 to 800 today in the U.S. with about 10% of those being shown in confirmation events. Sussex have joined the ranks of Best in Show, Group winners and group placements. Many Sussex are now shown and excel- ling in Obedience, Rally, Agility and other events. Th ey excel in Hunt Tri- als with a number of Master Hunters now on record and in tracking. Please do not ignore the breed because of lack of numbers. Today, the Sussex is found in virtually every dog sport and excel- ling in them. Th ey may have been bred to be the “old gentlemen’s hunting dog” but in reality, they can be amazingly fast and they love being active. Th ey are not a breed for the faint of heart. BIO t 0DDVQBUJPO4BMFT&OHJOFFSGPSBNBKPS NBOVGBDUVSFST SFQSFTFOUBUJWF BHFODZ 3FUJSFE t ",$+VEHFGPVSCSFFET $PMMJFT 4VT - TFY 4QBOJFMT "VTUSBMJBO 4IFQIFSET 4IFUMBOE4IFFQEPHT t 4UBSUFE TIPXJOH JO $POmSNBUJPO JO XJUI$PMMJFT t 3FDFJWFE PVS mSTU 4VTTFY 4QBOJFM JO TIFCFDBNF$I4VOEPXOFSTǰF 4PVOEPG.VTJD t 0QFSBUFEVOEFSUIF)JMBOEOBNFXJUI -ZOO%1FUFSTPOBOEQSPEVDFEOVNFS - PVTDIBNQJPOTJODMVEJOH#*4 #*44$I )JMBOET)BQQZ)JHIXBZNBO 3JEFS
“...THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE BREED ARE COLOR AND GENERAL APPEARANCE, meaning balance or proportion.”
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