Clumber Spaniel vs Sussex Spaniel

A Clumber Spaniel
Photo: Canarian
A Sussex Spaniel
Photo: Pleple2000

Side by side

Clumber Spaniel
Sussex Spaniel
Adult weight
Males 29.5–34 kg (65–75 lb); females 25–29.5 kg (55–65 lb)1
16–23 kg (35–51 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
Males 45.7–50.8 cm; females 43.2–48.3 cm1
Males 38–41 cm; females 38–41 cm3
Lifespan
Median 12.3 years4
Median 13.5 years4
Fully grown
12 months, both sexes5
11 months, both sexes5
Group
Retrievers & water dogs1
Retrievers & water dogs3
Coat
Coat with feathering1
Coat with feathering3
Shedding
Sheds through the year
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
Exercise
Plenty
Health
Inward-rolling eyelid (far more likely)6
No sourced figure
Class
Companion
Companion

Which suits you

Size
The Clumber Spaniel is larger: about 30 kg (65 lb) as an adult, against 19 kg (43 lb) for the Sussex Spaniel.
Lifespan
In UK vet records the Sussex Spaniel lives longer: a median of 13.5 years, against 12.3 for the Clumber Spaniel.
Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Clumber Spaniel sheds through the year, the Sussex Spaniel moults most as the seasons change.
Temperament
They differ most on voice (Clumber Spaniel: quiet; Sussex Spaniel: very vocal) and on affection (Clumber Spaniel: affectionate on its own terms; Sussex Spaniel: a lap or leaning dog).
Alike
Both are rated the same on intelligence: easy-going, simple routines.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Clumber Spaniel
Retrievers & water dogs · Large

In temperament the Clumber is calm, affectionate and steady, often reserved with strangers but rarely sharp. It has a reputation for a sense of humour and for carrying objects in its mouth.

Sussex Spaniel
Retrievers & water dogs · Medium

In temperament the Sussex is even-tempered, friendly and calm, deliberate rather than quick, and more vocal than most spaniels.

The Clumber Spaniel page →The Sussex Spaniel page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Clumber Spaniel
Sussex Spaniel
Activity
A good daily walk and play
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Easy-going, simple routines
Easy-going, simple routines
Handler demand
Differs
Suits a first-time owner
Needs steady training
With people
Clumber Spaniel
Sussex Spaniel
Affection
Differs
Affectionate on its own terms
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Bonded to its family
Bonded to its family
Independence
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
Clumber Spaniel
Sussex Spaniel
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Differs
Quiet
Very vocal
Prey drive
Chases; needs managing
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour7. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home8,9.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Clumber Spaniel grows to the heavier adult, about 30 kg against the Sussex Spaniel's 19 kg.
Clumber Spaniel
Sussex Spaniel
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More comparisons

Compare the Clumber Spaniel with
Field Spaniel vs Sussex SpanielClumber Spaniel vs English Springer SpanielClumber Spaniel vs English Cocker SpanielClumber Spaniel vs Golden RetrieverClumber Spaniel vs Labrador RetrieverAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·