German Shepherd Dog Sussex Spaniel Mix

The German Shepherd Dog Sussex Spaniel Mix, is a mixed breed dog resulting from breeding the German Shepherd Dog and the Sussex Spaniel. Both of these dogs can be friendly but personalities differ, so you never know. The German Shepherd is known for being intelligent, curious, and alert. All dogs need proper socialization and that will be a big factor in how they interact with others. What does this mixed breed look and act like? Is it more like the German Shepherd Dog or the Sussex Spaniel? Those are the questions we will try and answer below. Continue reading below to see pictures, videos, and learn more about the beautiful German Shepherd Dog Sussex Spaniel Mix.

While we really recommend that you acquire all animals through a rescue, we understand that some people might go through a breeder to get their German Shepherd Dog Sussex Spaniel Mix puppy. That is, if they have any German Shepherd Dog Sussex Spaniel Mix puppies for sale.

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German Shepherd Dog Sussex Spaniel Mix History

All hybrid or designer dogs are tough to get a good read on as there isn’t much history to them. Breeding specific dogs like this has become common in the last twenty years or so even though I am sure that this mixed breed found it’s share of dogs to the shelter due to accidental breeding. We will take a closer look at the history of both parent breeds below. If you are looking at breeders for new, designer dogs please beware of Puppy Mills. These are places that mass produce puppies, specifically for profit and don’t care at all about the dogs. If you have a few minutes, please sign our petition to stop puppy mills.

German Shepherd Dog History

In 1899, a German named Von Stephanitz was attending a dog show when he was shown a dog named Hektor Linksrhein. Von Stephanitz had in his mind what a good working dog should be and a few generations of breeding fulfilled what Hektor envisioned. He was pleased with the strength of the dog and was so taken by the animal’s intelligence, loyalty, and beauty, that he purchased him immediately. He immediately changed the name to Horand von Grafrath and Von Stephanitz founded the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (Society for the German Shepherd Dog). Horand von Grafrath is known to be the first German Shepherd Dog.
Horand von Grafrath was bred to other similar styled dogs that were believed to have the same traits as what Von Stephanitz was looking for. His most successful offspring was Hektor von Schwaben. Hektor went on to be inbred with another of Horand’s offspring and produced Beowulf, who later fathered a total of eighty-four pups, thus the beginning of the German Shepherd Dog. Von Stephanitz is widely credited for being the founder of this incredible breed.
Von Stephanitz had intended for his breed to work as herding dogs, however, as Germany became more and more industrialized he saw the need to make it working dog. He convinced the German government to use the breed. During World War I the German Shepherd served as a Red Cross dog, messenger, rescuer, guard, supply carrier, and sentry.
The breed initially became popular in World War 1. Many American and allied servicemen grew attached to the breed during the war and brought them back to the states after the war was over. One of those dogs became
Rin Tin Tin was brought over by a Corporal from Los Angeles and later went on to become a Hollywood star.
The Allied troops fell in love with the breed but not with the fact that it had German roots. In 1917, the American Kennel Club changed the breed's name to the Shepherd Dog.
In England, the dog was renamed the Alsatian Wolf Dog and the AKC reverted back to using the original name of German Shepherd Dog in 1931.

After World War II, the breeding and standards of American- and German-bred Shepherds began to diverge dramatically. It became common for police departments and those looking for true working dogs to import their dogs from Germany because the American dogs had such bad health problems.

Sussex Spaniel History

The Sussex Spaniel comes from Sussex County in England. Hence the name. They initially came from an estate called Rosehill. They are a type of gun dog that was bred to have the good barking ability which was not available in most Spaniel breeds at the time. The two main breeders known for cultivating the breed into what they are today are - Moses Woolland and Campbell Newington. They began breeding these dogs in the late nineteenth century. Like many breeds it saw a decline in its numbers after World War One and Two. Supposedly the first ones made their way to the United States in the 1920s. They are a very rare breed and rank 154 out of 157 with the American Kennel Club. They are more popular overseas than in the United States.

German Shepherd Dog Sussex Spaniel Mix Size and Weight

German Shepherd Dog
Height: 22 - 26 inches at the shoulder
Weight: 75 - 95 lb.
Lifespan: 9 - 13 years

Sussex Spaniel
Height: 15 - 16 inches at the shoulder
Weight: 45 - 50 lb.
Lifespan: 11 - 12 years

German Shepherd Dog Sussex Spaniel Mix Personality

The German Shepherd Dog and the Sussex Spaniel might be a little bit spunky. They can be an inquisitive little fella so keep on the lookout for that behavior! All dogs need attention and don't want to be left alone. That's why you have a pet, right? Plan on putting forth effort to socialize her as this will reap dividends in the long run. Please use always use positive reinforcement even though they can have a mind of their own. Enjoy being with your new mixed breed and love the relationship you will have with them.

German Shepherd Dog Sussex Spaniel Mix Health

All dogs have the potential to develop genetic health problems as all breeds are susceptible to some things more than others. However, the one positive thing about getting a puppy is that you can avoid this as much as possible. A breeder should absolutely offer a health guarantee on puppies. If they won’t do this, then look no more and don’t consider that breeder at all. A reputable breeder will be honest and open about health problems in the breed and the incidence with which they occur. We obviously recommend that you look for a reputable animal rescue in your area to find your new mixed breed. Health clearances prove that a dog has been tested for and cleared of a particular condition.

The German Shepherd Dog mixed with the Sussex Spaniel might be prone to joint dysplasia, eye disease, von Willebrands disease, among others.

Note that these are just common problems in both breeds.

German Shepherd Dog Sussex Spaniel Mix Care

What are the grooming requirements?

Even if you know the breed, sometimes it is hard to tell if it will be a heavy shedder or a light shedder. Either way, Get ready to invest in a good vacuum if you want to keep your floors clean! Give them baths as needed, but not so much that you dry out their skin.

What are the exercise requirements?

Plan on taking them for extremely long walks and hikes to keep their energy level down. This mix will more than likely have a high energy level. This exercise will keep them from being destructive. A tired dog is a good dog. A tired dog is a good dog though. Never tie your dog up outside - that is inhumane and not fair to him.

What are the training requirements?

This is an intelligent dog that will be a little bit challenging to train. They are going to want to take the alpha position and need someone with a firm, strong, hand that can let them know their place. The best thing you can do is break the sessions into shorter daily sessions to keep their attention span higher. It might have a prey drive and be disposed to running for and chasing small prey, but if handled properly this can be managed. All dogs respond best to positive reinforcement. So make sure to praise her when she does well. She is an intelligent dog who loves to please, and loves a physical challenge. The more exercise she gets the easier she will be to train. Proper socialization is imperative to all dogs and puppies. Make sure to take her to the park and doggy day care to get her around as many people and dogs as possible.

German Shepherd Dog Sussex Spaniel Mix Feeding

"A lot of times diet is done on a per-dog basis. Each one is unique and has different dietary requirements. Most dogs in the U.S. are overweight. A mix like this one that is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia should really be on fish oil and glucosamine and chondroitin supplements as soon as possible. A good diet to look into is Raw Food Diet. A raw food diet will be especially good for the Wolf background.

Overfeeding any dog is not a good idea as that can really exacerbate health problems such as elbow and hip dysplasia.

I good diet to look into is Raw Food Diet. A raw food diet will be especially good for the Wolf background."

German Shepherd Dog Links

Links to other breeds you might be interested in