Performance Events

Sussex Spaniels are a versatile breed. Although Sussex are considered moderately difficult to train and have been described as “soft-stubborn,” in other words they are handler soft and will shut down if corrections are perceived as too harsh, with proper training and encouragement (a sense of humor is also helpful) they can excel in the performance ring. To encourage Sussex Spaniel owners to become more involved and participate in the many performance events available to them and their brown dogs, the Sussex Spaniel Club of America has adopted two new performance awards for club members to earn. The two new SSCA specific awards are “Performance Dog” and “Performance Dog Excellent.” Download Award Qualifying Form.

· Performance Dog Excellent: The performance dog excellent award will be awarded to any Sussex Spaniel who earns any TWO AKC performance event titles (obedience, rally, tracking, agility) AND a AKC hunting title or an American Spaniel Club WD/WDX. In order to earn the performance dog excellent award, the dog does not have to be a Champion of record but the award will be given to those dogs that are Champions of record.

                          Ch. Primetimes’ FYI, CD, SH, RN (dog)

                          ShootingStar Orion, CD, RA, WDX (dog)

                          Ch. Sundowners Heat Wave, MH, CD, RA, NAP, NPJ (dog)

                          Sundowners Thyme for Plumpud’n, CD, RE, JH (bitch)

 

· Performance Dog: The performance dog award will be awarded to any Sussex Spaniel who earns any TWO AKC performance event titles (obedience, rally, tracking, agility and hunting-AKC hunting title or a WD/WDX). In order to earn the performance dog award, the dog does not have to be a Champion of record but the award will be given to those dogs that are Champions of record.

                          Ch. Arundel’s Sea Sprite, CD, RN (bitch)

                          Ch. Remedi’s Amethyst, OA, OAJ (bitch)

                          Ch. Sand Creek’s Up to Snuff, CDX, SH (dog)

                          Ch. ShootingStar West w’the Nite, RA, NA, NAJ, NJP (bitch)

                          Ch. Stonecroft Cosenza, JH, RN (bitch)

                          Stonecroft Montford, RE, OA, OAJ (dog)

                          Sundowners Hot Buttered Rum, NAP, NJP (dog)

                          Ch. Sundowners Orions Up the Ante, JH, RN (dog)

                          Ch. Ziyadah Sunrise at Askonandy, CD, TD (bitch)

 

These two new awards complement the SSCA Versatility Award(s).

· Versatility Worker (VW): The VW award will be given to any dog that earns a combination of three (3) titles (a Championship title is required) from the list of AKC titles. Sussex that have earned the VW award are:

                         

                          Ch. Arundel’s Sea Sprite, CD, RN (bitch)

                          Ch. Sand Creek’s Up to Snuff, CDX, SH (dog)

                          Ch. Sundowners Orions Up the Ante, JH, RN (dog)

                          Ch. Stonecroft Cosenza, JH, RN (bitch)

 

· Versatility Qualified Worker (VQW): The VQW award will be given to any dog that earns a combination of four (4) titles, (a Championship title is required) from the list of AKC titles. Sussex that have earned the VQW award are:

 

                          Ch. Primetimes’ FYI, CD, SH, RN (dog)

                          Ch. ShootingStar West w’the Nite, RA, NA, NAJ, NJP (bitch)

 

· Versatility Excellent Worker (VEW): The VEW award will be given to any dog that earns five (5) titles (a Championship title is required) from the list of AKC titles.  In addition one of the titles MUST be an advanced title (CDX, TDX, SH, RE, OA, etc). Sussex that have earned the VEW award are:

 

                          Ch. Sundowners Heat Wave, MH, CD, RA, NAP, NPJ (dog)

 

 

We hope to see you and your Sussex in a performance ring soon! Cheers and Happy Training!

 

A couple of excellent resources to get you and your puppy off to great start:

Don’t Shoot the Dog-the New art of Teaching and Training, Karen Pryor, Bantam Books, 1999 (Revised Edition)

 

Building Blocks for Performance, Bobbie Anderson with Tracy Libby, Alpine Books, 2002

Sussex Spaniel Club of America, Inc.

The Official AKC Parent Club of the Sussex Spaniel