For the rest of you, meet Maverick...my new Sussex Spaniel puppy!
Sussex Spaniels are a rare flushing breed here in the US and are an endangered breed in the UK. A few breeders in the UK still use them on working gundog shoots, but here in the US they are mostly shown. I've been lucky enough to see them working at both hunting and obedience trials. Despite the long and low body type, they are quite agile, love to swim, get dirty, and make solid retrievers. They are very intelligent and if trained to do so, can be quite versatile.
Maverick - Sundowners Repeat Fire - was generously sent to me by highly respected and accomplished judge/breeder/exhibitor Pluis Davern (2011 AKC Sporting Dog Breeder of the Year) as a show/hunting/performance puppy. He is ridiculously cute and charming, and I am just so thrilled to have him. He snortles when he's happy and already makes me laugh 100x a day.
I'll post more updates as time goes on. Since I'm already going to "the shows" to do obedience and rally with Ice and Toby, and a few are held in conjunction with conformation shows, Maverick also has a few events lined up this summer. Last year Montana even had two Sussex class majors. I also plan on taking the short legged fella hunting and maybe even doing a little tracking and agility with him so TALLY-HO! Off we go on yet another new training challenge and adventure!