Sussex Spaniels are a rare breed best characterized by their beautiful golden liver color, and rather massive, long, low and level, body frame. Although, adopted into the AKC as one of the first nine breeds, they are now classified as vulnerable for extinction, and their very existence is entirely dependent on the small, passionate group of preservation breeders, working to keep them in our future.
My background is with field dogs and hunting spaniels, and I met my first Sussex at a hunt test in 1998. I was instantly smitten and vowed to own one someday.
I hit the ground running with my first show Sussex, Maverick, winning 6 Owner Handler Best in Shows, multiple sporting group placements and consistent national rankings. Since 2013, I've owner-handled eight Grand Champions (GCH) and have earned Top 5 Westminster invitations for Maverick, Frank, Marv and Bruce. Fourteen champions have been Hellfire bred - two are multiple specialty (MBISS) winners.
I enjoy training and competing to the highest levels in AKC Conformation, Obedience, Rally, Hunt Test, Tracking, and Barn Hunt events all over the US. My little brown dogs love learning new things, and with patience and persistence, Sussex can make wonderful and rewarding versatile companion dogs.
Our Sussex are immaculately maintained and are full time house dogs. We breed for our own personal use and only occasionally breed our champion titled adults that have passed heart, hearing, eyes and DNA health screenings.
NOTE: We keep ownership of all our show puppies.
Orions You Gotta Have Faith was our foundation matriarch - she left behind a legacy of long, luxurious ears and gentle, sweet temperaments - I miss her!
Hellfires Dancing in the Dark -a Best in Specialty winner from the Bred By Class, Multiple Best in Specialty X4, Multiple Reserve Best in Show X3 winner.
Our breeding dogs are joint/eyes/BAER hearing, heart and DNA health screened. We only use specialists. Our OFA results are public.
GCH CH Hellfire Has Faith in Me, aka Large Marge, is a Faith X Maverick daughter. She is obsessed with cheese.
The dorky and fabulous GG, GCH CH Hellfires Serendipity is Marvelous, is my very favorite Sussex. Out of Frank X Marv.
CH Hellfires Marvelous Serendipity aka Gwynnie is a litter sister to GG and mom to Knox and BISS Bruce. The 1st Frank X Marv litter produced 7 champions!
CH Hellfires Twinkle of Faith is littermate to Margery - from the second Maverick X Faith litter.
Champions are nice, but nothing is more satisfying than turning my babies into Bred-By Exhibitor Champions.