One of my most favorite breeds is the Sussex Spaniel.  If you’re like me and watch The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show each February, you may recall “Stump”, the 10-year old Sussex that won Best in Show at Westminster in 2009.  He was a crowd favorite who came out of retirement just to compete at Westminster…and he won!  How cool is THAT?!  Stump was the oldest dog to ever win BIS at Westminster and the only Sussex Spaniel to ever win Westminster!  I haven’t seen all that many Sussex Spaniels at the dog shows I’ve attended, so I was happy to finally have a chance to photograph one at the Lehigh Valley Kennel Club Show in Allentown a few weeks ago.  The ears of many breeds are wrapped as shown in the photo above [top left] to protect them before going into the ring.  Dogs with long ears like Spaniels, Afghan Hounds, etc. have their ears wrapped after grooming to help keep them clean, out of their food and water bowls, etc.    The Sussex Spaniel is noted for their great gopher impersonation where they sit on their haunches like in the lower left photo above – so cute!  I just love this breed – they have so much charisma!