English Setter Breed Description

History

The initial undeveloped Setter dog came from France in 1500 and was a crossbreed of the French and Spanish Pointer breeds. After three centuries, the breed was taken to Great Britain where the true developer was a tremendously gifted breeder known as Sir Edward Laverack. Laverack discovered the English Setter breed from ancient French hunting dogs in the early 1800s. Sir Edward became so instrumental in instituting the breed that it explains the common reference to these dogs as the Laverack Setter. English Setters were famous for their magnificent beauty and qualify as the foundation stocks for most current top show dog breeds. Llewellin, another English breeder, came up with the second version of the Setter dogs, which became known as Llewellin Setters. The phrase 'Setter' is attributed to the sitting positions of these dogs.

Introduction

These dogs are beautiful, elegant and slim with a speckled coat that is long, flat, silky and a bit wavy. Colors are white with blue, lemon, orange, black, brown or tricolor. Regular brushing is important. These are gentle, mild mannered, placid, friendly dogs that are excellent with children. They love affection. They are somewhat willful and can be difficult to housebreak. Start training at an early age. These dogs need plenty of exercise. They weigh 45 to 80 lbs. and stand 23-27" at the shoulders.

General Description

English Setters fall under the Setter family that consists of black-and-tan Gordon Setters, Irish Setters and Irish Red and White Setters. These dogs are elegant, slim and beautiful with magnificent spotted coats. The spotting can be slightly heavy while markings are in different sizes. English Setters have long and flat hair, which is to some extent wavy. Conversely, the fur comes in a variety of colors like brown, blue, orange, and lemon. In addition, other breeds come in three colors, namely brown, blue and white. Their head has a pronounced frontal stop and their long, muzzles are moderately square and roughly half the dimension of the dog’s head. Alternatively, their eyes are brilliant large, hazel in color, with sweet expressions. English Setters have dark noses and reasonably long pendant ears that have furry tips. The underside, tails, legs, and ears all have heavy fringes. While their chests are by some means deep and not excessively wide, their tails are straight and narrow.

Temperament

English Setters are extremely respectful, hospitable and peaceful dogs that are exceptionally good in the company of children and other dogs. Sensitive and mild mannered, English Setters love complete sociability and a lively and enthusiastic outdoor environment, although they are inactive under detention and can get stubborn during housebreaking. To prevent bad behavior, dog masters are supposed to start training the dogs at tender ages. English Setters need peaceful, commanding but reliable, firm and self-assured owners. Additionally, these breeds are not just roamers, good diggers and great jumpers, but also make the most excellent watchdogs.

Health and Care

Dog owners have to be extremely careful while feeding English Setters because when over-fed, the dogs are susceptible to weight gain. This makes them more prone to hip dysplasia while the female dogs develop high chances of harboring false pregnancies. English Setters ought to be brushed and combed on a daily basis, paying more attention to feathery coat portions close to the tail region and legs. This daily care and maintenance ritual is not just for the sake of vanity, but also to prevent common health problems facing the breeds. For instance, when debris is trapped on the fur, it causes irritation, coat damage and flea-infestation. Bathing and shampooing the dogs should be done at least two times a week to avoid other imminent infections. Toenail-clipping is also essential every time the owners bath the English setters.

Colors

White with overlay markings in the following colors Orange, Blue, Liver, Lemon, Tricolor (Blue/Tan/White).

Living Area

English Setters need lots of room in which to exercise and run. The ideal living situation for an English Setter gives you and your dog access to large, fenced-in outdoor areas, preferably in a rural or sparsely-populated suburban setting. Urban or more densely-populated suburban areas can still support an English Setter adequately with some ingenuity and with some willingness to seriously exercise your dog. English Setters can be kept indoors with no problems.

Recognized By

CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR

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