The English Setter is a bred of Gun Dog breed to hunt upland game birds such as Quail, Pheasant, Grouse and Woodcock. This bred was dubbed Setter for its ability to set and mark the location of game, todays Setters have been bred to point game.
The English Setter is gentle, friendly, and mild-mannered. Good with children, he is sensitive and loves to give and also receive affection. As a sociable dog, an English Setter enjoys being in the company of people and other dogs.
The Setter was originally bred for hunting. Even before the shotguns invention, the English Setter already knew how to crouch and point at game. Today, English Setters are still used as hunting dogs and family companions. Since theyre super affectionate, they make great family companions.
History of the English Setter
The English Setter is one of the oldest hunting dogs. Its origins trace back to the 1500s, before the invention of the shotgun. Originally, the breed was known as a Setting Spaniel. Most references have the English Setter originating from spaniel stock, most notably the Springier Spaniel and the Water Spaniel, with some mentions of Spanish Pointer and French Pointer. These Setters get their name form their ability to set and wait when it had found game. The setting stance was later bred out of the Setters, for a more upright pointing stance. Among its ancestors are the French Pointer, Spanish Pointer, and other spaniels.
In the 1800s, Sir Edward Laverack created a special breed of the English Setter. Sir Edward purchased two dogs, Old Moll and Ponto. He purchased them in 1825 from Rev. A Harrison. These two dogs became the foundation of his special hunting strain.
In the early 1800s, a breeder named Sir Laverack focused his efforts on developing an English Setter that was companionable and gentle. Most of todays English Setters are based on his strain, in fact in the English Setter is sometimes referred to as the Laverack Setter. Another individual who began breeding English Setters was R.L Purcell Llewellin, a Welshman.
Llewellin obtained his foundation stock from Sir Edward Laverack and crossed them with Gordon setters. He aimed to create a hunting strain with improved scenting ability and speed. The Llewellin Setter, while still an English Setter, is a completely separate and pure bloodline. Fast forward to the late 1800s, the Laverack setters formed the foundation of show setters. For the Llewellins setters, they became hunting/field dogs. Both lines came to America around the same time - the late 1800s.
The show dogs are larger than the hunting/field dogs. They have a different coat pattern and a luxurious coat. Field English Setters have patches of color but not desirable as those for English Setter show dogs.
English Setter Appearance
The English Setter is an elegant and symmetrical field dog. The males are masculine without coarseness, while the females are feminine without over-refinement. Male English Setters stand 25 to 27 inches at the shoulders. They weigh 65 to 80 pounds. The females stand 23 to 25 inches and weigh 45 to 55 pounds.
The head is proportional to its body. Long and lean with a well-defined stop, the head planes are parallel. Its eyes are dark brown but bright to give an intelligent expression. Round and fairly large, they are neither protruding nor deep set.
An English Setters ears are low and set well back. When relaxed, theyre close to the head. Of moderate length, the ears are round at the ends and covered with silky hair. The neck is graceful, lean, and muscular. Cleancut where it joins the skull base, iis more muscular towards the setters shoulders.
The chest is well developed, with the sternum projecting forward and deep. But not wide to interfere with forelegs movement. The back is strong and straight, with the ribs springing gradually in the middle and tapering towards the chest cavitys end.
Forelegs are parallel and straight, with the feet facing directly forward and the toes closely set and well arched. The hindquarters feature muscular thighs, a strong and well-bent stifle. They are parallel to each other with the hock joint, strong and bent.
The coat lies flat with feathering and with no curl. On the chest, belly, ears, back of the legs, and underside of the thighs, youve a long fringe of hair. Its long but not so much to interfere with the English Setters movement in the field.
Its coat colors range from orange, lemon Belton, blue Belton, liver Belton, blue Belton, and tan.
To keep an English Setters coat stunning, we recommend brushing him at least three times a week. Use a stiff bristle brush. This helps to keep the coat shiny and the skin healthy. We also recommend using a steel comb. It helps to remove tangles.
Every six weeks, you need to bathe your English Setter. This will keep him smelling wonderful. Trim his stray hairs every six weeks. You can also take him to a professional groomer. When it comes to the ears, use a cleaning solution recommended by your vet. Avoid cotton swabs or objects that may enter the ear canal. Otherwise, it will lead to damage.
English Setter Health and Training
English Setters are healthy, but theyre prone to certain diseases. An example is a hip dysplasia. This is a hereditary condition where the thigh bone does not fit into the rear legs hip joint (s). Environmental factors such as injuries incurred from falling or rapid growth from a high-calorie diet can cause it.
If your English Setter has hip dysplasia, it may display pain on one or both rear legs. If buying an English Setter from a breeder, make sure the pup(s) is free of hip dysplasia. Another hereditary condition common in English Setters is elbow dysplasia.
This condition is usually caused by different growth rates of bones making up the dogs elbow. This causes joint laxity and can lead to lameness and painful arthritis. To correct the problem and control pain, vets recommend surgery and medication.
English Setters are good-natured and sensible. Since theyre sensitive, we recommend positive reinforcement during training. Start training early and be consistent. As puppies, English Setters are very curious. Due to their prey drive and keen nose, theyll follow their instincts. If trained well, an English Setter is a wonderful companion at home and the field.
Final Thoughts
Like grooming and training, nutrition is essential for your English Setter. If you buy a pup, feed them small amounts of food three times a day. After the dogs first birthday, start feeding him twice a day. English Setters can overheat, leading to obesity. To ensure your English Setter maintains a healthy weight, monitor his diet.
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Wild bird hunting has been a part of our family heritage for over 60 years and hunting quality dogs has become a way of life. Harris kennels is committed to breeding the very best gun dog in the country. We breed for intelligence, bird finding ability, early natural ability, a pleasing appearance and the desire to please.
