English Setter

Description

The English Setter is an elegant and athletic breed, originally developed in England for bird hunting, specifically to point and retrieve upland game birds. Known for its beauty, intelligence, and gentle temperament, the English Setter is a versatile working dog and a loving companion.

Physically, the English Setter is a medium to large-sized dog with a graceful, well-balanced frame. It typically stands between 23 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder and weighs between 45 to 80 pounds. The breed has a distinctive, silky, and slightly wavy coat, usually in a combination of white with markings of orange, black, or liver. Its long ears and tail, along with its expressive eyes, contribute to its refined appearance.

Temperamentally, the English Setter is friendly, affectionate, and gentle, making it a great family companion. The breed is known for its easygoing nature, good disposition around children, and sociability with other pets. It is intelligent and trainable, though it can sometimes be independent or stubborn, requiring consistent, positive reinforcement during training. The English Setter is also known for its enthusiasm and energy, which makes it well-suited for active families or individuals.

As a hunting dog, the English Setter excels at pointing and flushing game. It is highly skilled in scent detection, using its keen nose to locate birds, and then adopting a characteristic "setter" stance—pointing toward the prey. The breed enjoys regular exercise, including long walks, runs, and other activities that allow it to burn off energy.

Overall, the English Setter is an affectionate, energetic, and intelligent breed that excels both in the field as a hunting dog and at home as a loving companion. It thrives in active households that can provide ample exercise and mental stimulation.

History

The English Setter is one of the oldest and most elegant of the gundog breeds, with origins tracing back several centuries in the British Isles. Its ancestors likely included various land spaniels and early pointing dogs, which were selectively bred to “set” or crouch when they located game birds—hence the breed’s eventual name. By lying down, these early setters prevented the birds from being startled, allowing hunters to cast nets over the quarry. As firearms replaced nets and hawks in bird hunting, setters evolved into highly skilled pointers, indicating the location of partridge, grouse, and other upland game birds at greater distances.

The breed took its more recognizable modern form in the 19th century, thanks in large part to enthusiasts such as Edward Laverack and Purcell Llewellin. Edward Laverack dedicated decades to refining the English Setter, line-breeding for beauty and consistent conformation, ultimately producing dogs with a graceful outline, silky coat, and gentle expression. Purcell Llewellin focused on honing the breed’s field abilities, emphasizing stamina, keen scenting skills, and a methodical hunting style. The resulting dogs were formidable gun dogs known for their elegant “rosette” marking patterns in tricolor, blue belton, orange belton, and other variations.

These developments paralleled a growing interest in organized bird hunting and field trials during the Victorian era, which helped boost the breed’s prominence in both the field and the show ring. By the late 19th century, English Setters were being exported to North America, where they quickly gained favor among hunters and dog fanciers alike. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized the breed in 1878, making the English Setter one of the first breeds admitted to the AKC’s registry. Today, while many English Setters continue to excel in hunting and field trials, they are also cherished as friendly and affectionate family companions, carrying on a proud legacy that merges sporting prowess with refined elegance.

Colors

•  Blue Belton
•  Chestnut Belton
•  Lemon Belton
•  Liver Belton
•  Orange Belton
•  Roan
•  Tri-colour Belton
•  White & Black
•  White & Black w/ Tick