English Setter

Breed snapshot

Weight: 20-36 kgs
Height: 61-69 cms
Breed size: Large
Lifespan: 10-12 years.
Dog Breed Group: Sporting group.
Shed Level/Coat Type: English Setters have a long, silky coat that is approximately 2-3 inches (5-8 cms) long. They shed moderately and require regular grooming to maintain their coat's health and prevent matting.

Description

A beautiful long and lean working gundog, the English Setter features hanging ears covered in silky hair and a flat silky coat that comes in white with blue, lemon, orange or brown in various speckled markings. There is some feathering on the body and legs.

Temperament

A quick quiet worker with an excellent nose, the English Setter is very gentle, calm, friendly, easy going, affectionate, and enthusiastic outdoors but mostly inactive indoors. It is very good with children but can be difficult to house-train, and could become a problem barker if left in the backyard for too long.

Health problems

The English Setter can put on weight easily so do not overfeed. It can be prone to hip dysplasia, false pregnancies and mast cell tumors.

Exercise

Take your English Setter on a daily brisk walk or jog to prevent restlessness. It will also enjoy running free in a backyard.

Grooming

Regularly comb and brush the coat and check for burrs and tangles regularly (more when it is shedding). This breed is an average shedder.

Living conditions

The English Setter will do best in an average-sized backyard or larger. It is not recommended that an English Setter live in an apartment.

Origin

Bred in France in 1500, this early setter was called a Setting Spaniel because it crouched down after finding prey to allow the hunter to net it.