by Ronald Bravo

The English Setter is a gun dog that is popularly known for being an elegant and excellent game bird setter. It is in the same family with the Irish Red and White Setters, Irish Setters, and Gordon Setters, which are excellent hunting breeds as well. This dog is named as setter because of its almost sitting position when it finds a game bird to be hunted.

This breed possesses a flat, moderately wavy and silky coat that drapes its body elegantly all over. It is well-known for having a color-speckled coat which is called uniquely called “belton”. These combinations are blue belton (white with black specks), orange belton (white with orange specks), lemon belton (white with orange flecks and nose is light), liver belton (white with liver flecks) and tricolor (blue or liver belton with tan markings on face, chest and legs).

The long hair of this dog covers its pendant ears, legs and tail like a fringe. Its velvety coat wraps around its body to emphasize its slim and elegant body. This coat is just in perfect thickness to allow the dog comfort whether in a cold or humid temperature.

There are two types of the English Setter and these are the bench or show type and the field or hunting type. The show type’s hair is lengthier and requires regular grooming while the hunting type’s coat is shorter and requires a little grooming. This dog needs only to be bathed or dry shampooed when necessary and it is a moderate shedder, too.

The English Setter is sweet-natured and gentle especially to kids thats why people call him a “Gentleman by Nature”. This dog is also placid, amiable and gets along with people well. It is highly intelligent that it can do the tasks that other breeds do except herding.

This breed ranks 37th in Stanley Cohen’s the Intelligence of Dogs meaning that this breed is above average in terms of obedience and working intellects. This dog is very active and therefore needs to be given constant activities such as hunting and playing in a wide fenced yard. Daily exercise of this dog is composed of brisk walking, jogging or running.

This dog may be highly trainable but it is mischievous and strong-willed at times, too. Never apply harsh criticisms or negative reinforcements in training the English Setter because it is highly sensitive. It is best to reinforce this dog with positive remarks only or else, it will refrain from doing tasks for fear of displeasing the master.

This creature originally came from France in 1500s and ended up becoming popular in England during the 1800s. It supposedly came from crosses of Spanish Pointer, large Water Spaniel and Springer Spaniel. Edward Laverack and Purcell Llewelin are two separate breeders who are responsible for making the breed as beautiful as it is today and actually there are two varieties of this breed namely the Laverack and the Llewellin.

About the Author:
Learn more exciting facts on how to raise your English Setter dog. Come and visit author Ronald Bravo’s website for information about the breed such as English Setter breeders, English Setter puppies, English Setter rescue and more!

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  3. The World Famous Happy Dog, the English Cocker Spaniel
  4. English Cocker Spaniel: The World’s Merry Cocker
  5. The Exceptional English Springer Spaniel

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