English Setter

Size
Medium (11kg - 27kg)
Exercise
40 min/day
Training
Weekly
Size of home
House with garden
Time at home
Alone with support
Grooming
As needed
Barking preference
Low
Personality
Independent + affectionate

Breeder List

Breeder - Mrs Marlene Cross (Nundialla)

nundialla10@gmail.com
See Details

History

English Setters are one of the oldest Gundog breeds and are traceable to the 14th century. The breed was valued for its hunting ability and unusual characteristic of dropping into a low crouch on finding birds. This was described as ‘setting’.

The breed we recognise today largely developed during the 18th and 19th centuries by careful selection for working characteristics, soundness of limb and temperament, together with a large dose of elegant good looks. Selective breeding produced the medium-sized, distinctively coated and good-natured breed we are familiar with today.

Temperament

The English Setter has a gentle nature, a friendly manner and an intelligent and alert expression. Keen to please and often referred to as the ‘gentleman’s gentleman’, it is an active, energetic breed with a keen game sense and good scenting powers. It shows great enthusiasm for work and play.

The English Setter enjoys its run in the park or daily walk, but it is equally at home curled up in a favourite chair.

Appearance

The modern English Setter owes its appearance to Mr Edward Laverack, who developed the breed during the 19th century. Another Englishman, Mr Llewellin, based his strain on Laverack’s best dogs and outcrossed them to produce the field type known as the Llewellin Setter. In 1902 the Llewellin Setter was given separate strain status in the UK, however, fieldbred English Setters are often mistakenly referred to as Llewellin. Only purebred Llewellin Setters may be registered as such.

The English Setter gives the immediate impression of being a sporting dog of aristocratic and noble heritage. It is of medium height: dogs are between 65 and 69cm at the withers and bitches are between 61 and 65cm. It projects an image of elegance both in appearance and on the move and exhibits the stamina required to allow it to work all day in the field. With its head carried high, the English Setter has a strong jawline and a long, muscular neck. It has bright, expressive, brown eyes and low ears, hanging in neat folds close to the cheek.

Health

Canine Hip and Elbow Dysplasia can be an issue in the breed, but responsible breeding practices are reducing the incidence and severity of the problem.

There is also a small incidence of hereditary deafness in the breed, but this can now be detected in puppies as young as five weeks old. A responsible breeder will be only too pleased to advise whether the puppy has been checked, plus supply you with worming and vaccination schedules, advice on proper housing, exercise and diet.

English Setters can be expected to live between 11-14 years.

Maintenance

This gentle, affectionate family dog loves to be with people and gets quite lonely when isolated in a yard or kennel.

Athletic and energetic, it requires daily exercise either on leash or in a fenced area. A bored dog turns to other diversions, so you will need to be prepared to regularly put aside an hour or two for exercise and play.

Its beautiful, silky coat is easy to look after. A good brush several times a week, checking for tangles, and a little trimming around the neck, ears and feet is all that is required.

Suitability

The English Setter is an affectionate and loyal breed that is thoroughly trustworthy with people and other animals. When coupled with its medium size, this makes the breed an ideal family dog. This is a breed that will adapt easily to your lifestyle whether you are seeking a companion, a show dog, a dog for agility or obedience or a working dog.

The English Setter is known to bark a lot if not stimulated properly, mentally and physically, so it is ideal for those with time to walk and play with it.

Words: Richard Jones on behalf of the English Setter Club of NSW.

Image: Shutterstock.com

In Conclusion

Now you know a little about the English Setter, you may think that this is the dog for you. Before you make a decision, please make contact with the breed club or your State controlling body for purebred dogs. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog shows where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the English Setter and its needs, and whether this breed would suit your lifestyle.

Official breed standard as recognized by Dogs NSW (Last Updated: 26 Oct 2011)

Download PDF

A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

General Appearance

Of medium height, clean in outline, elegant in appearance and movement.

Characteristics

Very active with a keen game sense.

Temperament

Intensely friendly and good natured.

Physical Standards

Head and Skull	Head carried high, long and reasonably lean, with well defined stop. Skull oval from ear to ear, showing plenty of brain room, a well-defined occipital protuberance. Muzzle moderately deep and fairly square, from stop to point of nose should equal length of skull from occiput to eyes, nostrils wide and jaws of nearly equal length, flews not too pendulous; colour of nose black or liver, according to colour of coat.
Eyes	Bright, mild and expressive. Colour ranging between hazel and dark brown, the darker the better. In liver beltons only, a lighter eye acceptable. Eyes oval and not protruding.
Ears	Moderate length, set on low, and hanging in neat folds close to cheek, tip velvety, upper part clothed in fine silky hair.
Mouth	Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. Upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Full dentition desirable.
Neck	Rather long, muscular and lean, slightly arched at crest, and clean cut where it joins head, towards shoulder larger and very muscular never throaty nor pendulous below throat, but elegant in appearance.
Forequarters	Shoulders well set back or oblique, chest deep in brisket, very good depth and width between shoulder blades, forearms straight and very muscular with rounded bone, elbows well let down close to body, pasterns short, strong, round and straight.
Body	Moderate length, back short and level with good round widely-sprung ribs and deep in back ribs, i.e. Well ribbed up.
Hindquarters	Loins wide, slightly arched, strong and muscular, legs well muscled including second thigh, stifles well bent and thighs long from hip to hock, hock inclining neither in nor out and well let down.
Feet	Well padded, tight, with close well arched toes protected by hair between them.
Tail	Set almost in line with back, medium length, not reaching below hock, neither curly nor ropy, slightly curved or scimitar-shaped but with no tendency to turn upwards: flag or feathers hanging in long pendant flakes. Feather commencing slightly below the root, and increasing in length towards middle, then gradually tapering towards end, hair long bright, soft and silky wavy but not curly. Lively and slashing in movement and carried in a plane not higher than level of back.
Gait/Movement	Free and graceful action, suggesting speed and endurance. Free movement of the hock showing powerful drive from hindquarters. Viewed from rear, hip, stifle and hock joints in line. Head naturally high.
Coat	From back of head in line with ears slightly wavy, not curly, long and silky as is coat generally, breeches and forelegs nearly down to feet well feathered.
Colour	Black and white (blue belton), orange and white (orange belton), lemon and white (lemon belton), liver and white (liver belton) or tricolour, that is blue belton and tan or liver belton and tan, those without heavy patches of colour on body but flecked (belton) all over preferred.
Size	Height: Dogs 65-69 cms (25.5-27 ins)Bitches 61-65 cms (24-25.5 ins)

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog, and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.