English Setter -
Purebred Dogs and Puppies

A member of the Sporting group, The English Setter is an elegant,

substantial and symmetrical gun dog suggesting the ideal blend of strength, stamina, grace, and style.

This Setter dog breed was first seen as far back as 16th century England and then later perfected as a hunting dog in the 19th century.

Their long coat gives them the ability to hunt in colder weather and also gives them more protection when hunting in dense undergrowth.

They are a very gentle and friendly dog and are excellent with children.

This Setter has retained its popularity since its introduction into the U.S., due to its usefulness and beauty, flat-coated with feathering of good length.

Their unique speckled coat is a hallmark of the breed. The background color of the dog is normally white, with intermingled black, lemon, tan, or liver spotting. The specking that appears on the coat (also referred to as belton) may be more or less heavy and the markings may be of any size.

Valid coat combinations on this setter are white with black flecks (blue belton), orange flecks (orange, lemon or liver belton), and white with black and tan flecks (tricolour belton).

They will be comfortable in the show ring, at home, or in the field. All of these types of Setters need frequent grooming and discipline.

Early obedience training and socialization is mandatory with this dog breed as with any dog breed.

See a couple of these setters in action

Typically, these dogs stand 22 to 25 inches in height at the shoulder and weighs between 50 to 70 pounds.

Regular combing and brushing of their soft, flat, coat is all that is required to keep it in excellent condition. It is also very important to check the dogs coat for burrs and tangles, and to give extra care when the dog is shedding.

They are gentle, affectionate, friendly, and without shyness, fear, or viciousness. English Setters were trained bird dogs in England more than 400 years ago.

Be forewarned, they do require considerable exercise; therefore, it is better suited to owners who live in the suburbs and have a lot of land to run around on.

Ideal home: A home with a securely fenced yard is very important for this breed. The owner of an English Setter should be an active, patient owner who regularly provides the dog a task such as tracking, hunting or agility work. It is extremely important that the owner takes time to train, exercise, and groom the English Setter.

Country of origin: England
Lifespan: 12 - 14 years
Colors: White with intermingled darker hairs (belton markings) from flecked to roan in orange, blue, tricolor, lemon and liver
Known health problems: Hip and elbow dysplasia, deafness, hypothyroidism

Return from English Setter to Sporting Dog Group