Description
One of the most glamorous of all breeds, the English Setter has the ability to attract not only those who admire a stylish worker, but also those who want a dog capable of being a cheerful companion.
His coat has an overall basis of white, flecked generously with black, lemon or liver, with the black or liver occasionally intermingled with tan into a tricolour. The flecking is referred to by the cognoscenti as ‘belton’, thus lemon belton or orange belton. A longish, fairly lean head on a slightly arched neck, well-set shoulders and firm straight bone, a deep chest and strong muscular hindquarters are the hallmarks of a handsome breed that should combine elegance, quality and stamina under a silky, easily groomed coat.
Development of the English Setter into the breed as we know it today began around the mid-1800s. The breed was shown at the first dog show in Newcastle in 1859.
Breed Group
Gundog
Vulnerable Native Breed
No
Size
Large
How much exercise?
More than 2 hours per day
Length of coat
Medium
How much grooming?
More than once a week
Supposedly sheds?*
Yes
Town or Country
Either
Type of home
Large House
Minimum Garden Size
Large
Lifespan
Over 10 Years
* If you are asthmatic or have an allergy, you should consult your medical advisor before considering obtaining a dog. More information can also be found on
the Kennel Club website.
The Gundog Breed Group
Dogs that were originally trained to find live game and/or to retrieve game that had been shot and wounded. This group is divided into four categories - Retrievers, Spaniels, Hunt/Point/Retrieve, Pointers and Setters - although many of the breeds are capable of doing the same work as the other sub-groups. They make good companions, their temperament making them ideal all-round family dogs.