Skip to content The breed of these dogs was bred in France at the beginning of the 16th century, by crossing the Spanish and French pointers. Then the English Setter was brought to Great Britain, where this breed was significantly improved by the breeder Sir Edward Laverac. It was he who, at the beginning of the 19th century, turned the French hunting breed into the English Setter, which everyone knows so well today. However, it must be said that originally these dogs were not used for hunting until another English breeder, Llewellyn, developed the hunting instincts of the English Setters. Today these dogs continue to be used for hunting, but most often they are bred to participate in all kinds of dog shows.
Characteristic
The English Setter is a great gentleman and has a truly endearing appearance. However, dogs of this breed can be very stubborn and therefore need very experienced hands. The exceptional sensitivity of the English Setter allows him to distinguish the slightest intonation of your voice. Provided proper education, good training and adequate socialization, these dogs make excellent companions. The English Setter has very strong instincts from the pointers, which were its ancestors, and therefore it feels best in the house where it can regularly be taken out for field walks. The English Setter is a good hunting dog and a wonderful pet.
Character
Enthusiastic and somewhat campy, the English Setter feels great in the family circle and is an excellent playmate for children. Dogs of this breed love to bark, and therefore they make good watchmen. You should not leave the English Setter alone with small pets, but with other dogs or cats, which he does not consider as an object of hunting, the Setter coexists quite peacefully. This is a very easily trained dog, but he is always ready to compete for the attention of the owner, which he needs very, very much, otherwise his behavior can become destructive, and the English Setter will turn into a domestic tyrant.
Wool and care
The English Setter has an even coat of medium length. Curly hair is considered a defect. On the ears, chest, lower abdomen and on the tail, the strands are longer and softer, while on the rest of the body the hair is close to the body and rather short. Those English Setters destined for exhibitions have a much longer and thicker coat than those destined for field work and therefore need extra care. If you want your pet’s coat to remain in good condition at all times, you need to brush and comb your dog regularly. Regularly check the longer sections of the coat for all kinds of burrs and thorns, which are very fond of clinging to strands of long hair. Those dogs that are used for the show require professional and rather expensive grooming two to three times a week with long combing and thorough brushing. In order not to disturb the natural fatty cover of a beautiful and long coat, it is recommended to use dry shampoo. In the show subspecies of the English Setter, the coat is usually significantly longer, heavier and thicker than that of the field subspecies.
Training
The English Setter may have a hard time getting used to keeping the apartment neat and tidy, but he really wants to win the approval of his owner, and therefore, with proper treatment and adequate training, the English Setter turns out to be a fairly capable student. It is recommended that you complete general training and obedience with your dog at an early age. Since the English Setter is a nervous and sensitive breed, training must be based on positive reinforcement, and all mistakes must be corrected gently enough so as not to intimidate the dog and spoil its character.
Activity
Indoors, the English Setter behaves quite calmly, but when you take him out into nature and let him off the leash, he quite shows his cheerful and energetic character. Since dogs of this breed have been cultivated for centuries to run all day, in order to release this endless energy, it is necessary to walk with them daily for at least two hours. It is even better if the English Setter has a large fenced yard at his disposal, where he can freely walk for his own pleasure. Do not forget to remove any thorns or other debris stuck in the dog’s fur after such walks.
