english Setters Can Be Exellent Gundogs
The English Setter is a beautiful dog in both form and temperament. It is identified by its unique coat that is white and speckled with lemon, brown, orange or blue color. The coat of the English Setter is long and flat with feathering at the legs, chest and tail.
While it is striking in appearance, they are striking in temperament and are known for their gentle nature that makes them an ideal family pet. They are generally mild mannered and live life with a give love, get love mentality. In fact, they are happy to spend all their time with their owners and can become destructive if they are left alone too long.
Although the English Setter is an excellent gundog, it does have a strong temperament and needs an owner that will give it clear and firm rules right from the beginning. It needs a gentle but firm training technique and without it, they will quickly develop many bad habits.
That being said, an English Setter is amazing in the field and with the proper training and raising, it can be an ideal dog from many.
Pro’s and con’s of owning an English Setter
Being one of the oldest hunting dogs has certainly lead to many pros for the English Setter but there are also some cons that should be taken into consideration before you make an English Setter part of your home.
The Pro’s
Like all breeds, there are a number of pros that make this an amazing gundog for many owners. Those pros are:
• They are very good with children and can make an ideal family pet.
• They do well with other pets and work well in a multi-dog home.
• English Setters usually love everyone.
• They will bark if they see someone suspicious so they can make good guard dogs although there protection usually stops at barking.
• English Setters can be very quiet in a house, making them an excellent dog for indoors.
• They are very affectionate dogs with a good nature.
The Con’s
There are a number of cons that make this breed a little more difficult that others and it is important to be aware of them before you purchase an English Setter. Those cons are:
• They have a high energy level and require about 60 minutes of exercise per day.
• They have been known to wander off in pursuit of something they feel is “quarry” so they require a fenced yard.
• They enjoy human interaction and are not a suitable breed for kennels.
• They can suffer from separation anxiety when they are left alone for long periods.
• Some English Setters can be slow to housebreak.
• They have been known to be stubborn, which can make training difficult.
• English Setters enjoy digging and can be a nuisance digger.
Health Issues:
The English Setter is considered to be a hardy breed that does not suffer from a large number of health issues. That being said, it is still important to make sure the breeding stock is healthy and that it has had clearances prior to breeding. English Setters can be prone to the following health issues.
• Hypothyroidism
• Hip Dysplasia
• Elbow Dysplasia
• Allergies
• Deafness
Height & Weight:
The English Setter is a beautiful dog that should be a blend of stamina and grace. It should be athletic with a strong build but it should also be graceful in its movement and should have a balance to its look. The English Setter should have a clear distinction between males and females with the former being more masculine looking then the latter. It is important that the masculine and feminine qualities of the dog’s appearance is not over emphasised to make the dog look either coarse or over-refined.
The size of the English Setter is:
Males: 24 to 27 inches (61 to 69 cm) tall and 55 to 80 pounds (25 to 36 kg.)
Females: 23 to 26 inches (58 to 66 cm) tall and 45 to 70 pounds (21 to 32 kg.)
Note: Height is always determined from the ground up to the withers, also known as the highest spot on the shoulders, of the dog.
Grooming:
The beautiful coat of the English Setter can be both an attractor and a detractor for potential English Setter owners but if it is cared for properly, the coat is very easy to care for. Generally, you should brush an English Setters coat daily or at the very least, once or twice a week. You will end up brushing your English Setter more often when it is being used in the field to keep mats and debris out of the coat. When the dog is not being used in the field, once or twice a week can be more than enough to keep the coat healthy and free of dead hair.
In regards to other grooming, an English Setter should be bathed on a regular basis and many breeders will recommend that you bathe your dog about once a month or once every six months. When you do bathe your English Setter, it is important to use a good quality pet shampoo. Ears should be checked when you groom your dog to ensure that there is no debris or irritations that may lead to an ear infection. The same care should be given to the feet and any long hairs may need to be trimmed, along with the nails. English Setters are considered to be average shedders.
Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years
History:
The English Setter is one of the oldest gundogs today and they can be traced back to the 14th century. Although it is not complete clear what dog breeds went into the development of the English Setter, it is believed that the Spanish Pointer, Springer Spaniel and several other spaniel breeds were used to create the breed.
Originally, the English Setter was called the Setting Spaniel in reference to the way the breed would stand when the dog spotted quarry for the hunter.
Although the breed can trace its origins back to the 14th century, the breed as we know it today can attribute its existence to Edward Laverack and R. Purcell Llwellin who both raised and bred English Setters to create a versatile working dog in the field. The English Setter was accepted by the AKC in 1878.
Grouping:
Gun Dog, AKC Sporting
Recognition:
CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, KCGB, CKC, ANCK, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR
For More Info On English Setters Go To English Setter Association