Interested in the English Setter? Get a short but informative brief on what this gentle and loving dog breed is all about.
History
The English Setter breed has been around for about 400 – 500 years. It’s a British dog breed that was developed mainly to help with hunting birds. Some of the other names for this breed include Laverack and Llewellin. These names are derived from two breeders who contributed greatly to the development of this species through careful breeding back in the 19th century.
It got its name “setter” because it was bred and trained to “set” which is to lay really low on the ground once it has found prey.
Description
The English Setter is a beautiful, athletic and sporty dog. They grow to about 25 inches in height and weigh about 55 pounds for females and 70 pounds for males (when fully grown). They are quite furry and boast a medium coat which is usually white in color with flecks of other hues such as black and orange. These flecks are called “belton” on the English Setter breed and they are used to identify their particular sub-species. Setters with white and black coats, for example are called the Blue Belton, those with white and orange coats are called the Orange Belton. Other Belton types include Liver Belton and Lemon Belton.
The English Setter has soft graceful eyes, an oval face, droopy ears, a long neck, a lean elegant physique, and a medium coat that grows longer behind the legs, tail, and along its underside.
What’s it’s like living with an English Setter
The English Setter is an obedient, loving, and friendly breed. It’s also quite sporty and playful. It is perfect for families and outdoor enthusiasts. Outdoors, the English Setter will run and try to spot birds. Indoors, the English Setter will relax in front of a fire or sit on a couch calmly.
English Setters are easy to train although this needs to be done early on from when they are young. Their diet needs to be controlled as well because they can sniff edibles a mile away and eat themselves to obesity. And they require gentle coaching as they can be sensitive to tough love.
Caring for your English Setter
If you’re going to live with an English Setter be ready to brush its long silky coat 2-3 times a week. Failure to do this and the long furs will start to tangle. A bath is ideal every week and grooming should be done every two weeks. Nail clipping can be done once a month.
For good health you should also give your setter about 2 hours of play every day, whether it’s letting it play the park, hunt in the woods, or take runs with you.
Lifespan, diseases & health
English Setters live for about 10 to 12 years with good care. And just like any other dog breed, they too are susceptible to various health risks. These health risks include cancer, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and deafness.
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Get yourself an English Setter if you fancy a beautiful, speckled dog with a long silky coat. They are calm, obedient, and faithful companions. A breed fit for beauty competitions or sporting adventures; an energetic animal outdoors and a gentle soul indoors.
