Nickname        : The Dog who Sits

Breed Origins : England ( 1300’s )

Breed usage     : Hunting Small Game - bird setting and retrieving

Dog Weight      : 55 - 70 Pounds

Dog Height       : 24 to 27 inches to the shoulder

History
English Setter comes from England and was bred originally to hunt small game - bird setting and retrieving. It’s origins can be dated back to the 1300’s. This dog is classified as one of the Sporting Dog Group. The English Setter was first Registered by the AKC (American Kennel Club) in 1878.
The name Setter originates from the word to Set or Sit when they locate their quarry. The English Setter is the oldest and probably the most distinctive of the four setter breeds. The English Setter, as we know it today, is mainly due to the work of Edward Laverack whose kennels has such influence on the breed throughout the 19th century that the dog was often known as a Laverack Setter. Laverack used hard in-breeding to achieve this breed and upon his death his prime breeding stock went to Mr. Percell-Llewellin whose dogs were internationally famous for several decades.
Dogs in the Sporting group, which include the English Setter, can be divided into three main categories - Retrievers, Pointers and Setters. These dogs were bred primarily to work with people to hunt game birds. Some of these dogs work in water whilst other dogs are more suited to work on land and many of the dogs in the Sporting dog category are comfortable and capable of working in either land or water environments. Sporting dogs, including the English Setter, are particularly suited to wood and field activities. The Retriever, Pointer and Setter dogs and their main functionalities are as follows:

• The Retriever dog - Retriever dogs find and return killed game to the hunter. Some Retrievers are especially equipped, for instance with a water-repellent coat and webbed feet, for retrieving downed waterfowl.
• The Pointer dog - Pointer dogs stand in front of their quarry, with their nose and body rigidly still , thus directing (or pointing) the hunter to its location.
• The Setter dog - Setter dogs were originally trained to set, or crouch, in front of game preventing the escape of the quarry. The hunter would make the capture with a net.

All Information and Tips About This Dog :

• Coat and Colours information
  The English Setter’s coat is normally a shade of black and white, orange and white, cream and white, brown and white or tri-coloured. The coat is normally short, straight and dense.

• Health information - potential problems
  Resolving dog health problems, including those of the English Setter, can prove to be costly and it would be wise to consider the benefits of obtaining dog health insurance. Common health problems and questions occur in relation to the Bones, Joints, Muscles, Nerves, Ears, Eyes, Teeth and the Mouth. Other, more serious, issues can relate to the Digestive System, Heart & Respiratory Systems, Immune & Blood Systems, Reproduction and Urinary Systems. Potential health problems of the English Setter can include:
  • Elbow Dysplasia (abnormal development of elbow joints)
  • Deafness
  • The life expectancy for this particular breed is 10 – 12 years.

• Grooming and Care
  English Setter requires weekly care and grooming. Grooming consists of not only brushing out the coat and bathing but also giving attention to the eyes, teeth, ears, feet and nails. A regular routine also ensures that any potential health problems are identified as quickly as possible.