English Setter - The facts every owner of this dog breed should know
The first Setters appeared in France in the 1500s. Three hundred years later, Setters were brought to Great Britain and Sir Edward Laverack developed the English Setter. These dogs were bred primarily for beauty and became show dogs. Another breeder, Llewellin, was dissatisfied with the hunting ability of this dog and developed these abilities in a separate strain of English Setter through selective breeding with Gordon Setters. Both versions are considered English Setters and both are part of the larger Setter family.
All English Setters have long, flowing coats that require regular grooming. Regular combing helps keep shedding in check (English Setters are average shedders) and helps keep the coat from becoming tangled and matted, particularly if the dog has been running through grass and fields. It is important to do the same for the hair between the pads and toes of and English Setter as well. If the hair is not cared for, it can be a breeding ground for fungus that can lead to infection. The coats are all speckled in some way with different variations of white with blue, lemon, orange, brown, or tri-color (blue, white & brown).
English Setter males will grow to an average height of 24 to 27 inches and females an average of 23 to 26 inches. The average weight for this breed is 45 to 80 pounds and will live approximately 10 to 12 years. Often described as gentle and sweet, English Setters make good family pets, and tolerate children well. They enjoy being with people and dislike being left alone for long periods of time.
English Setters also enjoy playing with other dogs. English Setters have ample amounts of energy so frequent exercise is important. English Setters are not suited for apartment life as they need plenty of time to run off leash, or at least in a fenced in backyard, as they sometimes roam. Though a placid dog, English Setters can be quite stubborn. Obedience training should begin early and be consistent, especially to discourage barking, digging and jumping.
English Setters will become obese if overfed and not exercised enough. English Setters are susceptible to hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, some cancers and some are deaf. Female English Setters are also prone to false pregnacies.
There is a website that has great information on English Setters and most other breeds of dogs. It has details that pertain to a dog breeds health, grooming, living conditions, best food choices and more, the website is called: Dog And Cat Facts, and can be found at this url:
By Robert W. Benjamin
Copyright © 2007
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About the Author
Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. He first released products on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970's-80's.
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