Seeing Spots: LIFE WITH AN ENGLISH SETTER A ccording to the breed standard, English Setters are “[a]n elegant, substantial and symmetrical gundog suggesting the ideal blend of strength, stamina, grace, and style.” Th eir temperament is own toys, and keep your things put away, it will discourage them from chewing on things they shouldn’t. Courtesy English Setter Association of America
can crate train them but they will always try to sleep on the bed if they get a chance. Th ere are some drawbacks to owning an Eng- lish Setter. Th ey need regular grooming. You need to brush out and groom your English Set- ter at least once a week to keep his coat look- ing nice. He will look better if you also do a little clipping under the throat, and tidy up his paws and ears, and keep the dead hair removed from his coat. Brushing his coat regularly will cut down on the amount of dog hair in your house. English Setters do shed. Some of them also drool. Th is is not a breed for people who are particularly fastidious about their homes unless they intend to clean all the time. You will have dog hair on your clothes and furni- ture with this breed. Otherwise, an English Setter needs to have the same care as other dogs. Th ey need to have their nails trimmed regularly, their ears cleaned, and their teeth brushed. HEALTH English Setters are generally a healthy breed. If you are thinking of getting an English Setter you should inquire about hip and elbow dys- plasia, deafness and whether a puppy’s parents have been BAER-tested (brainstem auditory evoked-response), and about the thyroid sta- tus of the parents. As with other breeds, some dogs can have allergies or other idiosyncratic problems, but these are not necessarily breed specific. GETTING AN ENGLISH SETTER You can find out more information about get- ting an English Setter by visiting the ESAA’s web site http://esaa.com/. You will find a listing of AKC breeders there who have puppies from time to time. Th ere is also information about contacting breed rescue. Most of the dogs that come into breed rescue are English Setter hunt- ing dogs, or Llewellin Setters (also called Field Setters). Th ey may look a little di ff erent from the show dogs but they are very similar in tem- perament and behavior and they come from the same root dogs. If you are interested in a medium-large dog that’s cheerful and full of energy and boundless love, then one of these spotted wonders may be just what you’ve been looking for. Th ey aren’t the right dog for everyone. Th ey don’t do well with harsh or bad-tempered people. Th ey are a gentle, loving breed that gives love and never hurts anyone. Th ey need people who are also gentle and loving, and who will try to live up to their high standards. If you can be a person who would be good to an English Setter, you should try to meet one.
English Setter puppies do tend to be mischie- vous and they can get into trouble, whether you just have one puppy or a puppy and other dogs. Th ey are often the ringleader if there is trouble. Th ey can learn to climb, to countersurf, to dig, or to do other naughty things, especially if they are left alone too much and become bored. However, it’s very hard to get mad at an Eng- lish Setter puppy. Th ey look awfully cute, even when you catch them doing something bad like toilet papering your livingroom. Most owners and breeders say that English Setters, especially males, continue to act like puppies until they are about two years old. At that time their brains arrive and they seem to mature. English Setter puppies should be well-social- ized when they’re young to help build their confidence. Th is is important whether you intend to show your puppy or he’s a beloved family pet. You can also enroll your puppy in a puppy kindergarten class or a puppy preschool class so he can learn some basic good manners, socialize with other puppies, and meet some friendly people to pet him. ADULTS As adults English Setters are usually well- behaved. Th ey still need regular exercise and they enjoy a good run every day. Th ey love to play with other dogs and with you, but they usually stop any destructive behaviors by the time they are 18-24 months of age. English Setters are considered above average in intel- ligence and they are generally not hard to train. Th ey compete successfully in obedience, agil- ity, and rally, and they love to take part in hunt tests and field work. Th ey can really do well in almost any kind of dog sports or activities as long as you work with them since they care most about pleasing you. Most English Setters are also strongly food-motivated which helps with training. English Setters also make excel- lent therapy dogs and they seem to have a spe- cial way of relating to anyone in need. English Setters have a “soft” temperament and they do not do well with any harsh training meth- ods. Th ey respond very well to positive reinforce- ment techniques such as clicker training. English Setters need to be with people and they don’t do well as kennel dogs. Th ey love to be around the people they love and they want to “help” you with whatever you’re doing. Th ey are a “velcro” dog breed. English Setters love to be beside you and they love to be petted. You
described as gentle, a ff ectionate, and friendly, without shyness, fear or viciousness. Th ose statements are all true, as far as they go. But once you live with these dear spotted dogs you discover that there is much more to them. OVERVIEW English Setters are elegant and graceful, but they are also great clowns with a wonderful sense of fun. Th ey have enormous energy but they love luxury and they will commandeer your sofa and hog your bed. Th ey are always ready for a day of play or fun in the field but they are gentle and loving with children and the elderly. Perhaps even more than their Set- ter cousins the English Setter is friendly and welcoming to strangers but they are thoroughly devoted to their families and they want to be with you no matter what you’re doing. Th ey will bark to let you know someone is at the door, but they make terrible guard dogs. Your English Setter will probably welcome a robber into the house. English Setters usually get along well with oth- er dogs, both male and female. Th ey generally get along well with cats, especially if they are introduced to them when they are young. ENGLISH SETTER PUPPIES Few things can compare to an English Setter puppy in terms of cuteness. English Setter pup- pies are born entirely white, with an occasional solid-colored ear or patch on the body. Th ey gradually get their specks of color later when the “spot fairy” visits, as English Setter breed- ers are fond of saying. English Setters come in orange belton, blue belton (white with black markings), tricolor (blue belton with tan on the muzzle, over the eyes, and on the dog’s legs), lemon belton, and liver belton. “Belton” is the term used for the freckled-speckled ticking on English Setters. English Setter puppies are a ff ectionate and quite intelligent. Th ey love to snuggle and cud- dle. As soon as they go home with their new owner they usually bond very quickly and they start to learn. Th ey often learn things whether you want them to or not, so be careful what you teach them. Th ey can learn that shoes taste good and which chair is most comfortable for naps, for instance. English Setter puppies, as a sporting breed, do have an a ffi nity for chew- ing on things. Th ey like to carry things in their mouths. If you provide them with lots of their
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