English Setter Breed Magazine - Showsight

ENGLISH SETTER THE

Is “style” an important aspect of type in my breed? Style when competing in Field Trials is very important. Type is very important for our breed. How does my breed’s head di ff er from those of its Setter cousins? English Setters are the moderate Setter. Th ey are smaller than the Irish and Gordon and not as extreme. Th eir heads are to be brick on brick. How does my breed’s silhouette di ff er from that of its Setter cousins? Th e English isn’t as much dog as a Gordon and not as tall and extreme as an Irish. Is there such a thing as too much feathering on my breed? Eng- lish Setters originally did not have the heavy coats they have today. It is really incorrect to have the heavy, long coats. Everything about an English Setter should be moderate. Do I see any preferences for color or markings in the show ring? Th e orange beltons win the most. What is my breed like at home and in the fi eld? Once they mature out of the puppy stage, they become calm, quiet house dogs, amazing with kids and other animals. In the fi eld, they are to have the balance to hunt all day every day; endurance and e ff ortless movement. Does the future look bright for the English Setter? I believe there is always room for improvement, but I think we are making good strides to keep the breed healthy and keeping our type. Anything I’d like to share about the breed? English Setters are the Gentleman’s Gun Dog. Th ey were the fi rst breed inducted into the AKC Stud Book. Th ey were a very popular upland pointing dog back in the early 1900s, especially in the South. Th ey have lost popularity due to the Pointer being used as a gun dog and never having a famous movie made about them. Th e bonus to this is the breed is in much better condition than breeds that have reached popularity at a very fast rate. JOHN FABELO John Fabelo, AIA born

1. Where do you live? What is your occupation? How many years in dogs? 2. Do you have any hobbies or interests apart from breeding and showing dogs? 3. How did you come to choose the English Setter? 4. Is “style” an important aspect of type in the breed? 5. How does the breed’s head di ff er from those of its Setter cousins? 6. How does the breed’s silhouette di ff er from that of its Setter cousins? 7. Is there such a thing as too much feathering on an English Setter? 8. Do you see any preferences for color or markings in the show ring? 9. What is the English Setter like at home? In the field? 10. In your opinion, does the future look bright for the English Setter? 11. Is there anything else you’d like to share about the breed? Please elaborate. MELISSA NEWMAN

Setter Ridge has been work- ing with English Setters for more than 39 years. We special- ize in Dual English Setters. Th ey both Show and Field Trial their English Setter as well as hunt, fi eld trial, show and compete in performance events. Here are some of Setter Ridge’s more notable accom- plishments: Melissa Newman won the fi rst Sporting Group Breeder of the Year given by the American Kennel Club; Breeder of over 250 American Champi- ons, plus many Champions in many other countries; Breeder of the #1 English Setter Sire of

in Cuba in 1962, moves to Spain in 1963 and to USA in 1964. Graduated Clemson University with a Bachelor’s in Architecture, and Miami University with a Master’s in Architecture. Working as a partner at LWC, an architec- tural design fi rm in Dayton, Ohio. I live with my wife, Barbara Fabelo, in Fair fi eld, Ohio. I have three children: Bittny Klyne, Daniel Fabelo and Corrie Fabelo.

all time; Breeder of seven All-Breed Best In Show dogs; Breeder of multiple Best In Specialty winners; Bred, owned, handled and trained the eighth and twelfth Dual Champions in the history of our breed; Breeder of National Specialty winners including Best of Breed; Breeder of multiple High in Trial dogs; Owners of multiple top-producing stud dogs. I live on an island in the Puget Sound o ff Washington State. I started professionally boarding dogs 48 years ago and professionally training dogs 44 years ago. I bought my fi rst English Setter in 1981. Do I have any hobbies or interests apart from breeding and showing dogs? I have always ridden horses, and was thrilled to get involved in the sport of Field Trialing (hunting upland birds com- petitively with pointing dogs, while riding a horse). How did I come to choose the English Setter? I started hunting upland birds with my dad when I was eight years old. He had many Sporting dogs. I wanted a beautiful dog that could win at Westmin- ster and be a fabulous hunting dog. Th us, I chose English Setters.

We live in Cincinnati, Ohio. I am one of two owners in an archi- tectural design fi rm and am Director of Design. We own English Setters and Miniature Wire-haired Dachshunds. Do I have hobbies or interests apart from breeding and showing dogs? I love to build things, anything creative: painting, gardening, house remodeling and designing. How did I come to choose my breed? My wife and I owned Afghans and when we lost our fi rst Afghan at 15 years old we decid- ed it was not a good time to get another dog. However, within 18

204 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2020

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