The English Setter is a friendly and people-oriented sporting dog. They are well-known, not just in their country of origin, but all around Europe. With their gentle and affectionate nature and excellent pointing-hunting skills, the English Setter can do great as both a hunting and a family dog. Either way, their physical and mental needs have to be met, which means they are not suited for owners who don’t have time to be active with their dogs.

Physical Traits

The English Setter is a medium-sized dog with an elegant appearance, especially when it works. However, “in their free time” they can be very goofy, especially when they play. Male dogs are bigger than female dogs, but they all appear symmetrical, well-balanced, and elegant.

Social Traits

The English Setter is a dog that gets along with other dogs very well. They are friendly and outgoing by nature without aggressiveness, but they need proper socialization, nonetheless. The English Setter is great for families with children, too. 

Because they are sporting dogs that people bred to hunt birds, they have a high prey drive, which can be an issue if you have some chickens or you go out for a walk where they can sniff out birds. There is a difference between a Show and Working Line. The Show Line is much more laid back and should have a lower prey drive.

The English Setter is a great family dog. They love affection, and they give a lot, and what’s interesting is that they keep their playful personalities into adulthood. But on the other side, the English Setter is not for those who don’t enjoy spending a lot of time outdoors or who want an independent dog.

Great with children

Get along with other dogs

Get along with other animals if raised together,

but their high prey drive can be an issue

Affectionate

Playful

 Activity Needs and Training

The English Setter is a high-energy dog that needs at least 2 hours of everyday activities. This means more than a simple and quick walk to the park or around the neighborhood. The English Setter needs to explore, sniff, and run.

The English Setter needs at least 2 hours of daily activity, plus potty walks.

You have to understand that people made these dogs to have stamina to find potential prey all day long in all kinds of weather. So, don’t worry about the rain or wind, or muddy paths; your dog will love it!

It’s easy to train the English Setter as well. The point is to start early with the obedience training and keep it lighthearted and fun. Don’t use harsh methods or yell at your dog. Use positive reinforcement, trust, and good timing!

Owners claim they’ve taught their English Setters proper recall as well. So, all is possible; however, for beginners, it’s best if your dog is on a leash when you walk through unsecured areas where there are a lot of people, cars, and other animals.

Energy: High-energy breed

They need at least 2 hours of daily activity

Trainability: highly trainable.

Adapts well to city and country life

Health and Nutrition

The English Setter is generally a healthy breed. The key to keeping a breed healthy is responsible breeding. That means screen testing breeding dogs and not breeding those dogs who come up positive for some hereditary diseases.

Even though responsible breeders do what’s in their power to keep the breed healthy, some issues can arise, such as:

• Hip dysplasia
• Elbow dysplasia
• Allergies
• Eye issues

If you are getting a dog from a breeder, always ask for proof they’ve done all the tests to make sure their dogs are healthy. A good breeder will never hide results.

Dogs that are active need more food than those that are less active. That’s logic, and we should observe how much time they spend outside, what they do, to determine how much food they need. Most times, an adult English Setter needs from 2 to 4 cups of kibble a day.

The amount depends on the dog’s health, age, and activity levels. If your dog spends almost all day outside and is active throughout the day, it needs over 2 cups a day. If you have any issues, ask a vet.

Life expectancy: around 12 years

Grooming

The English Setter has a long and flat coat type that needs to be brushed at least once a week. You can use a combination of a slicker brush with a metal comb. This will detangle the hair and help with the shedding.

The English Setter sheds moderately throughout the year; the shedding is more intense during the shedding seasons (around fall and spring).

How often you’ll bathe your dog depends on how dirty it gets. But, there is no need for too many baths, because they already have a double coat that helps them regulate their body temperature.

Moderate shedding

Use a combination of a slicker brush and a metal comb

or a pin brush and a metal comb

Final Thoughts

With a balanced energy level, the English Setter is a bird dog who is gentle, affectionate, and friendly, and these dogs will flourish in a loving home environment where they receive daily exercise in addition to kind and positive training. They need lots of exercise to keep them healthy and happy. This is why the English Setter is a great addition to families with children who have the time to go on hikes, camping trips, and overall, enjoy spending time outdoors.

Photo by Alexander Chibirkin