The Elegant and Famous Bird Game Pointer, The English Setter
Dubbed as an elegant sporting breed, the English Setter is one of the prime breeds that are being used as a gun dog that efficiently points and retrieve bird games. This dog is in the same family as the Irish Red and White Setters, Irish Setters, and Gordon Setters. The term “setter” is used to describe the dog’s almost sitting position when it has found a game.
This dog has flat, smooth and slightly wavy coat that drapes its body all over. This coat is mostly found speckled with a different color and this combination is referred to as a “belton”. There are several beltons for this breed and they are the blue belton (white with black specks), orange belton (white with orange specks), lemon belton (white with orange flecks and nose is light), liver belton (white with liver flecks) and tricolor (blue or liver belton with tan markings on face, chest and legs).
The long hair of this dog covers its pendant ears, legs and tail like a fringe. Its velvety coat wraps around its body to emphasize its slim and elegant body. This coat is just in perfect thickness to allow the dog comfort whether in a cold or humid temperature.
This dog has two types namely the field or hunting type and the bench or show type. The hunting type has a shorter length of coat and requires a little grooming while the show type has a longer and more flowing coat that requires regular grooming. This dog is an average shedder and needs dry shampooing or bathing when necessary.
The English Setter is sweet-natured and gentle especially to kids thats why people call him a “Gentleman by Nature”. This dog is also placid, amiable and gets along with people well. It is highly intelligent that it can do the tasks that other breeds do except herding.
This breed ranks 37th in Stanley Cohen’s the Intelligence of Dogs meaning that this breed is above average in terms of obedience and working intellects. This dog is very active and therefore needs to be given constant activities such as hunting and playing in a wide fenced yard. Daily exercise of this dog is composed of brisk walking, jogging or running.
This dog may be highly trainable but it is mischievous and strong-willed at times, too. Never apply harsh criticisms or negative reinforcements in training the English Setter because it is highly sensitive. It is best to reinforce this dog with positive remarks only or else, it will refrain from doing tasks for fear of displeasing the master.
This creature originally came from France in 1500s and ended up becoming popular in England during the 1800s. It supposedly came from crosses of Spanish Pointer, large Water Spaniel and Springer Spaniel. Edward Laverack and Purcell Llewelin are two separate breeders who are responsible for making the breed as beautiful as it is today and actually there are two varieties of this breed namely the Laverack and the Llewellin.
