English Setter

General Information - English Setter

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History

The English Setter descends from the ancient family of sporting breeds known in England since the 1300's. The spaniels that existed there originated from Spain, but were crossed through the ages to the Spanish Pointer, the large Water Spaniel, and the Springer Spaniel. For centuries, these dogs were prized more for their ability to work during the hunt than for their appearance, and records of breeding lines were not kept. It wasn't until the 1800's that two men, Laverack and Llewellin, attempted to standardise and promote the breed through conscientious breeding programs. The breed was one of the first to be admitted for official registration in kennel clubs on both sides of the Atlantic. Today, this elegant and dignified dog is equally at ease in the field and in the house.

Temperament

English Setters are extremely devoted and love nothing more than to be part of their families. They are sweet, gentle and placid and love to play, jump, run and dig. English Setters get along with children and love to play with other dogs.

Upkeep

The English Setter needs a lot of exercise every day, requiring at least an hour of hard exertion. It does best when it can live inside and play outside. The long coat needs regular brushing every two or three days. The white coat may be difficult to keep gleaming in some areas. Some clipping and trimming every month or two is advisable for optimal good looks.

English Setter

A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be careful to avoid obvious conditions and exaggerations, as well as being mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

Breed Standard - English Setter

General Appearance: Of medium height, clean in outline, elegant in appearance and movement. The working English Setter may be proportionally lighter in build.

Characteristics: Very active with a keen game sense.

Temperament: Intensely friendly and good natured.

Head and Skull: Head carried high, long and reasonably lean, with well defined stop. Skull oval from ear to ear, showing plenty of brain room, a well defined occipital protuberance. Muzzle moderately deep and fairly square, from stop to point of nose should equal length of skull from occiput to eyes, nostrils wide and jaws of nearly equal length, flews not too pendulous; colour of nose black or liver, according to colour of coat.

Eyes: Bright, mild and expressive. Colour ranging between hazel and dark brown, the darker the better. In liver beltons only, a lighter eye acceptable. Eyes oval and not protruding.

Ears: Moderate length, set on low, and hanging in neat folds close to cheek, tip velvety, upper part clothed in fine silky hair.

Mouth: Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Full dentition desirable.

Neck: Rather long, muscular and lean, slightly arched at crest, and clean:cut where it joins head, towards shoulder larger and very muscular, never throaty nor pendulous below throat, but elegant in appearance.

Forequarters: Shoulders well set back or oblique, chest deep in brisket, very good depth and width between shoulder blades, forearms straight and very muscular with rounded bone, elbows well let down close to body, pasterns short, strong, round and straight.

Body: Moderate length, back short and level with good round widely sprung ribs and deep in back ribs, i.e. well ribbed up.

Hindquarters: Loins wide, slightly arched, strong and muscular, legs well muscled including second thigh, stifles well bent and thighs long from hip to hock, hock inclining neither in nor out and well let down.

Feet: Well padded, tight, with close well arched toes protected by hair between them.

Tail: Set almost in line with back, medium length, not reaching below hock, neither curly nor ropy, slightly curved or scimitar:shaped but with no tendency to turn upwards: flag or feathers hanging in long pendant flakes. Feather commencing slightly below the root, and increasing in length towards middle, then gradually tapering towards end, hair long, bright, soft and silky, wavy but not curly. Lively and slashing in movement and carried in a plane not higher than level of back.

Gait/movement: Free and graceful action, suggesting speed and endurance. Free movement of the hock showing powerful drive from hindquarters. Viewed from rear, hip, stifle and hock joints in line. Head naturally high.

Coat: From back of head in line with ears slightly wavy, not curly, long and silky as is coat generally, breeches and forelegs nearly down to feet well feathered.

Colour: Black and white (blue belton), orange and white (orange belton), lemon and white (lemon belton), liver and white (liver belton) or tricolour, that is blue belton and tan or liver belton and tan, those without heavy patches of colour on body but flecked (belton) all over preferred.

Size: Height - Dogs 65 - 69 cms (25 1/2 - 27 ins); Bitches 61 - 65 cms (24 - 25 1/2 ins).

Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Note: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
Copyright Dogs New Zealand
28 Aug 2007

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.