The English Setter: Why This Gentle Gun Dog Makes the Perfect Family Companion
In a world of increasingly popular brachycephalic breeds and designer crossbreeds, the English Setter stands as a timeless testament to canine elegance. With their flowing feathered coats, soulful eyes, and gentle disposition, English Setters have been beloved companions for over 400 years — and there's never been a better time to discover why.
A Breed with Noble Heritage
The English Setter's history stretches back to the 14th century, making it one of the oldest gun dog breeds. Originally known as "Setting Spaniels" for their distinctive crouching (setting) pose when they located game birds, they were refined into the breed we know today by Edward Laverack and R. Purcell Llewellin in the 19th century.
This dual heritage created two distinct lines:
- Show/Bench lines (Laverack type) — slightly heavier build, more coat, bred primarily for appearance and temperament
- Field lines (Llewellin type) — lighter, more athletic, bred for working ability
At Excell Pups, we breed from field lines, producing puppies that combine the breed's natural working instincts with an exceptional family temperament.
The English Setter Personality
If you could design the perfect family dog from scratch, you'd probably end up with something very close to an English Setter:
Gentle and Patient English Setters are renowned for their soft, kind nature. They're exceptionally patient with children and rarely show aggression. Their sensitivity means they respond to gentle guidance and are deeply attuned to their family's emotions.
Playful and Fun-Loving Despite their elegant appearance, Setters are clowns at heart. They maintain a puppy-like playfulness well into adulthood and have a wonderful sense of humour that keeps their families entertained.
Sociable and Friendly English Setters generally love everyone — people, dogs, and often cats too. They're not natural guard dogs (they're more likely to show a burglar where the treats are), but their alertness means they'll certainly bark to let you know someone's at the door.
Intelligent but Independent As a hunting breed, English Setters think for themselves. This makes them fascinating companions but means training requires patience and creativity rather than strict repetition.
Exercise and Activity
English Setters need moderate to high levels of exercise — they are, after all, bred to run across fields all day.
Daily Needs
- 1 hour minimum of exercise daily
- Ideally, at least one walk should include off-lead running in a safe area
- They have excellent stamina and can happily accompany you on long hikes
- They love to swim and many are natural water dogs
Ideal Activities
- Walking and hiking — their favourite pastime
- Pointing and retrieving — even pet Setters love these instinctive games
- Agility — they're graceful and athletic
- Canicross — running with their owner
- Free running in secure fields — watching a Setter run is pure poetry in motion
The Garden Consideration
English Setters have a strong prey drive and a wonderful nose. This means:
- Your garden needs secure fencing (5+ feet recommended)
- They will follow interesting scents with single-minded determination
- An off-lead Setter in an unfenced area will follow their nose and may not hear your recall
- With training and a secure environment, they're wonderful garden companions
Grooming the English Setter Coat
The English Setter's gorgeous feathered coat is one of their most distinctive features, but it does require regular maintenance.
The Belton Pattern
English Setter coats come in distinctive "belton" patterns — a term unique to this breed:
- Blue Belton — black and white
- Orange Belton — orange and white
- Tricolour — blue belton with tan points
- Lemon Belton — lemon and white
- Liver Belton — brown and white
Weekly Grooming Routine
- Thorough brushing (3-4 times weekly) to prevent matting in the feathering
- Check ears weekly — their pendulous ears are prone to infections
- Trim between paw pads to prevent matting and discomfort
- Check and clean eyes — some Setters have slight tear staining
Monthly Tasks
- Full bath with a gentle, coat-enhancing shampoo
- Trim feathering on legs, chest, and ears if it becomes unruly
- Nail trimming every 3-4 weeks
- Professional grooming session if preferred
Health and Longevity
English Setters typically enjoy a lifespan of 11-15 years. They are generally healthy, but responsible owners should be aware of:
- Hip Dysplasia — all breeding dogs should be hip scored
- Deafness — some lines carry genes for congenital deafness. BAER testing is recommended
- Hypothyroidism — treatable with daily medication
- Elbow Dysplasia — screening recommended
- Allergies — some Setters develop skin allergies
Our Health Commitment
Every English Setter at Excell Pups is:
- Hip and elbow scored
- BAER hearing tested
- Eye tested annually
- Thyroid function checked
- DNA tested for breed-specific conditions
Training the English Setter
English Setters are intelligent but can be stubborn in a charmingly disarming way. Here are our top training tips:
What Works
- Positive reinforcement — they respond beautifully to treats and praise
- Short, varied sessions — keep it interesting
- Game-based training — turn exercises into fun games
- Patience — if a Setter doesn't do something, they probably don't understand (yet)
- Consistency — gentle but firm expectations
What Doesn't Work
- Harsh corrections — they're sensitive souls who will shut down
- Repetitive drilling — they'll lose interest quickly
- Shouting — an English Setter will remember being shouted at for a very long time
- Impatience — they learn at their own pace, and that's okay
Recall Training
This deserves special mention. Because English Setters have a strong prey drive and follow their noses, recall must be trained early, consistently, and with very high-value rewards. We recommend:
- Starting recall games in the house from day one
- Using a long line (30-50 feet) for months before trusting off-lead
- Making yourself more interesting than whatever they're sniffing
- Never punishing a dog that comes back to you, even if it took them ages
Is an English Setter Right for Your Family?
An English Setter is perfect for families who:
- Enjoy outdoor activities and regular walks
- Want a gentle, patient dog that's great with children
- Appreciate a beautiful breed with character
- Have a secure garden for safe play
- Can commit to regular grooming
- Want a dog that's sociable with people and other animals
An English Setter may not suit you if:
- You need a reliable off-lead dog from the start (it takes training)
- You want a low-maintenance coat
- You prefer a very obedient, handler-focused breed
- You live in a flat with no garden access
- You want a guard dog
Our English Setter Programme
Our English Setters come from carefully selected field lines, producing puppies that combine:
- Natural hunting instincts with a gentle, biddable temperament
- Sound structure for an active, healthy life
- Beautiful belton coats in various colour patterns
- Excellent socialisation from our early exposure programme
Every puppy leaves with full health records, 2-year genetic health guarantee, and lifetime support from the Excell Pups team.
The English Setter truly is one of the dog world's best-kept secrets. [Explore our available puppies](#breeds) or [get in touch](#contact) to learn more about this wonderful breed.
