Overview
The English Setter was bred to find game birds by scent, range across open moorland and freeze in a set when it found them. It has a long, silky coat flecked with colour and one of the sweetest temperaments among the gundogs. There are show and working lines, and the working dogs are lighter and more driven.
Setters are soft, sociable and slow to mature. They like people and other dogs, dislike harsh words and tend to be more stubborn than they look. A walker with a cheerful voice and realistic expectations gets on well.
Exercise and walking needs
Around an hour and a half of real exercise a day, with a chance to gallop. On the lead they tend to drift and lean rather than pull, and they come alive once the lead comes off.
Young Setters are gangly and should not do long or repetitive runs until mature. Older dogs stay keen and need the same time at a gentler pace.
On the walk
- Recall: Good until a bird gets up. Setters range wide and can be two fields away before they notice. Practise recall where there is little to distract them first.
- Other dogs: Gentle and playful. Setters rarely cause a problem in a group and often make a nervous dog feel safer.
- Pulling: Mild and inconsistent. They lean when excited but have no interest in dragging you anywhere.
- Coat: Feathering collects mud, burrs and water. Expect to spend a few minutes drying and checking at the door.
Tips for professional walkers
- Reward check-ins on open ground so that coming back becomes a habit before birds are involved.
- Keep the dog moving; standing around in a cold wind chills a fine-coated Setter quickly.
- Check the long ears after wet walks and let the owner know if they smell.
What to ask the owner
- Show or working line, and roughly how far does the dog range when free?
- Any ear problems or skin sensitivity you should watch after muddy walks?
- Does the dog have a strong bird or deer interest, and where has that been a problem?