English Setter Complete Breed Guide

English Setters are kind, gentle dogs who love people, especially children. They are smart, good-natured hunting dogs who want nothing more than to track down some birds and then hang out with their family at home.

English Setters are known for their exceptional nose and affable personalities. They love hunting for birds and do well in the field or in agility competitions. English Setters love their humans and are known to be especially tolerant of children. They have a very gentle nature and make excellent house dogs, so long as you give them their daily exercise. It is very important that your English Setter lives inside your house with you, as they do not do well being apart from people. Since they are hunting dogs, you’ll need to keep an English Setter on a leash whenever they are around cars so they don’t go chasing that intriguing scent across any busy roads.

Lifestyle & Living Conditions

English Setters are especially fond of hunting birds, but they can fit in just fine with non-hunting families who take their dogs out for daily exercise. They do best when they live inside the house with their owners because they crave human companionship as much as we crave theirs. An English Setter that is raised with other pets usually does just fine with them, so you won’t have to get rid of any cats you already share your home with.

Exercise & Activity

English Setters need at least 30 minutes of exercise every day and more if possible. They have an amazing sense of smell, which they will use to track down birds any time you give them the chance. When going for a walk or a bike ride, your English Setter would be more than happy to trot faithfully along your side.

English Setters are smart and sophisticated. They are extraordinarily patient with young children and make excellent companions for families. English Setters were originally bred to be hunting dogs, so be aware that their instincts are telling them to hunt down every scent they whiff with their incredibly powerful nose. They are very trainable when positive reinforcement is used as motivation, and once they’ve learned something, they’ll never forget it.

The English Setter’s coat is long and requires brushing a few times per week whenever it’s starting to look tangled. They have feathering on their ears, chest, belly, legs, and tail, which should be kept trimmed unless you plan on showing your dog professionally. Shedding will be moderate and can be kept to a minimum with regular brushing.