English Setter

Also known as: Lawerack, Russian setter, Llewellyn Setter

This British gundog was developed not to chase but to locate game and then quietly set, freezing low before the bird until the hunter closed in with a net or gun. The long, silky coat with heavy feathering on the ears, legs and tail is one of its most recognizable traits, though it mats easily and needs regular brushing. A male can reach 30 kilograms, but the frame stays elegant rather than heavy. The English Setter has long had a reputation as one of the gentlest tempered gundogs, often described as easygoing even around strangers. It stayed more popular in the field than in the show ring for much of its history, so many lines kept a strong working drive. At home it wants to be near people and does not cope well with being left alone for long stretches. Life expectancy runs 11 to 13 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

English Setter: how old in human years?

61–68 cmHeight
20–30 kgWeight
11–13 yrsLife expectancy

Weimaraner (Long-haired)

FCI group: Pointing Dogs
FCI section: Section 2.2: British and Irish Pointers and Setters, Setters
FCI: 2
Country of origin: Great Britain

Energy level

4/5
Trainability

4/5
Family friendly

5/5
Grooming need

4/5

At a glance

Height

Males 65–68 cm

Females 61–65 cm

Weight

Males 25–30 kg

Females 20–25 kg

Life expectancy

11–13 yrs

Coat

long, silky, feathered (long)

Temperament & Family Life

English Setter's average temperament and family-life score for this breed is high.

Family friendly 5/5
Good with children 5/5
Good with other dogs 4/5
Friendly with strangers 3/5
Intelligence 4/5
Trainability 4/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

English Setter's energy and exercise needs are high.

Energy level 4/5
Exercise need 5/5
Apartment friendly 1/5
Prey drive 4/5
Hunting instinct 5/5

Guarding & Alertness

English Setter's guarding and alertness traits are low.

Guarding instinct 1/5
Watchfulness 2/5
Barking level 3/5

Grooming & Care

English Setter's grooming needs are moderate.

Shedding 3/5
Drooling 1/5
Grooming need 4/5

Living with the English Setter

In a meadow an English Setter sometimes freezes like a statue: one paw raised, tail straight out, nose pointed at a patch of grass hiding a quail you had no idea was there. Hunting runs in this dog's blood, and its nose leads it more than your voice does, so a reliable recall takes plenty of patience, and off-lead running belongs in fenced or safe places. It needs long walks and a chance to really stretch its legs every day; a flat without that is too small for it.

Indoors the Setter turns into a gentle, affectionate companion that loves children, gets on with other dogs and greets visitors like old friends. As a guard it is useless: an intruder would be sniffed and invited to play. It learns willingly but matures slowly and stays a bit of a puppy for a long time, so keep training gentle, patient and fun, because harshness only shuts this sensitive dog down. Tired after a day in the fields, it will happily settle on the sofa, take up more room than seems possible, and fall asleep with its head on your knee.

Grooming and coat

An English Setter's coat is long, silky and flat, with long feathering on the ears, chest, backs of the legs and tail. That feathering is the main job: it is where mats form and burrs and grass seeds lodge, especially after a walk through fields. Brush several times a week, first with a wide-toothed comb and then a brush, and don't forget behind the ears and the armpits. A Setter sheds moderately all year, and it is worth trimming the hair between the toes and on the ear edges regularly so the dog looks tidy and carries less mud indoors.

The ears need particular care: long and heavy, they cover the ear canal, so once a week lift them, look inside and give them a sniff. After a swim or rain, dry the inside of the ears with a soft towel. While brushing, check the skin for ticks, scratches or redness. The eyes should be clear, without redness or heavy discharge; if dirt gathers in the corners, wipe it away with a damp cloth.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

The English Setter is an athletic, long-legged gundog in generally good health, but a few things are worth knowing in advance: hearing, ears, joints and the thyroid. Some changes, such as deafness, can be noticed in puppies within the first weeks, while others creep in slowly and are easy to blame on age. An attentive owner and regular vet check-ups help catch all of this in good time.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Deafness

Deafness can be present from birth and affect one ear or both, and in English Setters it is linked to white coat and pigmentation. Deafness in one ear is hard to notice: the dog is simply worse at telling where a sound comes from and turns the wrong way. A fully deaf puppy does not react to a clap or its name when it cannot see you, so if you are getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the health testing of the parents and the litter.
Ear infections

An ear infection is inflammation of the ear canal when bacteria or yeast take hold there. The dog shakes its head, scratches at the ear, and you may catch a sour smell or see dark discharge. An English Setter's long, heavy, feathered ears cover the canal and keep it warm and damp, so any smell or scratching deserves a trip to the vet.
Elbow and hip dysplasia

This is a fault in how the elbow or hip joint forms as the puppy grows: the parts do not fit or move smoothly, and the joint wears over time. You might notice your Setter limping after a long run in the fields, getting up stiffly, or hesitating to jump into the car. For a dog built to run for hours, sound joints matter a great deal, so ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.
Hypothyroidism

When the thyroid gland makes too little hormone, the whole body seems to slow down. A lively Setter turns sluggish, gains weight while eating the same, seeks out warm spots, and the silky coat thins or loses its shine. These changes creep in slowly and are easy to put down to age, but a vet can check for this with blood tests.

Food for large breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (30 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 330 g of dry food a day, from €18,08 a month For a neutered, normally active 25 kg dog. Calculate for your dog