English Setter

Personality

English Setters have a sweet, easygoing nature. They like to be near their people, follow you from room to room and greet visitors with a wagging tail, which makes them poor guard dogs but pleasant house companions. Most get along with children and with other dogs, especially if they meet them young.

Behind the gentle manner is a bird dog. A setter that catches an interesting scent outdoors may drift away from you, so a secure fence and a leash in unfenced places are essential. Dogs from field lines tend to be more driven, while show-line dogs are usually calmer indoors.

Setters are sensitive. A harsh tone can make them shut down or sulk, and long hours alone can lead to chewing and barking out of boredom. Many stay playful for years, so expect an adolescent phase that lasts well beyond the first birthday. A tired setter is a relaxed one: with enough exercise, they are quiet, soft and happy to lie against your feet.

History

English Setters get their name from the way they work. Before guns, hunters used dogs that located game birds and then crouched, or "set," so that a net could be thrown over the birds. Setting dogs of this kind are thought to have worked English moors as far back as the 1300s.

The modern breed took shape in the 19th century. Edward Laverack began breeding setters around 1825, starting with a pair named Ponto and Old Moll, and his line became the basis of today's show setters. R. Purcell Llewellin later crossed Laverack's dogs with other setter blood, aiming at field ability, and his dogs became the foundation of field-bred setters in North America.

Laverack-line setters were imported to the United States from 1874. The AKC dates its recognition of the breed to 1878, and the first dog in its stud book was an English Setter named Adonis. Today most English Setters are family companions and show dogs, while a smaller number still work in the field as bird dogs.

Appearance, coat & colors

The AKC standard describes an elegant, substantial and symmetrical gun dog that blends strength, stamina, grace and style. The AKC gives a height of 25 to 27 in (64 to 69 cm) for males and 23 to 25 in (58 to 64 cm) for females, with males weighing 65 to 80 lb (29 to 36 kg) and females 45 to 55 lb (20 to 25 kg). Show dogs are usually heavier and more heavily coated than field dogs.

The signature look is the belton coat: a white base flecked or ticked with darker hairs. Recognized colors are blue, orange, lemon and liver belton, plus tricolor, which is blue belton with tan points. Flecking across the whole body is preferred, and patches on the head and ears are acceptable, but large patches on the body are not.

The coat lies flat and is silky, with long feathering on the ears, chest, belly, backs of the legs and tail. It should be long without hiding the dog's outline. The head is long and lean, and dark brown eyes give a mild, intelligent expression.

Training

English Setters are intelligent but sensitive, so short, upbeat sessions with food and praise work far better than pressure. They are also easily distracted, particularly outdoors, which means a recall learned in the kitchen can vanish in a field full of smells. Practice on a long line for months before even thinking about off-leash freedom, and keep it to safely enclosed areas.

Start puppy classes early and socialize your setter with different people, dogs and places. Loose-leash walking, "come" and "leave it" are the priorities. A setter that learns to settle calmly on a mat will be far easier to live with than one that never learns to switch off. See our guide to crate training a puppy for a good start.

Harsh corrections tend to backfire. If your setter ignores you, assume the task was too hard or too distracting and make it easier. Scent work, tracking, agility and retrieving games give a bright dog a satisfying job.

Exercise

A healthy adult English Setter needs a long walk, jog or energetic play session every day, and field-line dogs often need more. Our guide to how much exercise a dog needs explains how to match activity to age and ability. A setter that gets enough exercise is usually calm indoors.

Low-impact activities such as brisk walking and swimming are good for the joints. Free running is wonderful for a setter, but only in a secure, fenced space, because a nose-down dog can cover ground fast and may ignore your calls. A GPS tracker adds a layer of safety on trails.

Mental exercise counts too. Hide-and-seek with treats, scent trails and short training sessions tire a setter in a different way than running does. Keep puppies on gentle, shorter outings while they grow, and skip repetitive jumping or forced running on hard surfaces until your vet says their joints are mature.

Grooming

The silky coat is lovely but needs regular care. Plan to brush and comb two to three times a week, paying attention to the feathering on the ears, chest, belly and legs, where tangles form. Burrs and twigs from walks should be removed promptly, since they turn into mats.

Bathe your setter every month or two, or when dirty. Many owners also trim the feet and the long hair around the ears and tail to keep things neat, and show owners tidy the coat further. Shedding is average, so expect some hair on furniture and clothing.

Those long, folded ears hold moisture and debris, so check them weekly for redness, odor or discharge and clean them gently with a vet-approved solution. Look over the eyes for redness or cloudiness, trim nails regularly, and brush the teeth several times a week to keep tartar in check.

Feeding

English Setters can be enthusiastic eaters and may gain weight if the bowl is generous, so measure meals and count treats toward the daily total. Most adults do well on two meals a day, while puppies do better on three smaller meals at regular times. Free feeding is best avoided because it can lead to obesity.

Choose a complete and balanced food that suits your dog's life stage and activity level. A dog from field lines that works or runs a lot will burn more calories than a couch-loving show dog. Our dog food calculator gives a starting estimate, which you can adjust based on body condition. You should be able to feel the ribs under a thin layer of fat.

The AKC notes that the breed can experience bloat, a sudden and life-threatening stomach emergency, so learn the warning signs and skip hard exercise right after meals. Ask your vet about large-breed puppy formulas and any joint supplements before buying them.

Health

English Setters are generally healthy, but a few inherited problems are worth knowing about. Congenital deafness occurs in the breed, particularly in dogs with a lot of white, and can affect one or both ears. Hip and elbow dysplasia, in which the joints develop abnormally, can lead to pain and arthritis. Hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid, can cause weight gain, lethargy and skin changes.

Bloat is another risk to know about, and those big drop ears can trap moisture and debris, which makes ear infections a common complaint. Head shaking, scratching, odor or a red, sore-looking ear all deserve a vet visit rather than guesswork at home.

The AKC lists hip, elbow and thyroid evaluations and BAER hearing testing as the breed club's recommended health tests, so ask any breeder for results on both parents. Keep your setter lean to protect the joints, schedule yearly veterinary checkups, and report new lumps, limping or changes in energy or appetite promptly.

Health conditions to know about

• Congenital deafness — Hereditary hearing loss, more common in white-coated dogs; a BAER test can detect it.
• Hip and elbow dysplasia — Inherited joint malformation that can cause pain and arthritis; screen parents and keep weight lean.
• Hypothyroidism — Underactive thyroid causing weight gain, lethargy and skin changes; manageable with veterinary treatment.
• Ear infections — Folded, feathered ears trap moisture and debris; regular checks help catch problems early.

Health tests to ask a breeder about

• Hip evaluation
• Elbow evaluation
• Thyroid evaluation
• BAER hearing test

Written from veterinary sources by the Pawsplained editorial team. Not yet reviewed by a veterinarian; this is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Updated Oct 30, 2026. Editorial policy

Living with a English Setter

English Setters need space and company. A home with a securely fenced yard is ideal, and an apartment is a poor fit unless you are committed to long daily outings. They are not noisy dogs, but they can bark or chew if left alone for long stretches, so they suit households where someone is around for much of the day.

Most setters are good with children and friendly with other dogs, though a young setter can be bouncy. Their bird-hunting heritage means they may chase or mouth small animals, and pet birds are generally not a good match. Introduce any other pets slowly and supervise.

The coat handles moderate cold and heat reasonably well, but avoid strenuous exercise in hot weather and give plenty of water and shade. Expect some hair on the floor, burrs in the feathering after country walks and a dog that insists on being in the same room as you.

Puppies, breeders & rescue

A responsible English Setter breeder tests the parents and is happy to show the paperwork. Ask for OFA results for hips and elbows, a thyroid evaluation and a BAER hearing test, which are the screenings the AKC lists for the breed. Hearing tests matter because deafness can affect just one ear, which owners may not notice.

Good breeders raise puppies indoors with plenty of handling, let you meet the mother, offer a written contract and take the dog back at any point in its life. Be cautious of sellers who always have puppies available, cannot show health results or offer to ship a puppy sight unseen. The national breed club, the English Setter Association of America, is a sensible place to start your search.

Prices vary widely by region and breeder. Setters also turn up in breed rescues, often as young adults. An older dog's personality and energy level are already clear, which can make the match easier.