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English Setters: the most honest dog breed review you'll ever find. Information about English Setter personality and behavior. main page breed review faq health training adopting/buying links My book, Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyer's Guide (published by Henry Holt & Co.), includes a full-page profile of the English Setter, including these excerpts: "There are two types of English Setter. The "bench" type is bred for appearance. They are quite tall, with a long narrow skull and lots of silky hair. The hunting type are known as "Llewellin Setters." They are smaller, with a broader, more natural-looking head and much less hair. The English Setter is the mildest-mannered, most mellow of the setters. The bench type is content with long daily walks and occasional running and fetching games. The Llewellin Setter needs more vigorous exercise. The English Setter is sociable and must not be left alone all day without the company of people or other pets, else destructiveness may result. English Setters have an obstinate streak that takes the form of resistance rather than wild disobedience. If pushed too hard, they'll simply brace their legs and refuse to walk. You must be persistent, but never heavy-handed. English Setters have long memories. Once they learn something (whether right or wrong), they remember it. On the negative side, this means bad habits can be difficult to break." History "The oldest of the three setter breeds, the English Setter was developed in (surprise!) England. English Setters search through fields and woods for hiding game birds. Size Bench Type 22-26 inches and 45-80 lbs Llewellin Type 18-22 inches and 35-45 lbs

English Setters What's good about 'em What's bad about 'em If you want a dog who... Is medium to large, elegant and graceful in build and motion Has a lovely feathered coat Is gentle with everyone -- definitely not a guard dog Is peaceful with other animals An English Setter may be right for you. If you don't want to deal with... Providing enough exercise to keep him satisfied Exuberant jumping, especially when young "Separation anxiety" (destructiveness and barking) when left alone too much Stubbornness Slowness to housebreak Frequent brushing and combing Shedding An English Setter may not be right for you. If I were considering an English Setter... My major concerns would be: Providing enough exercise. English Setters MUST have regular opportunities to vent their energy. Otherwise they will become rambunctious and bored -- which they usually express by destructive chewing, especially when young. Separation anxiety. More than most other breeds, English Setters need a great deal of companionship and do not like being left alone for more than a few hours. They tend to express their unhappiness through destructive chewing and barking. If you work all day, this is not the breed for you. Stubbornness. English Setters are not Golden Retrievers. They can be extremely stubborn and manipulative. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say. To teach your setter to listen to you, "Respect Training" is mandatory. My English Setter Training Page discusses the program you need. Housebreaking. English Setters tend to resist being told what to do, and housebreaking is no exception. Expect four to six months of consistent crate training. Grooming. To keep their silky coat free of mats, English Setters require regular brushing, and also clipping and trimming every few months. Shedding. English Setters shed quite a bit. Their hairs come off on your hands when you pet them, stick tenaciously to your clothing, upholstery, and carpeting, and hide under the furniture. Be prepared for vacuuming. Not all English Setters are alike! There are energetic English Setters, and placid English Setters. Hard-headed English Setters, and sweet-natured English Setters. Serious English Setters, and good-natured goofballs. Introverted English Setters, and English Setters who love everyone. If you acquire an English Setter puppy, you can't know for sure what he or she will grow up to be like. Because a good number of purebred puppies do NOT grow up to conform to the "norm." If you're considering an adult English Setter... There are plenty of adult English Setters who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics. If you find such an adult, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you. When you acquire a puppy, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important. But when you acquire an adult, you're acquiring what he already IS. If you would like to link to this review, here is the HTML code: <a href="http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/englishsetters.html">English Setters: What's Good About 'Em, What's Bad About 'Em</a> Copyright © 2000-2008 by Michele Welton. All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without the permission of the author.