English Setter

The English Setter has a long coat with feathering on the ears, chest, belly, back of the legs, and tail. Plan on combing it out at least a couple of times a week or any time your dog has been in the field to remove tangles.

A bath every two to three weeks will keep him clean. Unless you show your dog, you can always trim his coat for easier upkeep. English Setters shed moderately, but regular brushing will help keep loose hair from floating onto your floor, furniture, and clothing.

The rest is basic care. Trim the nails as needed, usually every few weeks. Brush the teeth frequently for good overall health and fresh breath.

With plenty to do and a task at hand, the English Setter is at home. You can walk them, but you might find that this isn't enough - they make excellent play companions who love to get out in the open.

English Setters don't have any particularly outrageous demands or needs as it relates to diet. Since they're healthy exercisers, you'll want to make sure you include plenty of calories in their diet.

These calories should not all come from salty "treats," but rather should include a balance of nutrition and healthy snacks.

The average life expectancy of the English Foxhound is between 9 and 11 years. Breed health concerns may include epilepsy,hip dysplasiaand kidney ailments. These are remarkably healthy dogs.

Training an English Setter doesn't necessarily require a heavy amount of experience in training dogs.

Generally easy-going, the English Setter is prone to obedience and loyalty. But you'll want to make sure their training focuses on making them feel useful around the house, as this breed has been selected for its ability to help out with a hunt.

Without a job to do, an English Setter can become a bit of a rascal.

As the name implies, the breed originated in England and may have been a trained bird dog for 400 years. The spaniel is considered the root stock of the breed.

The development of the modern English Setter is largely attributed to Edward Laverack (1800-1877) who acquired a pair of setters, "Ponto" and "Old Moll", from the kennels of a Rev. A. Harrison in 1825. For the next 50 years, Laverack bred a line of setters famous for their hunting qualities and beauty.

During the latter half of the 19th Century, R.L Purcell Llewellin acquired dogs from Laverack and made selective crosses with a focus on hunting that resulted in a unique strain of dogs.

Dogs from both strains were exported worldwide, but the labels remain; today's field setters are still commonly referred to as Llewellin setters while show dogs are more commonly referred to as Laverack setters.