Frequently Asked Questions
This page contains answers to common questions received by English Setter breeders. The answers below may help you make a decision whether this is the right breed for you. Most breeders are quite happy to discuss any questions you may have.
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Is my House & Garden Suitable for an English Setter ?
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Will I be able to Work an English Setter ?
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Will the Coat be a Problem ?
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Would a Dog be better than a Bitch ?
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Should I have a Litter from my Bitch ?
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Where Can I Buy an English Setter ?
Is my House & Garden Suitable for an English Setter ?
If an English Setter is to live in the house, you will need to consider the question of loose objects located at a height in the region of 12 - 18 inches. One of the English Setter's most active components is it's tail. This seems to wag constantly. Consequently, ornaments or other objects placed at tail height are always in danger of being knocked over and broken. You will need to consider re-positioning such objects. They can also reach work surfaces in the kitchen and are noted thieves of food.
Where will the dog sleep ... in the kitchen, the lounge, the bedroom, a kennel ?
If you once allow the dog onto furniture or into the bedroom, it will be difficult to reverse such action if you subsequently decide that it was not a good decision. Ensure that you are prepared before the English Setter arrives. Provide a place which it recognizes as it's own, where children are taught to leave the dog in peace.
If you intend to leave your English Setter loose in the garden, you need to make sure it is secure. Is the garden fenced? Does it have a gate ? How high is the fence and gate ? An English Setter can scale a six-foot fence if it feels inclined to do so. It can also dig underneath a fence which is not secure at the base or squeeze through small holes in a fence. English Setters seem to believe that the grass is always greener on the other side! Are you a keen gardener ? English Setters love to dig holes in the garden. You also need to consider traffic. Do you live on a busy road ? If the dog got outside the garden, would it be in danger ? Dog owners can be held liable for damage caused by their animals, including damage to cars.
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Will I be able to Work an English Setter ?
If you wish to use an English Setter for the purpose for which it was originally bred (ie hunting and finding birds), then you need to be aware that there are two distinct types of English Setter. One type has been bred to retain the original hunting instincts, and is smaller and lighter with less coat (sometimes referred to as a Llewellin type of English Setter). The other is significantly different in appearance, larger and with more coat (sometimes referred to as a Laverack type of English Setter). The latter is the type frequently seen at dog shows and forming the largest percentage of those owned as pets. If your interests lie in the hunting area, then you may wish to consider the Llewellin type, although it is possible to work the show-type of English Setter.
Contact the separate English Setter Club (tel: 01588-680606) if you are interested in working activities and Field Trials.
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Can you cope with a long-coated dog, or will this be a problem ? If so, think twice about buying an English Setter. An adult English Setter grows a long silky coat with lots of feathering on the tail, forelegs, hind legs, and chest. If it is groomed regularly, it looks outstanding. If it is not groomed regularly, it will get into knots and cause the dog problems.
A long coat will also get very dirty in bad weather. Even when walking in rain, it will get black underneath (although it is remarkable how clean it will become when it dries). You should consider the action you will have to take when returning to a clean house with a dirty dog after exercise. A setter's feet, when untrimmed, can hold a lot of mud. Will you be able to clean the dog before he enters the house ? Will you have temporary accommodation for the dog whilst he dries ?
The dog will have to be trimmed occasionally. Will you do this yourself ? Will you get someone else to do it ? If so, who ? Do they know how to trim an English Setter ? Be aware that some commercial trimming parlours will clipper a dog unnecessarily. Get advice from someone who knows gundogs.
You also need to be aware that English Setters will moult. As new coat grows, the old coat drops out. This can have the effect of leaving a coating of white hair on carpets and furniture. It is remarkable how resistant such hair is to vacuum cleaners, etc.
As is the case with many other long-coated breeds, if the animal is neutered, it can have a significant effect on the coat. The hormonal change often causes the coat to become profuse and woolly as it will not shed naturally. This may mean that clippers have to be used and it could end up looking like a sheep.
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This depends upon your personal circumstances and what you want in the personality of the English Setter. They are all individuals, but dogs tend to have a different personality to bitches. Often, a dog is a baby and does not like to be left alone. If he's a house dog, he'll want to go everywhere with you ... even the bathroom. Bitches are frequently more independent and possibly more assertive. In a kennel full of dogs and bitches, the dog thinks he's the boss. The bitch knows she's the boss and just lets the dog think it.
Bitches grow less coat than dogs, so if this is an issue, a bitch may be the best option. On the other hand, a bitch will usually have a season every 6-12 months (although it can be longer) and this typically lasts for three weeks. If this is going to be a problem, a dog may be the better option. Dogs are taller and heavier than bitches. On average there will be 2" difference between the height of a dog and a bitch.
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Should I have a Litter from my Bitch ?
>It is a popular misconception that a bitch should have a litter. No bitch needs a litter. Breeding dogs is a very expensive and time-consuming business and is not an activity which should be entered into just to satisfy your maternal (or paternal) instincts or to give the bitch a companion. If this is your only objective, it is far easier and cheaper to buy-in a puppy.
The costs involved in producing a litter can be considerable ... stud fees, traveling expenses to the stud dog, additional care for the in-whelp bitch, complications at birth which may require veterinary treatment, the feeding of hungry puppies, etc. There is a possibility that the bitch may have no puppies at all and you may have had a significant outlay without being able to recoup any costs. It is possible that you may need an expensive caesarian operation to save the bitch. There is also the possibility that the bitch may have a large litter and you may not be able to find homes for all the puppies. Have you any prospective customers for the puppies in advance of the birth ? Do you have enough space in case you have to keep unsold puppies for longer than you expect ? Do you have enough time to devote to the feeding and cleaning which would be required ? Could you cope under these circumstances ? Have you considered the possibility that you could lose the bitch ?
When all factors are considered, it will be recognized that successful breeding is a long-term activity (spanning many years, not just one litter) and is not an activity which should be embarked upon unless you are dedicated, have lots of time to spare and are prepared (if necessary) to lose a lot of money in the process.
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First and foremost ... always buy from a recognized breeder. Never buy from a pet shop, through a third party, or from a kennel which advertises lots of different breeds for sale.
A reputable breeder will always ask questions about you, your family, your home, your reasons for wanting an English Setter, etc. The breeder will be attempting to ensure that you have a suitable environment for the puppy which he or she has carefully bred. The dog's welfare is central to these enquiries. If you're not prepared to answer such personal questions, then you're probably not the right person to own one of the puppies.
A reputable breeder will be prepared to show you the mother of the puppies and other adults in their kennel ... so that you can get a fair impression about the temperament and structure of their other dogs. Some of these may be related to the puppy which you are viewing. The breeder will also be willing to talk openly about health issues in the breed and the actions they have taken to ensure that their stock is as healthy as possible.
If you are considering owning an English Setter, but feel that you could not cope with a young puppy, it may be worthwhile considering the role of the English Setter Rescue Association (which is discussed later in this booklet). This welfare organisation is frequently seeking homes for mature setters and it may be that you could provide a suitable home. Do not be concerned about taking on an older setter from the point of view of bonding. An English Setter will usually bond to a new owner even in the latter years of it's life. Its primary concern is that it wants an owner who will care for it and give it a permanent, loving home. If you feel that you could give a good home to an English Setter under these circumstances, consider contacting the Rescue.
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