English Setter

The setters got their name because of the way they do the pointing, they practically lie down (to set). All the setters are typical English long-haired pointer breeds but among their ancestors we find the Spanish pointers (pointers) and the French breed Spaniels. The birth of the setter goes back to the 17th century. One the oldest breeds but also one of the fastest that is the English setter. The merit of its creation belongs to Sir Edward Laverack that started by 1825 breeding -with very marked- consanguinity- dogs with great qualities for hunting. His setters were physically perfect but with a big head and difficult to dominate. For this reason another English breeder R. Purcell Llewellin crossed the Laverack's setters with the Irish setters and with the setter Gordon (3) that had a balanced character. Most of current English setters come from this line.

The Irish setter had as ancestors the French Spaniels and the pointer. At the end of the 17th century, these dogs were white and red. But occasionally some puppies completely red were born, which were very much appreciated and from these specimens the current Irish setter was selected.

The English setter is an expert in searching in open land and does not have a special aptitude to track the hunt and show it. But with an adequate training, it can be educated for these tasks. The Irish setter has a so well-marked hunting instinct that makes young dogs difficult to dominate. But they express a natural predilection to work in water and it is easier to train and make it a more versatile dog than the English setter.

English Setter. Size: male 64.5-68.5 cm; female 61-65 cm. Weight: male 27-30 kg; female 25.5-28 kg. Colors: white and black (1), white and yellow, white and purplish or tricolor (white, black and tan). The small patches are preferred to the bigger ones.

Irish Setter (2). Size: 65 cm approximately. Weight: 26-29 kg. Hair of one color: mahogany red.