Setter Dog Breeds

The setter breeds are known for their top-notch bird hunting abilities, intelligence, love for their family, and of course their long and attractive coats. While they may be similar, each of them is uniquely different. So here are all four of the setter dog breeds and what you’ll want to know about each of them.

Setter Breed Basics

Setters are bird hunting dogs (also sometimes called gun dogs or bird dogs). They are used to hunt upland game birds such as pheasants, grouse, woodcock, snipe, quail, etc. Instead of flying away to evade predators, upland game birds will typically hide in or under the brush. Setters dogs are used to find the specific location of the birds so that the hunter can get into position, flush them out, and take a shot.

All of the different setter breeds hunt silently. Unlike other types of hunting dogs which follow a scent trail with their nose to the ground, setters hunt with their noses up high and their muzzle parallel to the ground.  That’s because the scent of game birds is airborne, and doing so helps them to catch the scent from the wind.

While setters are considered pointing dogs they don’t point like the traditional pointer breeds. Instead, when they locate game they freeze and “set,” or crouch to show the hunter exactly where the birds are hiding. In the past, before the invention of firearms, this setting stance (for which they got their name) allowed hunters to cast a net over the dog without it getting in the way and on top of the hiding birds.

English Setter

The English Setter breed can be traced back to more than 400 years in its home country of England. It was originally known as the Setting Spaniel and is believed to have its origins in both the spaniels and pointers. It was not until the 1800s however that a breeding program created by Edward Laverack, (and then later continued by Purcell Llewellin) helped to refine the English Setter into the elegant  British gun dog breed we know today.

This is a powerful-looking canine with a long lean body that is built for a blend of endurance and speed. And it has the ability to hunt in a wide range of terrains and weather conditions. While it is a medium-sized dog the English Setter is the smallest setter breed. In addition to excelling in the field, it is known for being gentle and patient with small children even when treated quite roughly.

This is a friendly breed that wants to please its owners. As an active dog with a working background, it needs plenty of exercise. “Belton,” is the term used to describe the flecks of color (or ticking) on the breed’s mainly white coat. The English Setter’s coat may be orange belton (orange and white), blue belton (black and white), lemon belton (lemon and white), tricolor (liver belton and tan or blue belton and tan), or liver belton (liver and white).

Gordon Setter

This Scottish native was originally known as the Black and Tan Setter because of its black and tan coat. However later on the name was changed to the Gordon Setter after the 4^th Duke of Gordon who perfected the breed in the late 1700s and early 1800s. This is a tall and heavy dog with a robust head. It is the largest setter breed, however, despite its size, it also has the shortest tail of the four setters.

The Gordon Setter is built for hunting in rugged and rocky terrain and was developed for its stamina and endurance rather than speed. Its dark coat helps the dog to stand out and remain visible when hunting in the snow and high Scottish grass. The uniform tan markings, on the other hand, add to its good looks.

Despite being well-known for maturing very slowly, the breed is considered one of the most intelligent of all pointing breeds and for having one of the best noses. The Gordon Setter is a people-loving dog, however, while it is highly affectionate with its owners it can be aloof with strangers. This is an active breed that needs a job to do or daily exercise to release its pent-up energy.

Irish Red and White Setter

Despite being quite an old breed, the Irish Red and White Setter is not very well-known outside of its home country. These dogs are believed to have been created in Ireland as far back as the 1600s and are the ancestor of the Irish Red Setter. This is a well-muscled and large dog with a heavier body and broader head than its solid red cousin. It has a long silky coat that is pearl white with solid patches or “islands,” of red and occasional red flecking.

Irish bird hunters traditionally preferred the breed’s contrasting red and white coat because it stood out against the terrain making it easy to spot even at great distances. With scarce game and terrain that was wide open with little undergrowth, the breed was developed to be able to have the stamina to run and hunt all day in order to be successful.

While it may be less common than the Irish Red Setter, till this day more Irish Red and White Setters are used as working hunting dogs. Because it has such strong natural bird hunting instincts the Irish Red and White Setter is considered by many hunters to be much easier to train for the field than most other bird dog breeds.

That being said, as a gentle canine that lives to please its owner, it does best with positive reinforcement. Smart, friendly, and loving the Irish Red and White Setter is a dog that makes a fantastic companion as well. Unfortunately, the reason they aren’t as widely available as the other breeds of setter dogs is simply that most people don’t know they exist!

Irish Setter

The show-stopping red coat of the Irish Setter makes it easily one of the most recognizable and attractive canines on the planet. In Ireland, it is known as the Irish Red Setter. This helps to distinguish it from the other native Irish setter breed, the Irish Red and White Setter. The two share the same ancestry as they were once considered to be the same breed, with red and white dogs and also red dogs often being born in the same litter.

In the early 1800s by selectively breeding for a solid red coat, however, the Irish Red Setter breed was created. Once established these solid-colored dogs with their flashy mahogany coats and stately good looks became a huge hit at dog shows, were popular with hunters who wanted a handsome hunting companion, and as pets.

Over time the Irish Red Setter became taller and leaner, than its red and white ancestor with a more profuse coat and a narrower head. This natural hunting dog has an excellent nose and is both fast-working and swift in the field. It can hunt in a range of climates and terrains including wetlands.

Similar to other types of setter dog breeds this one is known for being slow to mature into adulthood both physically and mentally. However, these high-energy hunters are incredibly smart and it’s not uncommon for them to outthink their owners. Irish Setters are also quick learners and it’s often said that once they learn something new, it is never forgotten.

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