Breeds
English Setter: Temperament, Size, Lifespan & Care
An English Setter is a cheerful, gentle, friendly bird dog with a long, silky, speckled coat. Setters are very good with children and other pets and settle well in the house once exercised, but they need daily running, regular coat care and patient training. Here is what VCA Animal Hospitals and the AKC say about the breed.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 14, 20264 min read3 sources
English Setter temperament and personality
VCA describes the English Setter as cheerful and active, outgoing with strangers and eager to please but easily distracted, and says it makes a good watchdog but a poor protection dog.
Setters are sweet, gentle companions that want to be with their people. VCA notes they can become calm housedogs with enough exercise, and that field lines tend to be more energetic than show lines.
English Setters are gentle and sensitive, so they do best with calm handling and a predictable routine. Most are happiest close to their family indoors rather than kept outside.
How big do English Setters get?
The AKC's breed weight chart lists English Setters at 45 to 80 pounds. VCA's page does not give height or weight figures, and neither source splits the range by sex.
That wide range partly reflects the difference between lighter field-bred setters and heavier show lines. Ask your vet what a healthy weight is for your dog's frame and activity.
Weigh your dog every couple of months, since the feathered coat can hide changes. A fit setter has a visible waist and ribs you can feel easily.
English Setter lifespan and common health issues
VCA gives a lifespan of 10 to 12 years. Its page does not list specific conditions, so ask your vet and the breeder which inherited problems the national breed club tracks in English Setters and which screening tests it recommends.
Ask a breeder for hip and elbow evaluations on both parents and hearing tests on the puppies. Ask your vet about bloat risk in a deep-chested sporting dog. A swollen belly with retching is an emergency.
Exercise needs
VCA recommends daily exercise such as a long walk, a jog or energetic games. Field-bred setters may need more. Plan for at least an hour a day.
Field work, hunt tests, long hikes and retrieving games suit the breed. Use a long line or secure area for off-leash running, since a setter on a scent may range.
Mental exercise counts too. Scent games, retrieving drills and short training sessions tire a bird dog and help it settle in the house afterward.
Grooming and shedding
VCA says the long, silky coat needs brushing and combing two to three times a week to prevent mats, monthly bathing and monthly trimming, and rates shedding as average.
Pay attention to the ears, chest, legs and tail feathering, and check for burrs after outings. Trim nails, clean the ears and brush the teeth regularly.
Comb the feathering on the legs, belly and tail carefully, since mats form there first. Trim the hair between the pads to keep feet clean.
Training an English Setter
VCA says English Setters respond best to reward-based training using food, and considers obedience training essential for control and mental stimulation. They are eager to please but easily distracted.
Keep sessions short and upbeat, practice recall on a long line and build on the natural pointing with games. Gentle methods work far better than harsh corrections with a sensitive setter.
Practice recall daily with high-value treats, and use a long line outdoors until the dog responds reliably, even with birds around.
Are English Setters good with kids and other pets?
VCA says English Setters are usually very good with children and get along well with other pets and dogs. Their gentle nature makes them good family dogs for active homes.
Supervise play with toddlers, since a bouncy young setter can knock them over, and keep pet birds secure around a bird dog.
Teach children to stay calm and not run screaming around the dog, and give it a quiet place to rest away from the action.
What an English Setter needs at home
A fenced yard, a crate, a padded bed and a daily exercise routine are the basics. Fetch toys, a long line and puzzle feeders give a gundog a job.
For the coat, keep a pin brush, slicker brush, metal comb, thinning shears or a groomer on call, nail clippers, ear cleaner and a dog toothbrush. Ask your vet about bloat risk.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.
Common questions
How long do English Setters live?
VCA gives a lifespan of 10 to 12 years. Hip and elbow screening of the parents, hearing tests on puppies and plenty of exercise all support a healthy life.
How big do English Setters get?
The AKC lists males at 25 to 27 inches and 65 to 80 pounds, and females at 23 to 25 inches and 45 to 55 pounds. Field-bred setters tend to be lighter than show lines.
What is an English Setter's temperament like?
VCA describes English Setters as cheerful, active and outgoing, eager to please but easily distracted, and very good with children and other pets. Your vet can advise on what suits your own pet.
How much grooming does an English Setter need?
VCA recommends brushing and combing two to three times a week, monthly baths and monthly trimming to keep the long, silky coat free of mats.
How much exercise does an English Setter need?
VCA recommends daily exercise such as a long walk, a jog or energetic games, and notes that field lines tend to be more energetic. Plan for at least an hour a day.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
