Page 243 - (DK) The Dog Encyclopedia

English Setter

HEIGHT WEIGHT LIFE SPAN Orange or lemon belton
24–25in 55–66lb 12–13 years Liver belton
(61–64cm) (25–30kg) Liver beltons may have tan markings.

The perfect country-house dog in both looks and
EDWARD LAVERACK
character, this tireless breed loves wide open spaces
In the 19th century breeder Edward Laverack
transformed the traditional English Setter. From
The oldest of the Setter dogs, which date the Laverack dogs to breed a distinct
two dogs, which he obtained in 1825, Laverack back at least 400 years, this breed takes its strain for field work. His dogs differed
developed a distinct strain that set game birds
name from its habit of setting—stopping and in appearance from those of Laverack’s
in a more upright stance than was usual, and
that was taller, more lightly built, and more facing the game it has located—that enables and some people referred to Llewellin
heavily feathered than the earlier dogs. the hunter to find the animal. The English setters as a separate breed.
Laverack’s dogs formed the basis of the breed Setter’s ancestors probably included the The English Setter is still worked today,
standard drawn up in the 1870s. The trading
English Springer Spaniel (see pp.224–25), although different bloodlines are used for
card from around 1890 (below) shows an early the Spanish Pointer, and large Water hunting and the show ring. The hunting
example of the English Setter.
Spaniels. The result was a dog that was dogs have slightly shorter legs than their
skilled in tracking and finding game Irish and Scottish cousins. An elegant dog,
on open moorland. the English Setter has a calm, reliable nature,
The modern breed was founded by two making it a good family dog. However, it
men. Edward Laverack developed the pure does need lots of exercise and space to run.
English Setter in the 1820s. In the late 19th Show dogs have a longer, more wavy coat
century R. Purcell Llewellin used some of than the field type.

Low-set,
pendant ears
Square muzzle
with slightly
pendulous flews
Blue belton

Well feathered tail Light tan
markings on face

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