Plate 136 · British Isles
English Setter
英国赛特犬
“The speckled setter of English estates.”
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- England
- Country of origin
- An English breed; the sources name no single place, so the marker is the United Kingdom's reference point.
- The point is a reference position in the country of origin.
- Era
- Trained bird dogs for some 400 years; modern breed from the 19th century
- Today
- Gun dog · Companion
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
History
01 · Origin
England
An elegant, speckled English bird dog that ranges widely and 'sets' when it scents game.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Finding game birds by scent and freezing in a crouch so hunters could net, hawk or later shoot them.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
Setting dogs were used with nets and hawks before guns. Edward Laverack's breeding from about 1825 is credited with shaping the modern setter; the Laverack and Llewellin strains became famous in the 19th century. The first setter show was held at Newcastle upon Tyne in 1859.
04 · Today
Gun dog · Companion
A gun dog and a gentle family companion.
Personality
- Friendly
- Mellow
- Merry
- Sensitive
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: the AKC’s trait scores as its breed page gives them (the AKC’s 1–5 guidance for owners, not a measurement). Other profiles here use editorial ratings, a different source, so compare across them with care.
- Exercise
- Regular vigorous exercise, ideally running in a large fenced area.
- Grooming
- Brush at least weekly to keep the feathering free of mats.
- Training
- Sensitive: positive reinforcement, not punishment.
Living with one
- Size
- Medium
- Lifespan
- 12 years
- Coat
- Long, silky, mostly white coat flecked with colour ('belton'): blue, orange, lemon, liver or tricolour
Field note
Its speckled colour pattern is called 'belton'.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Sporting Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI (Group 7, standard 2), The Kennel Club (UK)
- Popular in
- No reliable data
AKC: Sporting Group, recognized 1878.
AKC registrations: ranked 89 among breeds in 2025.
Sources3 references
- English Setter — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/english-setter/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-14 · Registry status, group, size, life expectancy and registration rank; history as the AKC tells it. Ratings: the AKC's own 1–5 owner-guidance trait scores as the page gives them (energy level, trainability, barking level, openness to strangers, good with other dogs), not measurements.
- English Setter — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Setter
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-14 · Setting before guns, the Laverack and Llewellin strains, the belton colours.
- English Setter — FCI breed nomenclature — Fédération Cynologique Internationale
https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/ENGLISH-SETTER-2.html
Kennel club · accessed 2026-10-14 · Country of origin Great Britain; Group 7, section "British and Irish Pointers and Setters"; accepted 1963.
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions. Location note: An English breed; the sources name no single place, so the marker is the United Kingdom's reference point.
