English Setter Breed Information

English Setters are a member of the ‘Gundog’ breed group. Dogs in the Gundog group were originally trained to find live game and retrieve game that had been shot and wounded. The group is divided into four categories: Retrievers, Spaniels, Hunt/Point/Retrieve, Pointers and Setters.

English Setters are lively, happy, easy-going dogs that tend to get on well with everyone. They love children and other pets, making them perfect for families. As with all breeds, early socialisation and training is still important to ensure they grow up into confident, sociable dogs – for more information on how to socialise your English Setter and training using reward-based techniques, take a look at our dog behaviour page.

They’ll need grooming 2-3 times per week, and occasional clipping and trimming.

Breed-related health problems:

Owners are, understandably, upset when their dog develops a health problem linked to its breed. Often they wish they’d known what problems the breed was prone to have. The potential health problems that English Setters are prone to include:

• Hip dysplasia – hip joint laxity as a result of poor development, which will eventually lead to arthritis.
• Elbow dysplasia - elbow joint laxity as a result of poor development, which will eventually lead to arthritis.
• Atopy – hypersensitivity to certain allergens, causing itching and skin trauma.
• Ectropion – outward turning eyelids
• Cancer
• Skin problems
• Hypothyroidism – a condition in which there’s a decrease in thyroid hormone production.

For some conditions, there are screening programmes available through the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the Kennel Club. The Canine Health Schemes allow breeders to screen for a range of inherited diseases, so it’s a good idea to check the parents of any puppy you’re looking to rehome have been screened under these schemes. We’d also recommend discussing the medical history of your potential puppy’s parents and grandparents, and think very carefully before taking on a dog with any of the health conditions listed above evident in the family line.

You can find out more about the Canine Health Schemes on the BVA's website.

Exercise requirements:

Known to have high energy levels, English Setters will need over 2 hours of exercise per day to keep them physically and mentally fit.

Estimated lifetime cost:

 The likely lifetime costs for an English Setter are based on estimates calculated using current market prices and include:

• Initial costs of the purchase of the pet
• Neutering
• First vaccinations and booster vaccinations
• Microchipping
• Accessories
• Food
• Pet insurance
• Toys
• Grooming
• Worming
• Flea treatments

The list above does not include veterinary costs if your pet becomes sick or injured, so these average lifetime costs could be even higher.

Insure your English Setter with PDSA:

1 in 3 pets need vet treatment each year and vet bills can come to hundreds of pounds. PDSA Pet Insurance can give you peace of mind when your pet is poorly, especially for breeds like English Setters that are prone to certain conditions. PDSA Pet Insurance offers:

1. Dog and cat insurance policies from 8 weeks of age.
2. 24/7 veterinary advice online or over the phone with Petcall.
3. Manage your policy online with the PDSA Insure Hub.
4. Monthly payment at no extra cost.

By insuring your English Setter with PDSA Pet Insurance you’ll also be helping to provide vet care to some of the UK’s neediest pets.

For more information on taking care of your dog please visit our puppies and dogs section.

Rehoming from a reputable source:

Where you get a dog from can have a big effect on how healthy and happy it is for the rest of its life. Find out where our PDSA vet experts recommend you get your dog from.

Not sure if the English Setter is the right pet for you?