English Setter
The English Setter is a medium-sized sporting dog prized for its sweet temper, cheerful companionship, and striking appearance. It is usually very good with children, outgoing toward strangers, and gets along well with other pets.
25–27 inches tall, 65–80 pounds (male); 23–25 inches tall, 45–55 pounds (female)
10–12 years
Daily exercise (long walk, jog, or energetic games); brushing and combing two to three times per week; obedience training recommended for mental exercise
Barking rated 2 out of 5
Makes a calm house dog if given adequate exercise
Fairly long, silky, flat or slightly wavy; brushing and combing two to three times a week, monthly bathing, monthly trimming; average shedding
Requires daily exercise in the form of a long walk, jog, or energetic games; field lines tend to be more energetic; enjoys retrieving and hunting
Sporting
Temperament
The English Setter is a cheerful, active companion with a sweet temper. The breed is usually very good with children and outgoing toward strangers. It gets along well with other pets and dogs. The setter is eager to please but easily distracted, and does best with reward-based training involving food. Obedience training serves a dual purpose: it provides control and the mental exercise the breed needs.
As a housedog, the English Setter is calm when given adequate exercise. Daily activity in the form of a long walk, jog, or energetic games keeps the dog settled at home. Field lines tend to be more energetic than show lines. The breed is a good candidate for dog parks and rates highly as a jogging partner. Barking is low. The setter makes a good watchdog but is not a protection dog. For a working household, the key commitment is consistent daily exercise and structured training to channel the dog's natural retrieving and hunting instincts.
“The English Setter is a medium-sized sporting dog of sweet temper and show-stopping good looks.”
AKC
Daily needs and attention
The English Setter is a medium-sized sporting dog that thrives on daily physical activity and mental engagement. A long walk, jog, or session of energetic games each day keeps this breed calm and content at home. Obedience training serves a dual purpose: it provides the control a working household needs and delivers the mental exercise the breed requires. The Setter does best with reward-based training that uses food as the primary motivator.
Grooming is a regular part of the routine. The long, silky coat calls for brushing and combing two to three times a week to prevent mats, monthly bathing, and periodic clipping and trimming. Shedding is average.
At the table, the Setter is an eager eater. A balanced adult diet with measured portions helps maintain a healthy weight, since the breed is prone to gaining excess pounds.
The breed is outgoing, cheerful, and generally good with children and other pets, making it a steady companion in a busy household.
“Requires daily exercise in the form of a long walk, jog, or energetic games.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Health and lifespan
The English Setter typically lives 10 to 12 years. Males stand 25 to 27 inches and weigh 65 to 80 pounds; females are 23 to 25 inches and 45 to 55 pounds. The breed carries a fairly long, silky coat that is either flat or slightly wavy. Maintaining it requires brushing and combing two to three times a week to prevent mats, a monthly bath, and some clipping and trimming each month. Shedding is average.
Nutrition is a practical consideration. English setters tend to be eager eaters, and some may put on too much weight. Adult dogs do best on a balanced diet with restricted calories if the dog starts to gain too much weight. Puppies should be fed a balanced puppy food.
The Setter also benefits from daily exercise in the form of a long walk, jog, or energetic games. Obedience training is essential not only for control but for the mental exercise it provides.
“English setters tend to be eager eaters, and some may put on too much weight.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Habits and behavior
The English Setter is a cheerful, active companion with a sweet temper. The breed is usually very good with children and outgoing toward strangers. It gets along well with other pets and dogs in the home.
As a sporting dog, the English Setter enjoys retrieving and hunting. It requires daily exercise in the form of a long walk, jog, or energetic games. With that routine, it makes a calm housedog. Field lines tend to be more energetic than show lines.
The breed is eager to please but easily distracted, so it does best with reward-based training involving food. Obedience training is essential not only for control but for the mental exercise it provides. It makes a good watchdog but a poor protection dog. Barking is low, rated 2 out of 5.
English setters tend to be eager eaters, and some may put on too much weight, so portion control matters in a busy household.
“Requires daily exercise in the form of a long walk, jog, or energetic games.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Housing: apartment, house, yard and crate
The English Setter is a medium-sized sporting dog, 25 to 27 inches tall and 65 to 80 pounds for males. The breed makes a calm housedog if given adequate exercise, requiring a daily long walk, jog, or energetic games. Barking rates 2 out of 5, a useful trait in shared living spaces. The coat is fairly long and silky, needing brushing and combing two to three times a week, monthly bathing, and some clipping and trimming each month. Shedding is average. The dog is outgoing toward strangers, usually very good with children, and gets along well with other pets and dogs. Field lines tend to be more energetic and are a good candidate for dog parks. Obedience training is essential for control and mental exercise; the breed does best with reward-based training involving food. Lap-dog aptitude rates 1 out of 5, so the dog is not a couch companion. Jogging-partner aptitude is 4 out of 5, making a yard or nearby park a natural fit for the daily activity the breed needs.
“Makes a calm housedog if given adequate exercise.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Challenges
The English Setter is a medium-sized sporting dog that needs daily physical activity to stay calm at home. A long walk, jog, or energetic games each day is essential, and field lines tend to be more energetic than show lines. Obedience training provides both control and the mental exercise the breed requires. The dog is eager to please but easily distracted, so reward-based training involving food works best.
Grooming is a regular commitment. The coat is fairly long, silky, and either flat or slightly wavy. Brushing and combing two to three times a week prevents mats. Monthly bathing and some clipping and trimming every month maintain the coat. Shedding is average.
English setters tend to be eager eaters, and some may put on too much weight. Adult dogs need a balanced diet with restricted calories if weight gain becomes an issue.
For a working household, the daily exercise and the time for grooming and training are the main considerations to build into the schedule.
“Requires daily exercise in the form of a long walk, jog, or energetic games.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
The fun part
The English Setter is a cheerful, active companion that thrives on movement and company. VCA rates the breed four out of five as a jogging partner and four out of five for good with children. They enjoy retrieving and hunting, and make a good candidate for dog parks. Around the house, they get along well with other pets and dogs, and are outgoing toward strangers. Training works best with a reward-based approach involving food, since the breed is eager to please. Daily exercise in the form of a long walk, jog, or energetic games keeps them settled indoors. For a working household, the key is building that daily movement into the routine. A consistent schedule of walks or a run, paired with a few minutes of food-motivated training, gives the Setter both the physical outlet and the mental stimulation it needs. The result is a calm, sociable dog at home who is ready for the next adventure.
“Makes a cheerful and active companion.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Living with kids, cats and other dogs
The English Setter is usually very good with children and outgoing toward strangers, making it a natural fit for a busy household. It gets along well with other pets and dogs, so introducing it to a resident cat or a second dog is generally straightforward. The breed is eager to please and does best with reward-based training involving food, so a family that sets aside a few minutes each day for short, positive sessions will see the best results.
The Setter is an active companion that requires daily exercise in the form of a long walk, jog, or energetic games. Field lines tend to be more energetic. Obedience training is essential not only for control but for the mental exercise it provides. A working household that can commit to a consistent daily walk and a few minutes of structured play will give this dog what it needs to settle into a calm, cheerful presence at home.
“Usually very good with children.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
What to ask the rescue
Ask the rescue whether the dog comes from a show line or a field line, since field lines tend to be more energetic and require more daily activity. Confirm the dog's current exercise routine and whether it has been introduced to a long walk, jog, or energetic games, as the breed needs daily physical activity to stay calm at home. Ask about the dog's training history, particularly whether reward-based methods using food have been used, since the breed does best with that approach and can be easily distracted. Inquire about the dog's eating habits, as English setters tend to be eager eaters and some may gain too much weight. Ask about the coat's current condition and whether the dog is accustomed to brushing two to three times a week and monthly bathing. Finally, confirm the dog's comfort level around children and other pets, and whether it has shown the outgoing, cheerful temperament typical of the breed.
“Requires daily exercise in the form of a long walk, jog, or energetic games.”
VCA Animal Hospitals