English Setter. Hunting dog setter. Description of the breed

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The English Setter, or Laverak, belongs to hunting breeds, but due to its perky disposition, elegance and obedience, it is often kept as a pet. Bred in England, this breed has become popular all over the world. Today it is widely known in Russia as well.

Description of the breed

The signs by which the English Setter can be recognized from afar are a muscular body covered with long silky hair, floppy ears and an intelligent look. The height of the dog is from 53 to 64 cm at the withers, weight - up to 30 kg. The physique is lean, squat. On a slightly elongated head there is a pronounced occipital protuberance. The transition from the forehead to the muzzle is smooth, although clearly defined. The saber-shaped tail, covered with wavy hair, continues the line of the back. The free, energetic movements of the dog resemble those of a cat in their gracefulness.

The coat is quite thick, shiny, short on the head and on the back. The back of the legs, ears, belly and tail have long feathers. Color is usually two colors. The main one is white, interspersed with red,brown or black spots. Less common is the tricolor English Setter - white with black speckling and orange tan on the ears, muzzle and legs.

History of the breed

In the early nineteenth century, cops were bred throughout England, representing different breeds. The appearance of the English Setter is the merit of E. Laverak, who for 35 years purposefully engaged in breeding work to breed this breed by inbreeding. The most severe selection was carried out for hunting qualities and exterior, which led to the creation of a setter that exists to this day and has a second name - laverak. The first exhibition of this breed was held in 1859, this year is considered the date of her birth.

In Russia, the English Setter breed appeared in 1880, when the first sire was imported. Moscow cynological centers were engaged in breeding dogs brought from England and France. They were mainly used for the purpose of hunting, but when selecting exterior qualities, no less attention was paid to hunting ones. The best results in the improvement of the breed were obtained at the end of the last century.

Character

The English Setter is distinguished by affection, good disposition and balanced psyche. These dogs are very sociable, able to find a common language with any pets that are nearby.

Quickly adapt to unfamiliar surroundings and know how to communicate with children, getting along well in a large family. The setter fits inas a pet due to its friendly disposition. In addition, he adapts well to the conditions of a city apartment, without requiring long walks.

The mind, which the dog is not deprived of by nature, was highly appreciated by the hunters. The Setter is easy to train and train, which allows him to use his abilities in hunting game birds. He is able to explore quite vast spaces in search of prey. Sensing it, this born hunter makes a stance, pointing to the owner on the prey, and scares the bird away on command.

Containment conditions

An indispensable condition for keeping an English Setter is daily physical activity. This dog is very mobile, loves active games, walks, is able to gallop for hours. Without such loads, the appearance of various he alth problems, including mental ones, is not ruled out. Therefore, when deciding to get a dog of this breed, one should take into account the possibility of providing it with the necessary conditions.

If the owner is not at home for a long time, you should not start a setter, so as not to doom him to loneliness, which he endures very hard.

Training

The extraordinary intelligence that the English Setter possesses, combined with the desire to please the owner, greatly facilitates the process of training a dog. The most important thing that must be observed in this case is the use of the incentive method in the absence of harsh punishments. You can not shout at the animal, get nervous, and even more so beat him. Thesedogs are characterized by increased vulnerability, especially in puppyhood. A friendly attitude in the process of training and a playful nature will quickly give positive results. The factor that distracts a puppy from classes can only be something that is connected with his hunting instinct. It should be taken into account at the time of training and some stubbornness inherent in this breed, which is also necessary for a dog for fruitful hunting.

Care

The coat of the English Setter, although long, does not require special care. It practically does not have a specific smell, so it does not need frequent washing. It is enough to regularly comb the dog's coat with a special rubber glove, and then wipe it thoroughly with a damp towel.

Ear care consists of periodic cleaning, which is common to all long-eared dogs. This is done in order to exclude the accumulation of sulfur, the appearance of mites that contribute to the development of otitis media. At the first sign of this disease, you should immediately consult a veterinarian.

Teeth require special attention. Puppies of the English setter in the fifth month of life acquire permanent teeth, gradually replacing milk teeth, which are easily removed from the gums when the puppy gnaws something hard. Therefore, he should be given bones, a carrot or an apple more often.

It happens that milk fangs linger in the gums, and this may require surgical intervention. Such a delay may be caused by a lack of vitamins and minerals or someor diseases of the digestive system.

Food

Eating an English Setter is not much different from the general principles of feeding any other dog. Sweets, fatty foods and bones should be avoided in the diet. The menu is selected depending on the age and lifestyle of the dog. The English Setter has a very mobile disposition, and therefore his appetite is excellent. It is important not to overfeed him to prevent obesity. Mandatory presence in the diet of sea fish, vegetables. The main food is porridge, to which a little vegetable oil is added. Do not forget about additional vitamins, especially for a puppy. Properly selected balanced nutrition increases resistance to diseases and promotes harmonious development.

Recently, ready-made foods have become very popular, from which you can choose the most suitable and appropriate for the physiological characteristics of the dog. Such nutrition is able to provide it with all the necessary nutrients. In addition, it is very convenient to always have a product ready for use at hand. It is only necessary to responsibly approach the choice of the manufacturer.

Diseases

The setter breed has a very strong immune system, these dogs are rarely exposed to any diseases. Occasional pelvic dysplasia, retinal atrophy, otitis media, food and skin allergies.

Like many dogs, the English Setter is not immune to the appearance of parasites (fleas, lice, ticks). They are easily eliminated with the help of modern hygiene products, which are largelyquantity offered by the veterinary industry. But, in addition to external parasites, there are also internal ones that can threaten the he alth of the dog. Therefore, puppies should be wormed in a timely manner, this must be done before the first vaccination, which is carried out at the age of two months. Regular visits to the veterinarian will help avoid future he alth problems.

Given the great hunting passion that the English Setter has, in Russia the breed is mainly bred by hunters for work. But these dogs are often in demand among ordinary people who want to buy them as pets. The cost is made up of many qualities that a setter has, the price for a puppy varies from 10 to 40 thousand rubles.