English Setter Care

The English Setter is an intelligent, good-natured, athletic hunting breed that is prized by owners everywhere. Dogs of this breed are great both in the field and as companions for active families. Though they need a good bit of exercise and grooming, overall English Setter care and maintenance doesn't take a great deal of work.

Below you'll find plenty of details on caring for an English Setter, including info on puppy development, exercise needs, recommended diet, and more. For answers to your questions about owning this gentle, athletic hunting breed, read on!

As an active, athletic hunting breed, English Setter exercise requirements are pretty extensive. These dogs will need a good amount of outdoor activity every day (meaning they're best for owners living in rural and suburban homes with decent-sized yards, and aren't suited for apartment life). Since they're intelligent and task-oriented, English Setters need exercises that stimulate them mentally as well as physically. They also make great jogging or bicycling companions.

The typical adult ES, depending on its age and overall activity level, will need 60 minutes of exercise per day at the very least. You can start exercising your ES puppy at three months old by taking it on short (10-minute) leashed walks, then you can increase the walks' length and frequency as the puppy grows.

A few things to keep in mind when exercising your English Setter: first, puppies younger than nine months old shouldn't participate in activities that include a lot of jumping, running, or navigating of stairs, as doing so can injure their still-developing joints and bones. And all English Setters, regardless of age, must be leashed when in public. These dogs have incredibly high prey drives, and will instinctively chase most any small animals they see--birds, squirrels, cats, even small dogs--if given the chance; a leash will help you control your ES when it spies an interesting-looking critter. Even when exercising in your own yard (which is hopefully large!), the area will need to be securely fenced to keep the dog from running off after birds or squirrels. Otherwise, English Setters are hardy, adaptable dogs that can exercise in a variety of environments and weather conditions.

Precautions aside, it's very important to exercise your English Setter every single day. While laid-back and playful, these dogs are task-oriented and hard-working, and if bored or restless they'll become frustrated and high-strung--which will lead to disobedience, excessive barking and digging, and destructiveness. Consistent exercise will be great for the dog's peace of mind, and for your own sanity! Here are a few exercise ideas:

• Walking/Jogging/Bicycling: Two 30-minute walks (or 20 minute jogs or bike rides) per day is a good target
• Fetch: These dogs will chase a ball or stick for hours
• Tug-of-War: Great indoor, rainy-day activity; use a rope or old towel
• Hunting: Puts an English Setter in its natural element
• Canine Sports: An ES can excel at agility and obedience trials and other competitions
• Hiking: Excellent bonding activity; bonus if you can find a remote area where the dog can be off-leash

If your English Setter needs to remain indoors for long periods, it's a good idea to give the dog access to one or more balls or toys that will allow it to burn excess energy. It's also recommended that you establish a regular exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks, jogs, or bike rides after breakfast and dinner and a play period in the afternoon.

In terms of shedding and drooling, these dogs need moderate care. English Setter shedding is fair for most of the year, and heavier during the spring and fall shedding seasons; drooling is a minor issue.

The ES has a medium-length, silky, double-layered coat, often with longer feathering on the chest, underbelly, and tail. Double-coated dogs usually "blow" their coats in the spring and fall--so for the English Setter, shed hairs will be profuse during these 2- to 3-week periods. Owners will need to brush their English Setters at least once per week (and more often during shedding season) with a bristle brush and/or metal comb to minimize the shed hairs and to prevent tangles and mats. Vacuuming the floors and using lint brushes on clothes and furniture will be needed from time to tie to pick up stray hairs, but the cleanup won't be a constant chore.

And an ES may drool occasionally in anticipation of food, after drinking water, or when especially excited or nervous, but it's not too much of a problem. If your English Setter is drooling excessively, it may be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is recommended.

The English Setter diet will need to include animal proteins and healthy carbs for energy, vitamins and minerals for digestive and immune health, and omega fatty acids for coat and skin wellness. This means the best food for an English Setter is premium dry kibble, as it contains portions of all these ingredients--nutrients your ES needs to live a longer, healthier, happier life.

An adult ES, depending on its size, age, metabolism, and activity level, will need about 3½ cups of premium dry food per day, divided into two meals. ES puppies will need a bit less: again depending on age, about 2¼ cups per day, divided into three meals (not two) until six months of age.

For more info on feeding an English Setter from puppyhood through maturity, see this English Setter feeding chart:

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by mixing in adult formula with the puppy formula, in slowly increasing amounts with each meal, for one week.

Try if possible to stick to the above-listed portions. These dogs are prone to obesity, and if constantly overfed (and under-exercised) they'll quickly become overweight--and a fat English Setter will have numerous health problems and a potentially shortened lifespan. You can help control your English Setter's weight by having consistent feeding and exercise schedules, by not feeding the dog table scraps, and by not leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time.

If you're worried your English Setter is overweight, give the dog this simple test: run a hand along its side, and if you can't feel any ribs, it's diet time--which means less food and more exercise!

Though opinions can differ over what's the best dog food for English Setters, most owners and breeders agree that premium dry food is the most sensible choice. These high-quality foods, while more expensive and difficult to obtain, contain balanced portions of animal proteins and carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, and omega fatty acids--nutrients an English Setter needs to maintain its health in the long term.

Blue Buffalo, Royal Canin, and Taste of the Wild are three recommended brands that have excellent lines of premium dry food.