Canis lupus familiaris
English Setter
Featured photoenglish-setter.jpgThe English Setter is a oldest English bird-setting gundog, fixed by Laverack and Llewellin. The English Setter is one of the oldest gun-dog breeds, with setting-type spaniels documented in 14th-century English manuscripts.
Quick facts
- AKC group
- Sporting
- Origin country
- England
- Origin period
- 14th century (modern type 19th century)
- Coat type
- Long
- Coat colors
- Belton (white with flecks of color) — Orange Belton, Blue Belton, Lemon Belton, Liver Belton, Tricolor Belton
- Average lifespan
- 11-15 years
- Recognition
- AKC 1884 · FCI 1954 · UKC 1948 · Group 7 — Pointing Dogs (Section 2.2: British and Irish Pointers and Setters, Setters)
Origin
Setting-type spaniels — dogs trained to crouch ('set') after locating game birds — are documented in 14th-century English manuscripts. The modern English Setter was fixed in the mid-19th century by Edward Laverack (1800-1877), whose 50-year breeding programme from a foundation pair (Ponto and Old Moll, both purchased in 1825) produced the modern show type. R. Purcell Llewellin acquired Laverack stock in 1871 and crossed it with North-of-England working setters to produce the working 'Llewellin Setter' line, today registered with the Field Dog Stud Book in the United States. The Kennel Club registered the breed in 1873 and the AKC followed in 1884.
Recognition
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 1884, the United Kennel Club followed in 1948, and the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 2) in 1954. The FCI assigns the breed to Group 7 — Pointing Dogs (Section 2.2: British and Irish Pointers and Setters, Setters).
Standard
The AKC and FCI standards describe a stylish bird-dog of medium height, with a clean, racy outline and an effortless, smooth, trotting gait. The defining feature is the flat, slightly wavy coat with feathering on the ears, chest, belly, legs, and tail. Recognized colours are 'Belton' patterns: a white ground with flecks of color (orange, blue, lemon, liver) or tricolour. Males stand 64-69 cm at the withers, females 61-66 cm.
Sources & further reading (3)
- kennel-club-registry — accessed 2026-04-30
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-04-30
- fci-standard — accessed 2026-04-30
Frequently asked questions
What is the English Setter's AKC group?
The American Kennel Club places the English Setter in the Sporting Group. The Sporting Group gathers pointers, setters, retrievers, and spaniels — breeds developed to assist hunters in locating, flushing, or retrieving game birds. The breed's foundation working role was as a oldest English bird-setting gundog, fixed by Laverack and Llewellin.
When was the English Setter officially recognized?
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 1884; the United Kennel Club followed in 1948; the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 2) in 1954.
What is the average lifespan of a English Setter?
Kennel-club longevity surveys place the English Setter's average lifespan in the 11-15 years range. The figure here represents the spread reported by the major parent-club studies and the Kennel Club (UK) purebred-dog health surveys.
