People usually start looking up English Setters when they’re weighing up a new dog for the household: a gentle companion that can keep up outdoors, without becoming hard work at home. The main trade-offs are predictable—daily exercise, coat care, and a few inherited health risks that are easier to manage when you know what to watch for.
Below is a clear snapshot of what an English Setter is like to live with in Australia, how big they tend to be, what their coat really needs, and the health checks worth discussing with your vet and breeder.
English Setter at a glance
- Group: Gundog (Setter)
- Height: Dogs 65–69 cm; bitches 61–65 cm (at the shoulder).1
- Build: Medium height, clean in outline, elegant and athletic.1
- Coat: Long, silky and slightly wavy, with feathering (not curly).1
- Colours: Black/white (blue belton), orange/white (orange belton), lemon/white, liver/white, or tricolour; “belton” refers to the flecked/ticked pattern many setters carry.1
- Temperament: Intensely friendly and good natured; very active with a keen game sense.1
- Typical lifespan: Often around 10–12 years (varies with genetics and care).2
History and what the breed was built to do
The English Setter was developed as a bird dog: a wide-ranging, scent-driven worker that can cover ground for long stretches, then “set” (freeze) to indicate game. In modern lines you’ll still see that design in the body—light enough to move all day, strong enough to hold steady, and tuned to the outdoors.3
Because there are both show-bred and field-bred types in some countries, you may meet English Setters that look and behave a little differently—some lighter and more intense, some heavier-coated and calmer—but the core shape and purpose remain the same.3
Physical characteristics
An English Setter is a clean, elegant gundog with free, graceful movement that hints at stamina rather than speed alone.1 The head is long and lean with a well-defined stop, and the ears hang in neat folds close to the cheek.4
The coat is one of the breed’s signatures: long, silky hair with feathering on legs, chest and tail. It should be slightly wavy, not curly, and it tends to pick up burrs and grass seeds if the dog spends time in scrub or long grass.1
Temperament: what they’re like to live with
English Setters are typically bright, social and soft-natured. The breed standard describes them as “intensely friendly and good natured”, and that usually shows up as an easy interest in people and a willingness to be part of the household’s routine.1
They’re also “very active with a keen game sense”.1 That matters in everyday life: many will track scent on walks, range out in open areas, and become restless if their days shrink to the backyard and a quick lap of the block.
Exercise and enrichment needs
Expect an English Setter to need steady daily movement, plus something to occupy the nose and brain. Long walks and off-lead running in safe, legal areas suit many, as do structured games that reward calm focus.
- Best-fit activities: long walks, sniffy trail walks, retrieve games, obedience foundations, and gundog-style training if you have access.
- What to avoid: sudden “weekend warrior” spikes in activity if the dog is normally sedentary—build fitness gradually, especially in adolescents whose joints are still developing.
If you notice persistent stiffness after exercise, reluctance to jump, or a “bunny-hopping” gait at the back end, book a vet check rather than simply reducing exercise and hoping it passes.5
Training: intelligent, but not built for boredom
English Setters generally learn quickly, especially when training is calm, consistent, and rewarding. They can also be distractible outdoors, because scent is not background noise for a setter—it’s the main story. Short sessions, generous reinforcement, and real-world practice around smells usually beat heavy corrections.
Early socialisation and recall training are worth treating as non-negotiable. A friendly dog that ranges wide is still a dog that can get lost, hit a road, or pick up trouble if the environment is wrong.
Health concerns to know about (and how they’re usually handled)
No breed is risk-free. For English Setters, owners often discuss hips, ears, skin, and general joint wear—especially in active dogs.
Hip dysplasia and arthritis risk
Hip dysplasia is a developmental disorder where the hip joint forms abnormally, leading to joint laxity and, over time, osteoarthritis. It’s influenced by genetics and environmental factors such as growth rate and body weight.5
Diagnosis is typically made with veterinary assessment and radiographs (X-rays). Management may include weight control, activity modification, physiotherapy and anti-inflammatory medication; some cases benefit from surgery.5
Ear infections
With pendulous, feathered ears, some English Setters are prone to ear irritation, especially if they swim or run through damp vegetation. Regular ear checks help you catch redness, odour, or discharge early.
Skin allergies and itch
Itch, recurrent ear issues, or persistent paw-licking can point to allergies. These problems are common across many breeds and are best tackled early, with a vet-led plan rather than cycling through shampoos and diet changes at random.
What to ask a breeder (and your vet)
- Whether the parents have had formal hip screening (and what the results were).
- Any history of chronic skin or ear disease in the line.
- What the puppy has been exposed to (surfaces, sounds, handling, other dogs) before you take them home.
Grooming and coat care
The English Setter coat is not “set and forget”. The texture is designed to move through cover, and it collects seeds, burrs, and fine tangles along the feathering. A simple routine—brushing a few times a week and checking the ears, armpits, and behind the knees—prevents most of the misery (for you and the dog).
- Brush: focus on feathering on legs, chest and tail; work gently to avoid breaking coat.
- After outdoor walks: check for grass seeds and prickles, especially in spring and summer.
- Nails and feet: keep nails trimmed and hair between pads tidy to reduce slipping and matting.
Breed standard and dog showing (Australia)
In Australia, the English Setter breed standard used in conformation showing sits under Dogs Australia and mirrors the traditional Kennel Club wording: a medium-height, elegant gundog with free, graceful action and a character that is friendly and good natured.1
Show judging focuses on overall soundness, balance and movement, alongside correct coat and colour. The intention is a dog that still looks fit for function, rather than exaggerated features that work against health and welfare.4
Final thoughts
An English Setter suits households that like daily outdoor time and don’t mind a bit of coat maintenance along the way. In return you usually get a gentle, bright dog with a soft presence indoors and a strong, scent-led curiosity outside—an animal shaped by generations of work in open country, now often content to share that steady rhythm with a family.1
References
- Dogs NSW (Dogs Australia affiliate) – English Setter breed standard
- American Kennel Club (AKC) – English Setter
- United Kennel Club (UKC) – English Setter breed standard (history and general description)
- The Kennel Club (UK) – English Setter breed standard
- Merck Veterinary Manual (Pet Owner Version) – Hip dysplasia in dogs
Veterinary Advisor, Veterinarian London Area, United Kingdom