The English Setter as a gun dog

Setters are popular with upland hunters who want a dog that is as good by the fire as in the field. Here is what the breed was made to do and how setter training goes.

Where the name comes from

When guns came along, the dogs began to stand instead, and today the English Setter points. The breed has a long, silky coat with flecked markings called belton.

The long coat catches burrs in California cover, so many hunters brush or trim after a day out.

Sensitivity is the key word

English Setters are warm and people-oriented, and many respond best to gentle, steady handling. Harsh correction can shut down a sensitive dog, so training is paced to the dog's confidence.

That fits Richard's stated approach: balance, encouraging the hunting drive and desire in the dog, coupled with the team player attitude.

Typical training stages

Setters are slower to mature than some bird dogs, so the second year is often when the pieces come together.

1. Come, sit, heel and whoa in short sessions
2. Introduce birds and let the dog find them
3. Develop a pattern and range that fit your cover
4. Build steadiness on point, flush and shot
5. Retrieve or, if you prefer, simply honor the flush and point

Cover, coat and conditioning

The setter's silky coat needs more care than a short-haired pointer's. After hunting in foxtail, burr or stickers, check ears, feet and the feathering for seeds. A few minutes after each trip protects the dog and keeps the coat usable. Conditioning before the season helps too, since a setter may cover a lot of ground in a day. If your setter is a house dog first, build up fitness with regular runs and gradual time in cover.

Working with Richard

Puppy Camp gives a young setter its first birds and shotgun, and Formal Gun Dog Training brings formal whoa work once the dog is over a year old. Learn to read your dog with handler lessons, and ask about board-and-train if you live far from Rio Vista. For help sorting out a setter against other bird dogs, read the retriever, pointer or spaniel guide.