--- title: English Setter as a Gun Dog | Royal Gun Dogs url: https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/english-setter/ business: Royal Gun Dogs trainer: Richard Gebhart (professional gun dog trainer since 2002) phone: (530) 341-4496 email: royalgundogs@yahoo.com trains_at: Hastings Island Hunting Preserve, 7758 Hastings Island Rd, Rio Vista, CA 94571 (Solano County) booking: call or text Richard directly --- - [Home](https://royalgundogs.com/) - [Breeds](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/) - English Setter # The English Setter as a gun dog The English Setter is an elegant English bird dog that hunts upland birds with a soft touch and sets, or crouches, on scent. Setters are known for a gentle temperament and a keen nose, and their training builds a steady pattern for quail, pheasant and chukar. ## English Setter at a glance - **Origin:** England, centuries old AKC breed standard - **AKC group:** Sporting AKC - **Typical weight:** 45-80 lbs AKC breed standard - **Hunting style:** Setter (upland birds) AKC 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. - Come, sit, heel and whoa in short sessions - Introduce birds and let the dog find them - Develop a pattern and range that fit your cover - Build steadiness on point, flush and shot - 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](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/puppy-camp/) gives a young setter its first birds and shotgun, and [Formal Gun Dog Training](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/formal-gun-dog-training/) brings formal whoa work once the dog is over a year old. Learn to read your dog with [handler lessons](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/lessons/), and ask about [board-and-train](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/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](https://royalgundogs.com/guides/retriever-pointer-or-spaniel/). ### Sources (4) - American Kennel Club : [akc.org/dog-breeds/english-setter/](https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/english-setter/) (checked October 27, 2026) - American Kennel Club : [akc.org/dog-breeds/sporting/](https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/sporting/) (checked October 27, 2026) - Hastings Island Hunting Preserve : [hihp.com/royal-gun-dogs-dog-training/](https://hihp.com/royal-gun-dogs-dog-training/) (checked October 27, 2026) - American Kennel Club : [akc.org/sports/pointing-breeds/hunt-tests/](https://www.akc.org/sports/pointing-breeds/hunt-tests/) (checked October 27, 2026) ### Matching program - [Formal Gun Dog Training](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/formal-gun-dog-training/) ### Your trainer Richard Gebhart has trained dogs professionally since 2002, learned the Rex Carr method for Retriever Basics under Billy Sargenti, and has run and qualified at an AKC Master National. [Meet Richard](https://royalgundogs.com/richard-gebhart/) ### Related - [English Pointer](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/english-pointer/) - [Brittany](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/brittany/) - [Retriever, pointer or spaniel: choosing a hunting breed](https://royalgundogs.com/guides/retriever-pointer-or-spaniel/) - [Private and group lessons](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/lessons/) ## English Setter questions [All questions](https://royalgundogs.com/faq/) ### Are English Setters good hunting dogs? Yes. They are classic upland bird dogs known for nose and style. ### How is an English Setter different from a Pointer? Setters typically have longer coats and a gentler manner. Both point and hunt in a similar way. ### Can a setter live in the house? Yes. The AKC describes a gentle, friendly companion. ### Do setters swim and retrieve? Many can, but retrieving is usually taught on purpose.