English Setter Colors and Characteristics: A Guide

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Posted Oct 8, 2024

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Red Belton English Setter on Grass Field Near Body of Water
Credit: pexels.com, Red Belton English Setter on Grass Field Near Body of Water

English Setters are a beloved breed known for their stunning good looks and charming personalities. They come in a variety of colors, including blue belton, liver belton, orange belton, lemon belton, and white.

One of the most distinctive features of English Setters is their beautiful coat, which is made up of a combination of two colors. This unique coat pattern is known as "belton", and it's a key characteristic of the breed.

English Setters are also known for their intelligence, energy, and love of people. They are natural athletes and require plenty of exercise to stay happy and healthy.

Temperament & Intelligence

The English Setter is a beautiful canine, but they also are incredibly intelligent, loyal, and friendly. They are affectionate with their loved ones and always up for a quick nap or snuggle.

English Setters are highly energetic and need an active family to keep up with them. If they don't get enough exercise, they can become bored and engage in mischievous behavior.

Credit: youtube.com, ► English Setter Breed [2020] Temperament & Training

Their intelligence allows them to quickly pick up on commands and take great joy in learning new things. They're always eager to learn and please their owners.

A lack of mental stimulation can equal a bored pup, so it's essential to provide plenty of outdoor games and interactive puzzles to keep them engaged and happy.

Physical Characteristics

English Setters are a beautiful breed with a wide range of coat colors and patterns. Their medium size makes them a great fit for many families.

They typically weigh between 45 and 80 pounds, with females weighing between 45 and 55 pounds and males weighing 65 to 80 pounds.

English Setters have a long, silky coat that's flat and straight, with no curl or wooliness to it. This coat requires regular brushing, especially in the feathered areas, to prevent matting.

Their coat colors are incredibly varied, with belton patterns being a key feature. Belton refers to the pattern of colored spots surrounded by white. The most common belton colors include blue, orange, lemon, and liver.

English Setter Dog in Side View
Credit: pexels.com, English Setter Dog in Side View

Here are the typical coat colors and patterns of English Setters:

English Setters can have a top knot, and their coat can be short or thick and abundant. Show-bred dogs tend to have longer coats, while field-bred dogs usually have shorter coats.

History and Origin

The English Setter's rich history dates back to the 14th century, making it one of the oldest breeds of the setter group.

Developed to help hunters track and locate game on the moors, English Setters got their name from their perfectly still sitting position, or "set", around prey. This unique ability made them invaluable companions for hunters.

The exact origin of the English Setter is unclear, but some experts believe it may have resulted from the crossing of a Spanish Pointer with a French Pointer.

In the 1500s, English Setters became popular bird dogs, and by the 18th century, they were used for hunting with guns instead of nets.

Edward Laverack began developing the breed in 1825, and his setters were known for their field capabilities.

Characteristics

Credit: youtube.com, English Setter dog breed. All breed characteristics and facts about English Setter dogs

English Setters are a beloved breed, and their characteristics are just as fascinating as their colors. They're known as "absolute sweethearts" due to their loving nature.

Their size is relatively medium, with males reaching 25.5-27 inches and females 24-25.5 inches. They have a distinctive tail that's not docked and features a feathery texture.

Their coat is one of their most defining features, with a wide variety of colors and patterns. They can have a flat-lying and short or thick, abundant coat, and may even have a top knot.

The Field Dog Stud Book defines a belton coat as "all white, but ticked with a secondary color or colors." If a Setter has a large patch or patches of any color, it's not considered belton.

Here's a breakdown of the common coat colors:

In Europe, liver-and-white is also a common coat color.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Belton English Setter?

A Belton English Setter is a specific type of English Setter known for its distinctive speckled coat patterns in colors like liver, lemon, and orange. This unique coat pattern is a defining characteristic of the breed.

What color is Belton?

Belton is a predominantly white coat color with flecks of another color, typically in shades of blue, orange, chestnut, lemon, liver, or tricolor

What is the difference between orange belton and lemon belton English Setters?

The main difference between Orange and Lemon Belton English Setters is the coat color, with Orange Beltons having a light tan/brown coat with white, and Lemon Beltons having a lighter, more golden coat. The only other difference is the eye and nose color, which is pinkish in Orange Beltons.

Lucy Orn-Mills

Writer

Lucy Orn-Mills is a versatile writer with a passion for canine culture. With a keen interest in the world of dogs, she has penned articles on a wide range of topics, from the charming Border Terrier to the rich history of dog breeds originating in Scotland and England. Lucy's expertise extends to the fascinating realm of Terriers, a group of breeds known for their feisty and affectionate nature.