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Dog Articles
Past and Present: Setters
Setters
have long but ‘flat’ silky coats and plumed tails, and as a rule
very gentle faces, full of expression. In olden times, when it was
customary to ‘net’ game, these dogs were taught to point the birds
and then to crouch or ‘set’, that the net might be thrown over and
beyond them; hence the name.
The
English, Irish, and Gordon Setters are almost too well known to need
any physical description. Fashions have changed somewhat, and will
probably continue to do so, in these as in other popular breeds.
Still, the
needs are so definite, and performance is such a necessary
foundation for appearance, that the Setters will probably never
deviate very widely from the present standard, except in minor
points attained by crossing the known types. It is doubtful if any
serious breeder would trust other than Setter blood in these already
very beautiful and useful dogs.
In this
country no dog is so well fitted for hunting Grouse, Pheasants,
Quail, and feathered upland and woodland game in general.
In
comparing the three principal types, the English is the largest and
strongest, and is largely white, with liver, tan, orange, or black
blotches and ‘ticking’. The Irish is the lightest and most finely
drawn, and is all rich mahogany tan; he has a more high-strung
disposition than either of the others, and is rather more nervous
and subject to temperamental weaknesses, though when well trained
and intelligently handled is unsurpassed as a field and hunting dog.
The Gordon
is a north British development, to be used chiefly on the red grouse
of the heathery uplands, and is black, with deep tan chops, ear
linings, chest, belly, feet, and feather, and the characteristic tan
spots over the eyes and on the cheeks. For several years he was bred
to a very delicate, slender-headed type; he was then a very
affectionate and beautiful creature, but lacked the staunchness such
a hunting dog must have. The present standard dictates a dog of
almost exactly the conformation of the English setter: wide across
the forehead, strong, fairly broad, and very deep in the chest,
with plentiful bone in legs and good, hard, compact feet.
In this
country, where the autumn woods abound in russet browns and deep
shadows, the solid red and the black and tan dogs are harder to
follow with the eye than those with a fair amount of white; hence
the English Setter and the mainly white Pointer are favorites among
the hunters, though the Irish has many adherents among those
desiring a beautiful and companionable dog. The Gordon is nearly
obsolete in this country.
The
English has been modified in several respects, and excellent types
have come to be known by the kennel names of their breeders, such as
Belton and Llewellyn Setters. These are excellent Quail dogs, being
somewhat more of the build of the Irish Setter and considerably
lighter and more delicately put together than the staunch old
English Setter. Both are white, with much fine ticking of black
which in the long white coat has a bluish appearance.
All
Setters should show quite a marked stop, have full, sympathetic, and
intelligent eyes, soft, fine, nearly straight hair, a full feather
along the back of all four legs, as well as from the lower side of
the tail.
They
should be built much like a Pointer, except that they lack the
springy arched quality of legs and back, being rather more careful,
but much less rapid, workers than these rangers of the open fields.
The stifle should be straight from front or back instead of
out-turned.
Under his
soft and rather silky coat, the Setter should be hard, finely
muscled, and compact, and none of these dogs should be allowed to
get fat, and lazy, as they so often become in the hands of
affectionate owners. No dog has a more wheedling way with him, and
it takes a rather firm nature to withstand his wiles.
Source:
National Geographic 1919
Recommended Reading
Dog Training
Mastery - An Owners' Manual
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