English Setter. Hunting dog setter. Description of the breed

English setter, or laaverak, refers to hunting breeds, but due to its fervent disposition, elegance and obedience is often contained as a pet. Breeded in England, this breed has become popular all over the world. Today it is widely known in Russia.

Description of the breed

The signs that the English setter can be recognized from afar is a muscular body covered with long silky hair, hanging ears and a clever look. The growth of the dog - from 53 to 64 cm at the withers, weight - up to 30 kg. The constitution is lean, squat. On a slightly elongated head there is a pronounced occipital mound. The transition from forehead to muzzle is smooth, though clearly defined. Covered wavy wool saber-like tail as it continues the line of the back. The free, vigorous movements of the dog resemble their feline gracefulness.

The coat is thick, shiny, short on the head and on the back. The back side of the legs, ears, stomach and tail have a long beautifying hair. Color, as a rule, two colors. The main one is white, with interspersed red, brown or black spots. Less common is the tricolor English setter - white with black crab and orange tan on the ears, muzzle and legs.

History of the breed

In the early nineteenth century, throughout the whole of England, there were bred dug-outs, representing different breeds. The appearance of the English setter is the merit of E. Laveraka, who for 35 years purposefully engaged in breeding work on the breeding of this breed by closely related crossing. Harsh selection for hunting qualities and exterior was conducted, which led to the creation of a setter, which exists to this day and has a second name - laverak. The first exhibition of this breed was held in 1859, this year is considered the date of its birth.

In Russia, the English Setter breed appeared in 1880, when the first producer was introduced. Moscow dog breeding centers were engaged in breeding dogs brought from England and France. They were mainly used for hunting, but at the selection of the exteriors, no less attention was paid to hunting. The best results for improving the breed were obtained at the end of the last century.

Character

The English setter is distinguished by affection, kind disposition and balanced mentality. These dogs are very sociable, able to find a common language with any domestic pets that will be around. Quickly adapt in unfamiliar surroundings and are able to contact with children, getting along well in a large family. Setter is suitable as a pet due to his benevolent disposition. In addition, it adapts well to the conditions of a city apartment, without requiring long walks.

The mind that the dog is not deprived of by nature was highly appreciated by hunters. The setter can easily be trained and trained, which makes it possible to use its abilities in hunting game birds. Enough vast space is able to survey it in search of prey. Sensing it, this innate hunter makes a stand, indicating the owner of the prey, and scares the bird on command.

Conditions of detention

An indispensable condition for the content of the English setter is daily exercise. This dog is very mobile, loves active games, walks, can gallop for hours. Without such loads, the appearance of various health problems, including mental ones, is not ruled out. Therefore, when deciding to start a dog of this breed, one should take into account the possibilities of providing it with the necessary conditions.

If the owner does not stay at home for a long time, it is not worthwhile to start a setter, so as not to condemn him to loneliness, which he endures very hard.

Training

The extraordinary mind that the English setter has, combined with the desire to please the master, greatly facilitate the training of the dog. The most important thing that must be observed in this case is the application of the method of encouragement in the absence of strict penalties. You can not shout at an animal, be nervous, and even more so beat it. These dogs are more vulnerable, especially in puppyhood. A benevolent attitude in the process of training and playing character will quickly give positive results. A distracting puppy from the lessons can only be a factor that is related to his hunting instinct. It should be taken into account at the time of training and some stubbornness inherent in this breed, which is also necessary for the dog for fruitful hunting.

Care

The coat of the English setter, although long, but does not require special care. It has practically no specific odor, so it does not need frequent washing. It is enough to comb the dog's hair with a special rubber glove regularly , then carefully wipe it with a damp towel.

Care of the ears is their periodic cleaning, which is typical of all long-eared dogs. This is done in order to exclude the accumulation of sulfur, the appearance of ticks that contribute to the development of otitis. At the first signs of this disease, you should immediately consult a veterinarian.

Special attention is required for teeth. Puppies English setter in the fifth month of life acquire permanent teeth, gradually displacing the dairy, which are easily removed from the gum, when the puppy gnaws something hard. Therefore, he should often give bones, carrots or an apple. It happens that the milk fangs linger in the gums, and this may require surgical intervention. Such a delay may be caused by a lack of vitamins and minerals or any diseases of the digestive system.

Food

The diet of the English setter differs little from the general principles of feeding any other dogs. Sweets, fatty foods and bones should be avoided in the diet. The menu is selected according to the age and lifestyle that the dog leads. The English setter has a very mobile character, that's why his appetite is excellent. It is important not to overfeed it to prevent obesity. Necessarily presence in the diet of sea fish, vegetables. The main food is porridge, which is added a little vegetable oil. Do not forget about additional vitamins, especially for the puppy. Correctly selected balanced nutrition increases resistance to diseases and promotes harmonious development.

Recently, ready-made food is very popular, from which it is possible to choose the most suitable and corresponding to the physiological characteristics of the dog. Such food can provide it with all the necessary nutrients. In addition, it is very convenient to have a ready-to-eat product at hand. It is only necessary to approach the choice of the manufacturer responsibly.

Diseases

The breed setter is very immune, these dogs are rarely exposed to any diseases. Sometimes there are dysplasia of the pelvic joint, retinal atrophy, otitis media, food and skin allergy.

Like many dogs, the English setter is not immune from the appearance of parasites (fleas, gnats, mites). They are easily eliminated with the help of modern hygiene products, which in large numbers are offered by the veterinary industry. But, in addition to external parasites, there are also internal ones that can threaten the health of the dog. Therefore puppies should be wormed in a timely manner, it must be done before the first vaccination, which takes place at the age of two months. Regular visits to a veterinarian will help to avoid future health problems.

Given the huge hunting passion that the English setter has, in Russia the breed is mostly bred by hunters for work. But often these dogs are in demand among ordinary people who want to buy them as pets. The cost consists of many qualities that the setter has, the price for a puppy varies from 10 to 40 thousand rubles.