Thread: English setters

Looking at getting another dog, we currently have an English setter (5 years) wonderful dog great temperament fantastic for pointing flushing and retrieving small game but he never really has much interest in deer.
So do we get another English setter and hope the next one has more interest in large game or should we try a different breed? If so which breed? Would need to be a good family dog as we have young children.

grab a WHP

Nice looking setter

Why do you suggest a WHP? Will they still retrieve? Sorry if that's a dumb question we have only ever had Setters and never really looked into anything else before now.

Thanks! that was him as a pup he has filled out heaps more now. Haven't seen many of them around, we were originally just going to get another English Setter but haven't seen any pups for sale in the last year so thought perhaps it's time for a change.

Cracker looking dog, always liked them but though they might bring 1/2 the garden in with them. Went for the short haired version instread.
Have you considered a Vizsla

Yes he does and drools uncontrollably when excited or when it's dinner time lol we love the messy bugger anyways. We did consider a vizsla just haven't met one before just seen videos and pictures ect. Geez that makes us sound like hermits. They are good all round hunters will they retrieve?

I grew up with one. (english setter)
It was the family pet while the Irish was dad's deer hunting dog.
The English was so good with me as a kid and then with other young children. The Irish not so much He was Dads dog and only interested in hunting.
(they both drooled

I now have a Gordon setter from a hunting kennel. While I have not done a lot of hunting with him, He does intricate deer and does track wounded game for me. His first love is Pheasants but deer and goats keep him interested.
And he not a drooler either which is great in the house.
Being hunting stock he's not a large dog but heavier boned than an English or Irish, Build for Stamina more than the speed of an Irish.

Main down side is that fetching/retrieving is a bit hit and miss. Some Gordon's are good others not so much. Mine will do 3-4 retrieves of a thrown toy before he gets bored. (To be fair I have not done any real training on retrieving)

Chowing down on something he helped me shoot.
He probably works his way through 4 goats a year. I just saw off a bit more each day.
Zq

Nice dog, the euro breeds are more inclined to be more reliable retrievers and do have a natural instinct to work on deer.
A lab and setter combo could work too.

@Glenshee pm sent