Usually working on moorlands to track down game birds and smaller mammals, the English setter was made to hunt. But are English setters good hunting dogs? Their hunting style, characteristics, and capabilities stayed the same as their ancestors—fantastic! Over time, the English setter’s hunting efficiency became more refined, making them a fast favorite among people fond of rugged or walked-up shooting.
Let’s look at this ancient breed’s hunting capabilities, how they do it, and how you can help as an owner.
Are English Setters Good Hunting Dogs?
Initially named “setting spaniels,” English setters are good hunting dogs bred to find birds and set or crouch to face the scent. And this distinct stance helped hunters ensnare game birds with huge nets without a hyper dog getting in their way. When hunters started to use firearms, selective breeding of these dogs encouraged a fixed point where hunters could see their targets better.
The English Setter’s Hunting Style & Temperament
The English setter’s clever response to the required range and pattern helped make the breed a classic favorite among woodland ruffed grouse hunters. These dogs made hunting more manageable and more fun. English setters combined a fun search with a distinct point heralded by their feathered tails pointing straight up. As a result, hunters could spot their targets faster and easier.Â
English setters are graceful yet agile and can adapt to their hunter’s pace in no time. But unlike other hunting dogs, this breed stands out as it prioritizes spotting its prey instead of chasing after them.Â
To help you see what makes a hunting dog “good,” here are four crucial traits for every hunting dog:
✔️ Size
Hunting dogs must be flexible and should be able to adapt to any environment. As a result, medium-sized dogs are the best for the task. After all, they’re not too heavy or light and can chase after prey with ease.Â
English setters are medium-sized dogs, with males weighing around 24 to 26 inches and weighing 65 to 80 lbs. Meanwhile, females stand at 22 to 24 inches and weigh approximately 45 to 55 lbs.Â
✔️ Coat
A strong coat is essential for hunting dogs as it protects them from the harsh elements outdoors. It keeps them unscathed when going after their prey. English setters have flat feathered coats that can repel briars, withstanding nasty brush! But their fur is a magnet for burrs, so regular grooming and bathing are necessary.Â
✔️ Maturity
Maturity in hunting dogs is a must. After all, you wouldn’t want an uncontrollable dog on the hunting field. Not only will this deter your targets, but it also puts your dog in danger. Luckily, English setters have natural patience and are temperate. These dogs can handle their instincts and stay focused on the hunting grounds.Â
✔️ HealthÂ
Optimal health is crucial for hunting dogs to ensure their safety out on the hunting grounds. Plus, it’s vital for the dog’s health over time. English setters are naturally healthy dogs and have little to no health risks. But some health conditions worth watching out for are hypothyroidism, hip & elbow dysplasia, and allergies.Â
Aside from those, one of the reasons why English setters are good hunting dogs is their keenness to hunt! These dogs boast the fantastic ability to adapt to various environments, conditions, and humans!
But beware of training English setters too early as it can harm their health. It would be best to wait till your English setter is big enough to handle all wind directions. This way, you can be confident your dog will be able to succeed long-term.
Anyway, above everything else, keep in mind that English setters aren’t limited to being “hunting dogs.” They can also be excellent family dogs, thanks to their mild temperament and sweet personality. Still, be cautious with this breed, especially if you have kids. Remember, they are natural hunters, after all!
How Do English Setters Hunt?
English setters hunt birds and smaller animals by ranging over broad distances methodically. These dogs don’t go with their guts when it comes to hunting. Instead, English setters seek game birds and smaller mammals in silence. And once they smell their prey in the air, the Engish setter will freeze instead of chasing after it.
Game birds emit airborne scent, so to pick up this distinct scent, English setters carry their head up instead of following foot scent. So, English setter will halt in a crouched posture once they find their quarry. They do this by freezing in a standing position. And this stance is how the term “setter” began and evolved for this breed. Anyway, once the English setter has found where the game birds are by halting on point, it’ll stalk forward to disturb them into flight.
After the birds get into flight mode, the hunters who would’ve been following the English setter would capture them mid-air by releasing hawks. But this didn’t last long as netting became the trend among hunters instead of hawks. Still, many hunters got accompanied by English setters at this point to find the whereabouts of the game birds and small mammals. Instead of releasing hawks, hunters would come up behind the English setter and throw a massive net over the animals before they could escape.
In the 1600s, when guns became more accessible to the public, shooting game birds and other animals became a popular pastime for hunters. And at this point, English setters were still there to find and point out the location of these animals.
How to Train English Setters for Hunting? Tips to Remember
Although English setters are smart dogs, they still need training. But these dogs are best taught tailored techniques to help them embrace their natural hunting instincts. Here are a few proven tips to help you train your English setter to hunt more seamlessly.
✅ Use Positive Reinforcement When Training an English Setter to Hunt.Â
English setters are friendly dogs with the desire to feel like family. And because they crave affection, positive reinforcement is your best choice. Rewards are the best methods for training English setters, whether giving treats or happy talk.Â
Also, since English setter dogs don’t see the value in agility or obedience skills required for hunting, you must make those activities enjoyable or highly important. And the best way to do this is by giving rewards! So, be sure to prepare a lot of tasty treats.Â
But as excellent as positive reinforcement is when training English Setters, getting them used to treats isn’t the best for their health. So, when it’s time for you two to hunt, wean your dog off treats. You can use the “jackpot technique” to ensure better results. You begin by working or training for a few minutes, then yell “jackpot” while running to the treats and let your English setter eat all they want for a few seconds.
Be sure to do these in random intervals till your English setter gets a jackpot at the very end.Â
 Harsh training methods aren’t effective in English setters, so you must be patient even if the dog acts up. Remember, even a simple harsh tone of your voice can shut your English setter down. So, be positive instead of rebuking your dogs when they do something wrong!Â
✅ Help Your English Setter Learn How to Focus Better via Clicker Training.Â
Although English setters enjoy training, they can quickly get distracted while outdoors. So, before bringing your Engish setter out to train, help your dog with focus work. These include hand touches, games, and fun tricks. But be warned, this process will take a while. After all, what dog can resist chasing birds, squirrels, or just even running around while outside?Â
The most efficient way to address this is clicker training. It helps you let your English setter pick to do what you’re asking for them to in exchange for some rewards. Although the learning steps of this technique are incremental, it’ll be all worth it in the end! Aside from that, you may also enroll your English setter for obedience or rally classes.Â
✅ Discipline Your English Setter to Get Them to Listen To You During Training.Â
When training your English setter to hunt, a crucial aspect you must teach your dog is a hierarchy. After all, establishing your authority is the only way to make these clever dogs listen to you! Remember, English setters know they’re intelligent and strong. So, show your dog that you’re the one running things here and remind them they’re the followers.
As I mentioned earlier, there’s no need for harsh techniques as positive reinforcement will be all you need to discipline your English setter for a more seamless training!
✅ Set a Hunting Training Routine for Your English Setter.
Among the most crucial factors when training English setters for hunting is routine. It’s a vital aspect that your dog will get accustomed to and should be part of their daily life. So, ensure to start hunting training always at the same time every day. Doing so helps your English setter keep calm and balanced, which are valuable qualities for hunting.Â
✅ Train in a Few Reps Daily to Help English Setters Go Hunting Better.
Even if English setters are clever dogs that can learn anything about hunting, they need help. Sometimes, they’ll need adapted training methods when they’re out of their hunting comfort zone. And this involves tons of repetition and consistency to learn new skills! But the problem here is that English setters get bored fast.Â
So, the best way to tackle hunting training is to do it a few reps at least 5x daily. With this, your English setter should be able to learn the new skill without issues.Â
Once you’ve done all these, you should be able to train your English setter to hunt like a pro in no time. Remember, these aren’t hacks that will instantly make the training easy and efficient. Instead, these will help you guide your dog throughout training better, making them efficient hunters like their ancestors over time.
What Activities Can You Do with English Setters to Develop their Hunting Abilities?
Agility Training
This activity is a famous dog sport involving a course made up of many obstacles. Each task helps English setters develop their agility and accuracy. After all, they’re created for dogs to go through fast and accurately. Aside from training your English setter physically, this also engages its mind.
I recommend waiting until your English setter turns one year old before trying agility training. After all, it involves jumping, which may cause debilitating damage to your dog’s bones and joints.Â
Here’s how you can do agility training with your English setter:
1️⃣ Put the Obstacles Together
This activity involves many obstacles across various categories. I suggest starting at the novice level, where you start with 15 obstacles in a row. And once your English setter masters each one, you can add more obstacles in a row.Â
2️⃣ Introduce the Obstacle CourseÂ
Agility training involves several obstacles, and it’s best to introduce each to your English setter before stringing them all to one another.Â
At this point, your English setter should be able to flaunt their new skill set and excel even more in what they do best—hunting! You can ask your local dog sport training establishments or agility groups to get an idea of where to start with agility training.Â
Hunting Games
Although some English setters nowadays prefer to stay at home, many have the urge to go outside. After all, this dog breed was made to hunt. So, don’t get surprised if your English setter one-day switches gears when outdoors and begin chasing after birds and other smaller animals.Â
Since English setters can track and retrieve any animal, what better way to stimulate their instincts and help with their hunting skills than letting them play hunting games? You can share many fun and educational activities with your English setters to prep them for the hunting field!
Here are a few hunting games you can do with your English setter:
1️⃣ GeocachingÂ
Explore the outdoors with your English setter by participating in a global treasure hunt dubbed “Geocaching.” Your English setter will have a fantastic time with you and help you hunt for the hidden containers with goodies.Â
2️⃣ Feather retrievalÂ
An excellent way to increase your English setter’s desire to bring back feathered items is replacing the targets with pigeon, duck, or any other bird’s wings. I recommend 2 to 3 sessions lasting about 5 to 10 minutes daily. Never overdo it, as fetch hunting games like this can bore and wear out an English setter.Â
Also, as your English setter gets older, you can help your dog reinforce their impulse control by having them wait to begin running until you’ve given the command to retrieve the feathered item.Â
3️⃣ Walking the PocketÂ
Most hunters prefer their English setters to stay near the pocket on the hunting grounds. The swath of cover encompasses the space between 10 and 2 o’clock in front of you. This unique gesture keeps your English setter in front of you and within sight. As a result, it becomes easier for you to hunt without worrying about your dog getting lost.Â
It’s best to train your English setter young. And the best way to do this is by walking the pocket. Walk your English setter puppy with an extended lead and whenever they lag or run away from you, clap your hands to grab your dog’s attention, point in front, and tug on the leash. Doing so moves your English setter in the right direction without pressuring the dog.Â
4️⃣ Food SearchÂ
As convenient as giving your English setter food in the same spot every day is, make it more fun and stimulating by making meal times into a hunting game! Satisfy your English setter’s innate hunting instincts and place their food bowl in different spots daily.Â
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are English setters good hunting dogs with high prey drive?
A: English setters have a high prey drive due to their natural hunting instincts. After all, breeders bred this dog for the same reason—to hunt. But even if many English setters experience the same intensity, it varies per dog. So, don’t conclude that an English setter won’t be happy in a non-hunting household.Â
Q: Is an English setter dog protective?
A: English setters are famous for being protective over their kin, whether human or animal. And these dogs do an excellent job of protecting due to their natural hunting instincts. Luckily, as overprotective as this breed is, they can calm down fast if instructed.
Q: Are English setters gun dogs?
A: Breeders initially bred English setters as hunting or gun dogs. Being one of the oldest dog breeds in Britain, this dog was a popular pick for working gundogs internationally. But English setters were a vulnerable dog breed in their homeland.Â
Q: Are male English setters more protective than female English setters?
A: When it comes to a dog’s protectiveness, an English setter’s gender doesn’t make a difference. But you may see protective habits in unaltered English setters than those neutered. So, if you’re looking for an English setter for guard duty, it’s best to leave them unaltered.Â
Q: How do English setters hunt?
A: English setters search for their prey in silence, relying on their scent glands (nose). These dogs like to hunt to ensure they catch each prey methodically! Once an English setter locks on a pretty, they become motionless instead of energetic. And little by little, it will entrap its prey!
Q: What is an English setter good for?
A: Although these dogs are best for hunting, English setters make great companions. After all, English setters are naturally affectionate dogs toward familiar faces! So, aside from hunting, remember, English setters are also excellent for many things.
Final Words
Are English setters good hunting dogs? Bred to track down birds and small mammals, English setters are excellent hunting dogs. They’ve been helping hunters capture small animals without getting in their way. And as the breed continued to refine its skills in hunting, English setters have become the go-to dog for hunters from 500 years ago till now. But aside from being superb hunters, English setters also make great family dogs.
