Oh, the English Setter. This dog is the epitome of grace, beauty, intelligence, and hard work. You can tell that these dogs have it all. Mostly known as hunting dogs, they have a lot more to offer than that, and people have started noticing it.
There is a lot to say about these pooches. The Tri-color English Setter is no different. In this article, you will be able to read about their personality, potential health issues, and grooming needs, and we will be describing their appearance in more detail.
You will be able to meet the breed, and also get a detailed description of the tri-color coat combination.
There is a lot to say about these dogs so we suggest starting the ride. We sure hope that you will enjoy it.
Tri Color English Setter Appearance
We can all agree that the English setter is one of those dog breeds that has a truly mesmerizing appearance. They have very amazing coat colors.
The main coat colors and color combinations are:
– lemon belton
– orange belton
– blue belton
– chestnut belton
– liver belton
– blue belton and tan, or, in other words, the tri-color
All of these are very beautiful, and we can not decide what our favorite is. Since you are reading this article, we know that you are mostly interested in the tri color or the blue belton and tan color combination.
These doggies have the majority of their body white, with blue freckles or spots throughout their body and face. With the tri-color ones, there will also be some tan or dark brown markings that blend with the blue ones.
The best way to describe this is that they are heavily ticked with blue spots all across their white body.
When we say blue markings, they are not truly blue, but in fact, they are black. They might look a bit bluish when you look at them, but they are black in color.
They have a medium to long coat that is straight and does not curl up. This type of coat is on the top part of the body, meaning the head and the back.
What is interesting is that part of their body is feathered. What is this, you may ask? Well, this is the part of the coat that is longer, and has a bit of fringe. It looks really soft and it makes the dog look elegant.
The feathering part is placed on the belly, ears, tail, legs, chest, and under the thighs. As they move, the feathering parts move with the dog, and this is something that makes these dogs true eye magnets.
English Setter puppies might not have this feathering just yet, and the tri-color ones might not have the tan or the brown patches so obvious. But, as they grow, you will be able to see the patches and the feathering.
We need to say that these pooches can get confused with the Irish Setter and the Gordon Setter. They are very similar, but the Irish Setter and the Gordon Setter do not come in colors like the English Setter.
Grooming
When it comes to the English Setter, the main part of the grooming process is brushing. This is good for multiple reasons. You can control the shedding, you can also control the mattings from occurring, and you will be keeping the coat nice and healthy.
Brushing should be done at least 3 or 4 times a week, but daily brushing is also advised.
There are a couple of things that you can do at your home either by yourself or with the help of a friend or a family member. This way, you can save some time and money.
Here are some things that you can do:
– Bathing. This part of the grooming process might be a bit complicated since these dogs are big and they have a long coat. The important thing is for you to introduce your dog to bathing when it is young, and make it a positive experience. This way, bathing time will be much easier when they grow up. We advise you to prepare everything beforehand so that you will not have any disturbances during the bath. Every 6 to 7 weeks is just fine. If your dog spends a lot of time in nature, baths might be a bit more frequent.
– Clipping the nails. This is something that a lot of dog owners do not feel that comfortable with, and we truly understand why. It can get overwhelming for both the dog and the owner. If you do not feel comfortable doing this by yourself, you can always call the vet or a groomer. Asking your friend or a family member to help is a good idea. While you are clipping the nails, your partner in crime can keep the dog entertained
– Cleaning the ears. These pooches have long, floppy ears, and a lot of things can get stuck in them, including black gunk and even some pieces of debris like leaves and grass. You will need a cotton pad and some ear-cleaning liquid. Try not to go too deep so you do not harm the dog’s earlobe. You should check your dog’s ears at least 2 or 3 times a week, and clean them once a week or more if needed.
– Brushing. We already mentioned that brushing is very important for these dogs. The main reason for brushing is to keep the mats away, and by that, you are keeping the dog’s coat healthy and shiny. If your dog gets mats, you might need to shave him, which might not be good for him.
– Giving him a trim. This is also something that not a lot of dog owners will do by themselves. It can get tricky if you can not keep your dog still. You will need a pair of scissors and a bit of patience. If you do not feel comfortable with this, you can call the groomer. Don’t feel bad if you don’t do this by yourself. You need some experience to do it alone.
Personality And Temperament
Setter dogs are known to be working dogs, and to be more precise, they are mostly known for being hunting dogs or gun dogs. Today, they are still used as hunting dogs, but they are becoming more and more as amazing family pets.
This dog is full of personality, and we made a list of things that we think that you really need to know about them. There might be some differences from dog to dog, but these are the general personality traits that can describe these dogs.
They Are Hard Working Dogs
These pooches were bred in the 19th century by Englishman Edward Laverack, and Welshman R.L. Purcell Llewellyn, because they needed a dog that would help them in their hunting expeditions. For over 400 years, these dogs have proven that they are willing to do anything for their owner, and they will work hard to fulfill all the tasks given.
This is no different today. They have a lot of energy, and they are not afraid to use it all when you need them to.
Hunting is not the only thing that they are good at. You can always give them some small daily tasks that they will do for you. This way, you keep them occupied and they will feel proud when they are able to help you out.
RELATED: How To Keep A Dog Entertained While At Work: 19 Tips & Tricks
They Are Affectionate And Gentle
Since they are big dogs that love to hunt, you might not think of them as gentle and affectionate, but you would be wrong. These pooches love to spend time with their owner, and in their free time, cuddle sessions are something they adore.
They are truly good with kids. When it comes to dogs and kids, all of us think that you need to keep the dog away from the kids. But, with these dogs, this thought is the other way around.
Since they are so calm and gentle, they will let the kids do whatever they want to them. There is no chance that they will harm the kids.
Meeting new people and dog friends is something they are really good at. Their nature makes them magnets for everyone. All dogs and people adore these pooches.
If you don’t give them enough attention, your dog might get attached to you suddenly. This is their way of showing you that they need more time with you.
They Love To Play
These dogs are truly man’s best friend. They can even become attached to you, and this might be a problem for some people while others might love it. This dog belongs in the sporting group according to the American Kennel Club (AKC), which, of course, makes them sporting dogs.
This means that they are active and excel in almost every sport, but they will not let all that energy exhaust their owner. They have a balance, but they will always try to play with you as much as possible.
Setter pups will probably be one of the most playful puppies you will ever see.
They love water just like the Labrador Retriever, so if you have a chance to bring them anywhere that there is water, they will forever be thankful. This does not make them Water Spaniels because this is a completely different breed.
They Are Intelligent, But They Can Be Stubborn
This can be a tricky combination. These dogs can learn anything you want them to, but you will probably need a lot of patience.
An English Setter, while it is a puppy, might want to show its dominant side and become the pack leader. This is something you need to stop straight away, but don’t worry – this is easily solvable.
What you need to know is that even when you assert your dominance, they will still be a bit stubborn. Obedience competitions might not be the best for them because their stubbornness might get in the way.
Don’t let this make you give up on training these pooches. Try everything from treats to positive reinforcement.
Whatever you do, do not hit your dog because they might not forgive you later, and they will most likely connect training sessions with something bad and traumatic.
Health Issues
Every dog breed, including this ˝bird dog˝, has some health issues that they can be prone to. The English Setter is considered to be quite a healthy dog, but there are some problems that can occur.
All of the health conditions we will present does not mean that they will get all of these, or any of these, for sure. We just want to list them so you can be prepared and regularly take them to the vet.
Here are some of the health issues that the English Setter can face:
– Hip dysplasia
– Elbow dysplasia
– Deafness
– Hypothyroidism
When we talk about a healthy dog, their life expectancy is anywhere between 9 and 13 years of age. Dogs that get sick might have a shorter life.
We want to say that sometimes, things just happen. You can be doing everything that is in your power to keep the dog healthy, but it can still get sick. We are telling you this in a way to prevent you from feeling guilty if something happens, even though you tried your best.
Reputable breeders will give you all the necessary health certificates that prove that they did all the tests on both the parent dogs and the puppies. This way, you can be sure that your dog has a good bloodline.
To Sum It All Up
The Tri-color English Setter is truly a remarkable dog. They grace us with beauty and personality. Since they are Setters, which are known to be dogs on the go, you might not think of these dogs as regular family pets.
But, we hope that we proved you wrong. These gentle and loving dogs are amazing for different types of families. Yes, the best match might be a family that is on the active side, but people who will give them enough exercise are good enough for these pooches.
We hope that you fell in love with this breed, and that it will be your choice as a forever, furry best friend.
