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• If you are a novice to English Setters we suggest you thoroughly read up on the breed. If you are looking for a dog which you can run loose at all times in all environments & not have to worry about them returning when called then this may not be the breed for you as English Setters have a very strong gaming instinct.
• English Setters are very trainable with commitment and are highly intelligent. Although they can be very selective as to when and how they show their intelligence. They rather prefer their clown like image Only those that live with an English setter truly know how they tick. Advice should be sought from experienced setter owners if you feel the need for help and advice.
• Advice to turn your back on your setter if he does not recall and he will soon follow you is poppycock and is a sure fire way to lose your dog.
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• English Setters generally do not fully mature until they are around 2/ 3 years old. Even the most obedient setter can still have there moments and will turn a deaf ear when a nice smelly bird is in sight.
• We have a particular very obedient sweet girl who sticks to us like glue and walks to heel (very unusual for a setter) she is allowed privileges our others could only wish for. Even she has her moments.
• As the potential owners of a new puppy of course you want to do everything right for him and be eager to take him to training classes. Be sure if you decide to do this that the trainer is familiar with the breed.
• Ring craft training is a good idea whether you intend to show your new puppy or not. Your dog will get to socialise with other dogs and will learn basic obedience and you will be taught to stand your dog which you will find invaluable for when you need to examine, trim or take him to the vets. He will also learn to behave on a lead.
• Dog or Bitch? Both are very loving and the dog being just as gentle In our experience more laid back than the bitch. We have found the dog more even mannered due to not going through hormonal changes (seasons). Which can make the bitch less playful and a little off colour for the weeks that follow However during adolescence bitches seem a little less boisterous compared to dogs. Both bitches & dogs are a pleasure to live with.
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• Please do not get a bitch and spay her, get a dog if you do not want the fuss of seasons as she will grow a profuse and un manageable coat which will need considerable time spent on it to make her look presentable. Do not be swayed by vets to spay your bitch. The choice is yours in the end but there are no advantages in doing so unless under medical grounds.
• Dogs also generally do not need to be neutered to prevent wandering / aggression/running off/pulling on the lead and all the other things you WILL be told that are instantly solved/cured by neutering your dog.
• English Setters in the whole (there are exceptions) are not an over sexed breed and in a well looked after home will not escape to try to find a bitch in season. If you have an entire male and your next door neighbour has a flirty bitch you may encounter problems if the male is allowed access to her. We have an entire male whom lives harmoniously with bitches in season with no problems & yes he has sired a litter!!.

• English Setters should not be neutered to STOP your dog being pestered by other male dogs.
• English Setters like other breeds will always be pestered by other UN trained dogs of nuisance owners whilst out on walks whether or not they are entire or not.
• English Setters are very friendly dogs that want to play with everyone but will have to be watched as not all other dogs are as friendly as we have had the misfortune to experience.
• Rearing. all our dogs are holistically reared and are all homoeopathically immunised. We feel strongly that such rearing provides our dogs with optimum health and prevents a lot of problems other wise caused by feeding the wrong food and over vaccinations. This is obviously our choice and we respect any different views you have regarding this subject.
• We would never push anyone to use homeopathy over conventional vaccines that is our decision based on years of knowledge and research into vaccines and there pros and cons. For us and our dogs the pros out weigh the cons for you this may not be the case especially for a first time dog owner. This is a very personal and controversial choice in which people must agree to differ. These decisions cannot be made quickly or lightly.
• We suggest you contact your vet practise regarding there vaccination programmes
• Should you be interested in homeopathy for the future we can recommend some good books should you so wish?
• Our puppies are weaned on the BARF diet which means bones and raw foods. Please don’t panic at there young age they will only have been knowing on the bones and would not of ingested any. By bones we mean raw chicken wings. Which are fine to feed RAW as they are a soft bone BUT must NEVER NEVER be fed cooked as cooked bones become brittle and DANGEROUS.
• All our dogs have for nearly 7 years from puppy hood have been eating 4 chicken wings each for breakfast each morning with no problems.
• They are excellent for keeping teeth in good condition and tartar free. (As with everything there are risks) but for us the benefits out way by far the risks.
• Other foods given are RAW mince meats / chunks, and definitely no Pork but everything else e.g.: chicken,lamb,turkey,tripe,rabbit are all preferable Organ meats i.e. liver should only be fed on occasions or small amounts once a week as this can cause stomach upset in some dogs. You will soon work out what is best for your dog. Along side this we feed a holistic/organic mixer and vegetables along side either pulped or lightly steamed.
• It is possible to feed a natural diet without feeding chicken wings if you decide this is not for you. It can be as simple to feed a natural diet as it is a complete dry diet. As nowadays it is possible to buy a complete natural diet frozen in 1kg bags containing all the natural ingredients you would feed including meat, rice and vegetables.
• All you have to do is thaw the food and feed.
• A complete diet sheet will be given along with the food and all the general advice/ information you will need as a new puppy owner along with our on going advice/support should you so need it for the life of your dog.

• Finally on the subject of feeding should you decide this diet is not what you want to feed your puppy please be sure to feed the best quality food that you can that is as natural as possible. This is a very very in depth subject that we could go on and on and on about but lets face facts natural is best and you are what you eat and you are in control of what your dog will eat!!!
• Would you feed yourself or your children junk convenience food for the rest of your lives?? This is exactly what complete diets are. They are sold as balanced complete foods but balanced for whom?? As every dog as every human is individual and there needs vary.
• Exercise. It is most important that you do not over exercise your puppy/young dog. To begin with please make sure that your garden is 100% secure. Your garden fence needs to be at least 4 foot high but preferably 6 feet.
• Garden play is more than sufficient to begin with up to 6 months with outings/walks purely for socialisation purposes and to lead train etc.
• Do not allow children and older dogs to play to roughly.
• From about 6 months your English setter will be eager to be very active and if allowed will over stress growing bones.
• Garden play restricted lead walking (not too long) and restricted off lead exercise to let off steam this should only be done in a safe well fenced area possibly at the same time you are training your setter. Choose a place where there are little or no distractions for your dog.
• It is important not to over exercise and to restrict lead walks to minimize your dogs chances of developing hip dysplasia. This is in simple terms a bad hip joint on one or both joints.
• All dogs used for breeding will be hip scored. ( hip scoring is a points system with the lower the score the better the hip the higher the score the worse the hips. this is this is a system run by the British vetinary association The highest score possible is 106. Hip dysplasia is as much environmental as it is hereditary & it is important you feed a good diet and restrict strenuous exercise for at least the first 12 months whilst your puppy is developing. It should definitely not be allowed access to stairs. A stair gate should be used to prevent your puppy going up stairs.
• English Setters are a wonderful family orientated breed whom love company and are very trust worthy and excellent with children. They do not like to be left for long periods of time on there own or kennelled on there own. They do make excellent house dogs as we can prove with all 8 of ours living in doors this includes 2 young puppies.
• As long as they are allowed to let off steam and are properly exercised they are very content dogs.
• An English setter is equally suited to town and country as long as there needs are respected and they have access to a safe secure garden. We are sure once you have owned an English setter you will never own another breed again as they have a way of stealing your heart.

  In short the English Setter is a Noble Gentleman/Lady amongst the breeds and a joy to live with.
A quote from the Late Lesley Allan-Scott ( the highly regarded Iroquois kennel) from her book The English Setter " Of all the advise that one might give a newcomer to the breed none could be more important than that of affection & the quotation from Camelot could equally be applied to the English Setter.

"How to handle a woman?
Mark me well and i will tell you sir,
the way to handle a woman ,
is to love her, simply love her."
Merely love her, love her,
Just love her
Just love her!.