ENGLISH SETTER

(Breed Standard)

Partha Sekhar Chatterjee

International All Breeds Dog Show Judge

The English Setter is of medium height, clean in outline, with an elegant in appearance and movement. They are active with a keen game sense. They are intensely friendly and good natured. The skull is oval from ear to ear, showing plenty of brain room, a well- defined occipital protuberance. The muzzles are moderately deep and fairly square. The distance from stop to point of nose should equal length of skull from occiput to eyes. The nostrils are wide and jaws are equal in length, flews are not too pendulous. The colour of the nose is black or liver, according to colour of coat. 

The eyes are bright, mild and expressive. They range between hazel and dark brown, the darker the better colour. In liver beltons only, a lighter eye acceptable. The eyes are oval and not protruding. 

The ears are of moderate length, set on low, and hanging in neat folds close to the cheek, with a tip velvety, the upper part clothed in find silky hair.

At the mouth, jaws are strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite. For example- upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Full dentition is desirable.

The neck is rather long, muscular and lean slightly arched at the crest, and clean cut where it joins the head, towards the shoulder, it is larger and very muscular, never throaty nor pendulous below throat, but elegant in appearance.

The forequarters are with well set back shoulders. The chest is deep at the brisket, with very good depth and width between, shoulder blades. The forearms are straight and very muscular with rounded bone. The elbows are well let down close to the body, pasterns short, strong, round and straight.

The body is of moderate length, a short back and level with good round widely sprung ribs, i.e. well ribbed up.

The hindquarters have wide loins, slightly arched, strong and muscular. The legs are well muscled including the second thigh, stifles well bent and thighs long from hip to hock. The hock inkling neither in nor out and well let down.

The feet are well padded, with closed well arched toes protected by hair between them. 

The movement is free and graceful action, suggesting speed and endurance. They are free of movement of the hock showing powerful drive from hindquarters. Viewed from the rear, the hip, stifle and hock joints are in line. The head is naturally high.  

The tails is set almost in line with the back, of medium length, not reaching below the hock, neither curly nor ropy, slightly curved or scimitar-shaped but with no tendency to turn upwards, flag or feathers hanging in long pendant flakes. The feather commences slightly below the root, and increasing in length towards the middle, then gradually tapers towards the end, bright long hair, soft and silky wavy but not curly. Lively and slashing in movement and carried in a plane not higher than level of back. 

The coat is from back of head in line with ears, slightly wavy, not curly, long and silky as is the coat generally. The breeches and forelegs nearly down to feet and well feathered. 

They are coloured black or white (blue belton), orange and white (orange belton), lemon and white (lemon belton), liver and white (liver belton) or tricolour. It is blue belton and tan or liver belton and tan, those without heavy patches of colour on body but flecked (belton) all over preferred.  

They are 65-68 cms (25/2-27ins) and bitches are 61-65 cms(24-25/2 ins). cms in size. 

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree. 

The male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

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