Animal register · DogComing soon to the app
English Setter
Laverack Setter, Llewellin Setter, Setter
The English Setter is an elegant gundog from Great Britain, bred to find game birds. The FCI standard describes a dog of medium height, clean in outline and elegant in movement, with a white coat flecked with colour — blue, orange, lemon or liver "belton", or tricolour — and a height of 65–68 cm for males and 61–65 cm for females; the PDSA gives an average weight of 22–29 kg. A dog of this size is fully grown at about 15–18 months (PetMD), and the Royal Kennel Club gives a lifespan of over 10 years.
The Royal Kennel Club recommends more than 2 hours of exercise a day and grooming more than once a week, says the breed sheds and suits a large house with a large garden, and lists it in Breed Watch Category 1. The PDSA says English Setters love children and other pets, making them perfect for families, and advises grooming 2–3 times a week; PetMD suggests a bath every six to eight weeks and says they don't like being left alone for long, and VCA mentions some clipping and trimming every month.
Built and tested; it arrives with a coming app release.
Updated:
At a glance
- Size
- large — The Royal Kennel Club S731
- Adult weight
- males 22–29 kg, females 22–29 kg — PDSA S732
- Daily exercise
- more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S731
- Brushing
- more than once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S731
- Shedding
- sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S731
- Lifespan
- more than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S731
Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.
Who it suits
Good for:
The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.
What it needs
From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.
Exercise
- Daily exercise: more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S731
Coat and grooming
Meals
General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):
Lifespan
- Lifespan: more than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S731
Life stages
- Reaches adult size at: about 15–18 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10
General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):
Size and weight
Training
Questions and answers
Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.
How much exercise does an English Setter need?
According to our sources, the English Setter needs this much exercise: more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S731.
How long does an English Setter live?
According to our sources, the lifespan of the English Setter is: more than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S731.
How big does an English Setter get and how much does it weigh?
Size and adult weight of the English Setter, according to our sources: Size: large — The Royal Kennel Club S731; Adult weight: males 22–29 kg, females 22–29 kg — PDSA S732.
How much grooming does an English Setter need?
Coat and grooming of the English Setter, according to our sources: Brushing: more than once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S731; Shedding: sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S731; Coat: medium length — The Royal Kennel Club S731.
Who is the English Setter a good fit for?
Our sources describe the English Setter as a good fit for: an active family — The Royal Kennel Club S731; family life — PDSA S732; families with children — PDSA S732; homes with other pets — PDSA S732; a large house and garden — The Royal Kennel Club S731. Keep in mind: needs lots of exercise every day — The Royal Kennel Club S731; loves company — best with someone home most of the day — PetMD S733; sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S731; needs brushing several times a week — The Royal Kennel Club, PDSA S731S732.
Game rules, not veterinary advice
How PetPrep simulates it
In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.
| Life stage | Starts | Meals a day | Daily step goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy | arrives at 2 months | 4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 2 | 1,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 12,000 from month 12 |
| Young dog | month 9 | 2 | 9,000 → 12,000 steps |
| Adult | month 36 (3 years) | 2 | 12,000 steps |
| Senior | month 90 (7.5 years) | 2 | 9,000 steps |
- Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 2 hours, so 12,000 steps a day.
- Learns commands 1.2× as fast as the mixed breed of the free plan.
- Becomes a senior in month 90 (7.5 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
- Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
- Combing 3 times a week.
- Care: a bath every 6 weeks — a reminder for the parent.
- Care: a visit to the groomer every 4 weeks — a reminder for the parent.
Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, British Journal of Sports Medicine, PDSA, Wikipedia S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S45S731S732S733S734S735
Common English Setter owner mistakes
Small habits that cause bigger problems — each point comes from the sources of this breed.
- Too little daily exerciseExercise needed: more than 2 hours a day. Plan it into every day, not only at weekends. — The Royal Kennel Club S731
- Skipping coat careBrushing: more than once a week. Sheds. — The Royal Kennel Club S731
- Forgetting that the puppy is still growingAdult size reached at: about 15–18 months (guidance for its size class). Until then, plan exercise and food for a young animal that is still growing, and ask your vet what suits yours. — PetMD S10
- Overlooking the breed's known health issuesCan be prone to hip and elbow dysplasia; breeders are advised to have the parents' hips and elbows tested before breeding. Deafness in one or both ears occurs in the breed; puppies' hearing can be checked with a BAER test. Ear infections can occur because of the long ears; bacteria can build up in the ear canal. Skin allergies (atopy), which cause itching and sore skin, can occur in the breed. Eyelids that turn inwards (entropion) or outwards (ectropion) can occur in the breed; ask for eye-checked parents. An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), which can affect weight, skin and energy levels, can occur in the breed. Certain cancers can occur in the breed. — PDSA, PetMD S732S733
In PetPrep a child practises exactly these habits — steps, meals, care — before the real pet comes home.
Health
For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.
- Can be prone to hip and elbow dysplasia; breeders are advised to have the parents' hips and elbows tested before breeding. — PDSA S732
- Deafness in one or both ears occurs in the breed; puppies' hearing can be checked with a BAER test. — PetMD S733
- Ear infections can occur because of the long ears; bacteria can build up in the ear canal. — PetMD S733
- Skin allergies (atopy), which cause itching and sore skin, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S732
- Eyelids that turn inwards (entropion) or outwards (ectropion) can occur in the breed; ask for eye-checked parents. — PDSA S732
- An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), which can affect weight, skin and energy levels, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S732
- Certain cancers can occur in the breed. — PDSA S732
Before you buy: what to check with the breeder
Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.
For every breed
- See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
- The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
- Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
- Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
- National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
- Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10
Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.
Health tests of the parents for this breed
Tests the Royal Kennel Club recommends as a minimum
Further tests for best practice
These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.
Similar breeds
Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.
Sources
Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.
- S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
- S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
- S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
- S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
- S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
- S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
- S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
- S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
- S729FCI — FCI breeds nomenclature — ENGLISH SETTER (2)https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/ENGLISH-SETTER-2.html
- S730FCI — FCI-Standard N° 2 — English Setter (English PDF, 06.10.2026/EN)https://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/002g07-en.pdf
- S731The Royal Kennel Club — Breeds A to Z — English Setterhttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/gundog/english-setter/
- S732PDSA — English Setter breed informationhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/large-dogs/english-setter
- S733PetMD — Erica Vasquez, reviewed by Barri J. Morrison, DVM (updated Aug. 28, 2023) — English Setterhttps://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/english-setter
- S734VCA Animal Hospitals (LifeLearn; no author / date shown) — English Setter — dog breed pagehttps://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dog-breeds/english-setter
- S735Wikipedia — English Setterhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Setter
- K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
- K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
- K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
- K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
- K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy
PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.
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