How to Groom an English Setter

English Setters possess one of the most unique coats of any breed. The hair on the coat is smooth and soft to the touch, and is usually straight or slightly wavy. The coats are white with speckles of blue, lemon, orange or brown. The speckling can occur all over the body in various densities. English Setters need a full grooming every 4 to 6 weeks and a general grooming once per week.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• #5F blade
• Scissors
• Slicker brush
• Steel combs
• Clippers

1. Use a #5F blade to clip the hair off the body. Card the hair until it lies flat on the body. You can also hand strip, but you may have to hire someone else to do it, as it's a highly specialized skill. Simply trim stray hairs with scissors.
2. Brush the coat regularly with a slicker brush and steel combs. Regular brushing helps keep the coat clean and healthy. When your English Setter is shedding, take extra care to brush him well. Also, check for burrs and tangles in the coat. These dogs shed an average amount of hair.
3. Bathe and/or dry shampoo when necessary. There is no set rule for how often this breed needs a bath. It's left up to your discretion, but be mindful that too much bathing can dry out the skin.
4. Brush the along the grain of the hair while drying the coat.
5. Clip the nails regularly.

Tips & Warnings

• English Setters have a life expectancy of about 10 to 12 years.
• The first English Setters, or what would pass as this breed nowadays, are descended from Sir Edward Laverack's French hunting dogs. For this reason, people sometimes call them Laverack Setters.
• English Setters are usually slim dogs, but they can gain weight easily if you overfeed them. Be sure to not let this happen.
• This breed is susceptible to hip dysplasia. The other major health concern is the high chance of false pregnancy.