Alice White
Perhaps, of all the varieties of the setter, this exquisite Englishman has long taken the palm for himself, because he combines excellent hunting qualities, spectacular appearance, and a good disposition. The ancestors of the English setter were bred at the beginning of the 16th century in France as a result of the crossing of French and Spanish pointers, and at the beginning of the 19th century, these dogs were introduced to England. Many breeders tried to develop the type of the ideal hunting setter, but only Edward Laverack managed to do this, who for 35 years literally created the breed bit by bit and as a result, through careful selection (with the participation of the water spaniel and the springer spaniel), he obtained the canine perfection itself. For a long time, the breed was called in his honor – “Laverak” or “Laverack – Setter” (by the way, this name is still used). On January 28, 1859, in the English city of Newcastle-Apon-Tyne, the first exhibition of English setters was held – this day is considered by fans of the breed to be its birthday. Since the end of the XIX century.
Laverack began a journey around the world: it was introduced to the United States and some European countries but gained the greatest popularity where, in fact, its history began – in France. In Russia, where breeders continued to improve their appearance and improve hunting qualities, the first representative of this breed came in 1880. In addition, in our country, the English Setter became famous, playing the main role in the film “White Bim Black Ear”. Laverack Setter is the owner of a noble and elegant appearance. This dog is graceful and confident, as evidenced by its smooth and free movements and high head. His height at the withers ranges from 61 to 68 cm, weight – 12-18 kg. The English setter has a lot of external advantages: expressive dark eyes, drooping low-set ears covered with smooth silky hair, a saber-shaped tail with an original woolen dewlap, an interesting color. Laveracks are most often two-colored (for example, black and white or reddish-white) or tricolor, but for any color, small specks are required (large spots and solid color are not desirable). The long, thick coat of this hardworking creature must be combed out and cleaned regularly (especially after a rough hunt) so that it does not get tangled and always looks well-groomed. This hardy dog with great instinct can hunt even in swampy areas. He is a tireless explorer and an agile bloodhound. When hunting, it is characterized by a creeping gallop with smooth, almost catlike movements, and various stances (seated, recumbent, and semi-recumbent), with which it shows the owner to the location of the game. This sociable and energetic creature feels great at home, in a cozy family environment. He is very attached to his master and his entire family and he needs constant emotional contact with his household. This dog is very affectionate and friendly by nature: even with your guests, who came to you for the first time, he will behave as with bosom friends – he will play with them with pleasure and lick them. Laverack does not accept a harsh communication style, so during training, do not raise your voice to him, but act gently and patiently. This creature is very fond of digging the ground, and if you live in a country house, be prepared for the fact that he will regularly and with pleasure devote time to this hobby. The English Setter loves to travel, and you can take him with you even on long trips, but be careful – if you are distracted, he can steal something tasty from your neighbors’ bag, because he has an excellent scent (as well as appetite) …
