My blue belton Shamus was a marvel. He initiated eye contact to communicate, had a selection of facial expressions, would pull at my forearm to direct my attention. Shamus had his own group,of friends who would ask me if he could accompany them to the country. Gone for decades now but his vitality was such that he lives on still in memory.
I believe I cracked the Setter Code with our Irish setter, though it took me a good while to realize that she wasn't telling me what to do but telling me to tell HER what to do...like any good gun dog...and if that wasn't what SHE wanted to do I'd earn an even longer face in response. She remains the most engaging dog we'd ever taken into our pack.
I have always wondered why Howie was so goofy, but now I understand this is normal behavior for an English Setter. For eight years I’ve wondered what they were like, but there were hardly any videos of this magnificent dog. So much of Howie’s personality makes sense now and I am grateful to you guys for posting this video.
@@mediumeffort3315 Howie has a tricolor face but his spots are brown. He’s not a purebred, per se, but he definitely has more of a Setter fur pattern and personality. His face is pretty typical of a spaniel since his jowls aren’t as exaggerated.
@@mediumeffort3315 I never met Howie’s parents since he came from a no-kill shelter in North Carolina. Apparently his mother died not long after he and his siblings contracted parvo. He was one of only three to survive. His medical history was a major part of why I adopted him. I knew nothing about English Setters when I signed the papers. I’m quite familiar with hard-headed spaniels, though, so Howie was a breeze in comparison - easily the smartest dog I’ve ever had in my 29 years of life. And definitely the silliest!
My setter had a horrible infection and lost an eye. He lost a bunch of weight along with his coat, and wasn't eating his dry kibble. I made a bunch of chicken and rice to encourage him to eat and he recovered well. The little turd now refuses to eat regular kibble (and this is $80 a bag premium dog food). I've transitioned to making him a dog stew with various veg, organ meat, and game bird legs that I might not otherwise eat myself. I have to mix a few heaps in his kibble now. He will let plain kibble alone otherwise. I tried to call his bluff, but he completely ignored it to the point I could hear his stomach growling while he had a full bowl of food. I guess he's trained me.
Hahahahaha, the struggle is real. So I've found that splashing dry kibble with a bit of half and half is irresistible to most setters if they're being picky. Might be a cheaper and less time consuming alternative.
@@mediumeffort3315 I'll keep that in mind for when I run out between batches. I don't mind the work though. I've got friends and family that save me their game bird legs and other organ meat plus a big freezer. Then I just make a giant crockpot and portion it out in old quart containers to freeze. I love hunting with him, and this feels like we are really honoring the animals by not throwing things out. The main downside is how my house smells after making a few gallons of venison liver stew overnight.
@@mediumeffort3315 Technically a tri-color, but mostly black and white. Only brown on his jowels and feet. Yours (I assume you have or had one)? Also, his coat is soft like a puppy and he runs like the wind if you want a better idea of what goes into my dog stew.
@@jamesgabrielson473 My Mom has two setters (one that's in the video). My family got it's first English Setter from a breeder in Banks Oregon when I was six years old and my mom has had at least on of their dogs at any given time ever since. We've had the full color spectrum.
My daughter has the smaller breed Lemon Boulter English setter ,specially bred to be more agile than the standard setter... We can atest to that as she flys over the sands at high speed and then climbs the cliffs like a mountain goat, much to the astonishment of onlookers.. Try giving your dog fish ours loves it
My blue belton Shamus was a marvel. He initiated eye contact to communicate, had a selection of facial expressions, would pull at my forearm to direct my attention. Shamus had his own group,of friends who would ask me if he could accompany them to the country. Gone for decades now but his vitality was such that he lives on still in memory.
I am so glad to see my setter isn’t the only dog with a human voice.
His personality, movements - even sneezing - and voice reminds me of my Blue Belton English Setter. Best dog in the world. 😍🥰
I believe I cracked the Setter Code with our Irish setter, though it took me a good while to realize that she wasn't telling me what to do but telling me to tell HER what to do...like any good gun dog...and if that wasn't what SHE wanted to do I'd earn an even longer face in response. She remains the most engaging dog we'd ever taken into our pack.
They are absolutely the most expressive dogs!
Without a doubt.
I have always wondered why Howie was so goofy, but now I understand this is normal behavior for an English Setter. For eight years I’ve wondered what they were like, but there were hardly any videos of this magnificent dog. So much of Howie’s personality makes sense now and I am grateful to you guys for posting this video.
Most English Setters I've known have been big goofballs who will have entire conversations with you. What color pattern was Howie?
@@mediumeffort3315 Howie has a tricolor face but his spots are brown. He’s not a purebred, per se, but he definitely has more of a Setter fur pattern and personality. His face is pretty typical of a spaniel since his jowls aren’t as exaggerated.
@@mediumeffort3315 I never met Howie’s parents since he came from a no-kill shelter in North Carolina. Apparently his mother died not long after he and his siblings contracted parvo. He was one of only three to survive. His medical history was a major part of why I adopted him. I knew nothing about English Setters when I signed the papers. I’m quite familiar with hard-headed spaniels, though, so Howie was a breeze in comparison - easily the smartest dog I’ve ever had in my 29 years of life. And definitely the silliest!
Lol, "you're whining to be fed, and when we feed you, you're not gonna eat it." Epitome of my setter. Always brainstorming solutions.
@@mrcrsmith23 what’s your setter’s name?
@@mediumeffort3315 Spirit! She’s almost 4 years old - blue belton. We are out of Michigan!
Wonderful - and so typical of an English Setter!
Awwwww I love him. Please get George a GPS Pet tracker so you’ll always know where he is. ❤
Beautyfull setter
Setters are so funny!
My setter had a horrible infection and lost an eye. He lost a bunch of weight along with his coat, and wasn't eating his dry kibble. I made a bunch of chicken and rice to encourage him to eat and he recovered well.
The little turd now refuses to eat regular kibble (and this is $80 a bag premium dog food). I've transitioned to making him a dog stew with various veg, organ meat, and game bird legs that I might not otherwise eat myself. I have to mix a few heaps in his kibble now. He will let plain kibble alone otherwise. I tried to call his bluff, but he completely ignored it to the point I could hear his stomach growling while he had a full bowl of food.
I guess he's trained me.
Hahahahaha, the struggle is real. So I've found that splashing dry kibble with a bit of half and half is irresistible to most setters if they're being picky. Might be a cheaper and less time consuming alternative.
@@mediumeffort3315 I'll keep that in mind for when I run out between batches. I don't mind the work though. I've got friends and family that save me their game bird legs and other organ meat plus a big freezer. Then I just make a giant crockpot and portion it out in old quart containers to freeze.
I love hunting with him, and this feels like we are really honoring the animals by not throwing things out. The main downside is how my house smells after making a few gallons of venison liver stew overnight.
@@jamesgabrielson473 What color pattern is your English Setter?
@@mediumeffort3315 Technically a tri-color, but mostly black and white. Only brown on his jowels and feet. Yours (I assume you have or had one)?
Also, his coat is soft like a puppy and he runs like the wind if you want a better idea of what goes into my dog stew.
@@jamesgabrielson473 My Mom has two setters (one that's in the video). My family got it's first English Setter from a breeder in Banks Oregon when I was six years old and my mom has had at least on of their dogs at any given time ever since. We've had the full color spectrum.
He’s feeling his instinct to hunt and no outlet for them 🥲
He’s feeling his setter instinct to complain about not getting enough attention. They are a VERY vocal breed.
I love setter ingles
Setters are very intelligent and very muniputive dogs. Act goofy but they hold the power 😂
Exactly!
My daughter has the smaller breed Lemon Boulter English setter ,specially bred to be more agile than the standard setter... We can atest to that as she flys over the sands at high speed and then climbs the cliffs like a mountain goat, much to the astonishment of onlookers.. Try giving your dog fish ours loves it
"Lemon Belton" are still English Setters (same breed) probably smaller because she is from working lines rather than show lines.