Setter Dogs for Adoption in San Francisco, CA

Setters were bred to locate upland game birds such as quail, grouse and pheasant. Early setters crouched low, or set, when they found birds, letting hunters throw a net over the covey. When firearms became common, hunters favored dogs that held a standing point instead. Their stamina, keen nose and feathered coats all come from this purpose.

Yes, setters are often very good family dogs for active households. Most are friendly, gentle and affectionate with children and visitors, and they tend to get along with other dogs. Young setters can be bouncy enough to knock over small kids and need plenty of exercise and patient training. An adult setter with a known history around children is often an easier match.

Setters typically live about 10 to 14 years, with some variation by breed. Irish Setters often reach 12 to 15 years, while English and Gordon Setters commonly live around 10 to 13. Mixes can fall anywhere in that range. Keeping a setter lean, exercised and up to date on veterinary care, including thyroid checks, supports a longer life.

There are four recognized setter breeds: the English Setter, the Irish Setter, the Gordon Setter and the Irish Red and White Setter. The AKC places all four in the Sporting Group. Each has its own color and personality, from the speckled English Setter to the mahogany Irish Setter. Many shelter setters are also mixes of these breeds.

A setter dog is a long-legged, feather-coated bird dog that finds game by scent and freezes in a crouch or point to show hunters where birds are. Setter describes a type, covering the English, Irish, Gordon and Irish Red and White Setter breeds plus their mixes. Most are friendly, energetic and elegant, with long ears and flowing coats.

No, setters are not generally mean dogs. The setter breeds are known for friendly, gentle temperaments, and many are more likely to greet a stranger than guard against one. Like any dog, a setter may react badly when frightened, in pain or poorly socialized. A sudden change in behavior is worth a veterinary check, since discomfort often causes irritability.

Yes, setters typically have long, floppy ears and feathered tails. Their drop ears hang close to the head and are covered in silky fringe, and the tail carries a fan of longer hair called a flag. Feathering also grows on the chest, belly and backs of the legs. Those floppy ears need regular checks and cleaning to prevent infections.

Setters got their name from their original hunting style. Early bird dogs would crouch or sit, an action called setting, once they located game birds, so hunters could net the birds before they flushed. The word setter appears in English writing by the 1500s and later stuck to the dogs even after they began standing to point instead.

Most setters stand about 22 to 27 inches at the shoulder. Irish Setters are often the tallest, with males around 27 inches, while Gordon and English Setters commonly measure 23 to 27 inches and Irish Red and White Setters slightly less. Females are usually an inch or two shorter than males, and mixes can vary more widely.

An adult setter typically weighs about 35 to 80 pounds, depending on breed, sex and build. Irish Setters usually weigh around 60 to 70 pounds, Gordon Setters 45 to 80 pounds and English Setters 45 to 80 pounds, with field-bred lines often lighter. Rather than chasing a number, judge by body condition: ribs should be easy to feel.

Setters have long, silky fur because their feathered coat helped protect them while working through brush, grass and cold, wet fields. Setters shown in the ring often carry more coat than those used in the field. That feathering needs brushing a few times a week to prevent mats and remove burrs.