English Setter vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison

Both English Setter and Bull and Terrier are originated from United Kingdom. English Setter may grow 19 cm / 8 inches higher than Bull and Terrier. English Setter may weigh 58 kg / 128 pounds more than Bull and Terrier. Both English Setter and Bull and Terrier has almost same life span. Both English Setter and Bull and Terrier has almost same litter size. English Setter requires Moderate maintenance. But Bull and Terrier requires Low maintenance

History

History

english setter - historyThe English Setter seems to have been a hunting dog in England as far back as the 15th century. These dogs were known to be ‘setter types’ – hunting dogs that ‘set dogges’ – to set or point at game birds. It is believed that the English Setter is a cross of the Water Spaniel, Spanish Pointer and English Springer Spaniel. In the late 1500’s Sr. Johannes Caius, a sportsman, announced to his friends that there was a new dog our of France for hunting. He then describes an English Setter.

Then in the early 1800’s Rev. Harrison of Carlise sold a couple of setters to Mr. Laverack. This pair is the foundation for the breed of English Setters. Without really knowing, Laverack claimed that this line he was breeding from had been pure for 35 previous years. He inbred his male and female for many years and did well in confirmation and field trials.

Then in 1874 the first English Setters were imported to the US from this Laverack line. Mr. Llewellin then crossed the best dogs in the Laverack line with his dogs and eventually produced winning champions Armstrong Dash II and Dashing Bondhu. This led to the “Dashing Bondhu” or the Llewellin line of English Setters. This is why the English Setter is sometimes referred to as the Llewelllin or Laverack Setter.

The setter group to which the English setter belongs includes the Irish Setter, the Gordon Setters and the Irish Red and White Setter. The English Setter, as well as the others, were bred to hunt birds such as pheasant and quail. It was the job of the setter to find the prey and point it out to the hunter after it had been shot. They were also used to flush the birds from the brush so that the hunter could then release hawks to take down the prey. The English Setter is methodical and systemic in their approach.

By the 1600’s this working dog had become the breed of the landed gentry and shooting game was their pastime. These nobles did not use hawks to capture the prey but rather shot them after the English Setter flushed them out. The English Setter is very popular today both as a hunting dog and as a family pet. The English Setter is bred for athleticism and endurance. The have both AKC and UKC certification.

The Bull and Terrier is a blend between a number of Old English Terriers and the Old English Bulldog. It is believed that this extinct dog was the start of breeds such as the American Pit Bull Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

They were excellent for hunting rats and weren’t a true breed. The dog was popular in the British Isles and in the United States in the 19th Century. They became rare as different varieties of Bull and Terrier were bred and standardized.

Most terriers have a good deal of Old English Bulldog blood in them so as to provide them with the courage to fight and hunt prey, while the English Terrier blood provided a feisty temperament and longer legs for speed.

Around 1860, the Bull and Terrier breed split into 2 categories – the pure white Bull Terrier and the ones of color. The Bull and Terrier was never recognized as a standardized breed by any of the kennel clubs.

Description

english setter puppy - descriptionThe English Setter is very much a setter in his looks. He is medium in size and was bred to hunt by following airborne prey over a large expanse of ground. He has to have both speed and stamina. He also has to run with his head up watching the prey in the air.

He has a slight dome shaped head and a long muzzle with dark, gentle eyes. The ears have their tips lined up with the eyes, the neck is long and muscular. He shows powerful hindquarters and a fairly long tail.

The coat length is medium and silk. The ears, chest, neck and legs are feathered, as is the tail. The hunting version has a shorter, finer coat than the show dog. The show dogs’ coats are flowing and long. Both types have a white coat with Belton or ticking. The Belton can be black, orange, lemon, liver and the tricolor. This is the liver or blue Belton but there are tan markings on the legs, chest, and face. It was Laverack who named the ticking Belton after a village in England.

There isn’t too much detail and information on the Bull and Terrier but we can be sure that with the cross between the Old English Bulldog and the Old English Terrier, he would have been a small to medium sized compact, muscular dog, standing roughly between 38cm to 50cm in height and weighing anything in the region of 11 to 22kg.

He would have had a big head, and most of the dogs had a medium to long tail. His coat was of many colors such as white, fawn, tan or brindle and would have been short and smooth.

As far as temperament goes, the Bull and Terrier would certainly be courageous, feisty, independent, strong and energetic. Socialization wasn’t available in those days but with training, this intelligent breed would be affectionate with his human family.

Characteristics

english setter dog - characteristicsThe AKC standard for the English Setter breed describes him as a “Gentleman by Nature” and that might be all you need to know about this delightful dog. They are people-oriented and settle right down with their families if they get enough exercise. With proper stimulation they become couch potatoes when you bring them in at night.

They are very friendly with everyone but are especially happy when playing with children. You can trust them with your other pets, children of all ages and anyone coming to your front door. They are not guard dogs. However, they can have a stubborn streak, they can be strong-willed. This is especially true the more working than show stock they are. In addition, they are intelligent, calm and quiet in the house.

Nobody seems to be 100% sure when the classic Bull and Terrier dog became extinct but it is strongly assumed that it was some time between 1890 and 1920.

People believe that there are actually surviving breeds that could be considered Bull and Terriers. One thing is sure, when you consider that the Bull and Terrier is actually made up of several breeds such as the Bull Terrier, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Boston Terrier and American Pit Bull Terrier then you can imagine the character of the dog – brave, hardy, intelligent, feisty, bold, confident and fearless. He was a dog who loved his human family and would have been both friend and protector.

These dogs have been popular around the world, and have had a strong influence in the development of a number of other breeds. Even today, breeders are always looking at ways to develop new breeds based on the descendants of the Bull and Terrier.

Health Problems

english setter puppies - health problemsEnglish Setters, like many other breeds that have a base white coat, can be affected by congenital deafness. A test done by LSU in 2010 showed the 12.4% of the dogs they tested were affected by this. They are also prone to:

  1. Allergies
  2. Both Airborne and food allergies can plaque the English Setter
  3. Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism

Most of this is caused by autoimmune thyroiditis or a condition where the immune system attacks its own thyroid gland.

Cancer

The primary cause of death after ten years old

The Bull and Terrier was no doubt a robust breed with few health issues. However his owners of that time would have had to be aware of eye diseases such as cataracts that could have lead to blindness.

Other health issues they would have had to contend with would have been hip and elbow dysplasia, a disease which can cause lameness in a dog accompanied with pain. Because the Bull and terrier was mixed with the English Bulldog, the dog owners would have had to be aware of respiratory health problems, as the Bull dog is a breed that is susceptible to these problems.

Caring The Pet

Feeding

english setter dogs - caringThe English Setter is a hard working dog and should be fed accordingly. Puppies should be fed three times a day and adults twice to avoid bloat. Watch your English Spaniel though as they love to counter surf.

Health issues

In addition to the conditions listed above the English Setter is prone to:

Bloat

Caused by excessive exercise before or after having eaten a large meal. It is suggested that you feed your English Setter twice a day, smaller meals and not right before or after strenuous exercise.

Ear

Keep her ears clean and check regularly for infections.

Exercise and games

The English Spaniel needs exercise on a routine basis – every day walks are best along with some time to just run either in a fenced yard or dog park. Take her jogging, running alongside your bike, hiking or just long walks. They do well with lure coursing, agility, confirmation, obedience and rally.

Grooming:

Long ago the Bull and Terrier was developed to be a hunting dog, and because he was a blend of the English Bulldog and Terriers such as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and English Terrier, he no doubt had a short coat that would have required being brushed down from time to time.

Diet:

The Bull and Terrier dog was bred for hunting, and he would have in all likelihood have caught some of his own food. He would therefore have got a lot of protein in. His owners would also have fed him some of their own food too which would have been eggs, home-made bread, rice, fresh vegetables and meat.

He would have had a good quota of raw meat in his diet too and this would have ensured that his coat was shiny and glossy, free of rashes. Dogs such as the Bull and Terrier wouldn’t have eaten commercially produced kibble as that was only introduced in the 1930s.

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Terrier dog
Origin:
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Height Male:
61 - 69 cm
24 - 28 inches
38 - 50 cm
14 - 20 inches
Height Female:
58 - 66 cm
22 - 26 inches
36 - 50 cm
14 - 20 inches
Weight Male:
55 - 80 kg
121 - 177 pounds
11 - 22 kg
24 - 49 pounds
Weight Female:
45 - 70 kg
99 - 155 pounds
9 - 22 kg
19 - 49 pounds
Life Span:
11 - 15 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 8
1 - 9
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Laverack Setter • Lawerack • Laverack
Bull & Terrier, Pit Bull Terrier
Colors Available:
orange, lemon, or brown of various markings. Freckles/flecking, blue
White, fawn, tan or brindle
Coat:
flat and silky
Short and smooth
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Cheerful, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Loving, Playful, Quiet, Social, Stubborn, Sweet
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. English Springer Spaniel vs English Setter - Breed Comparison
  2. English Setter vs American Cocker Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  3. English Setter vs Brittany - Breed Comparison
  4. English Setter vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  5. English Setter vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  6. English Setter vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  7. English Setter vs Barbet - Breed Comparison
  8. English Setter vs Ariege Pointer - Breed Comparison
  9. English Setter vs Blue Picardy Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  10. English Setter vs Canadian Pointer - Breed Comparison
  11. English Setter vs Deutsch Drahthaar - Breed Comparison
  12. English Setter vs Clumber Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  13. English Setter vs Braque du Bourbonnais - Breed Comparison
  14. English Setter vs Cesky Fousek - Breed Comparison
  15. English Setter vs Drentse Patrijshond - Breed Comparison
  16. French Brittany vs English Setter - Breed Comparison
  17. Pudelpointer vs English Setter - Breed Comparison
  18. Picardy Spaniel vs English Setter - Breed Comparison
  19. Pont-Audemer Spaniel vs English Setter - Breed Comparison
  20. Irish Water Spaniel vs English Setter - Breed Comparison
  21. Stabyhoun vs English Setter - Breed Comparison
  22. Styrian Coarse Haired Hound vs English Setter - Breed Comparison
  23. Vizsla vs English Setter - Breed Comparison
  24. Large Munsterlander vs English Setter - Breed Comparison
  25. Tyrolean Hound vs English Setter - Breed Comparison
  26. Schnauzer vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  27. Fox Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  28. Bull and Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  29. Bull and Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  30. Bull and Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Bull and Terrier vs Bedlington Terrier - Breed Comparison
  32. Bull and Terrier vs Austrian Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  33. Bull and Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Bull and Terrier vs Blue Paul Terrier - Breed Comparison
  35. Irish Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  36. Fox Terrier (Smooth) vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  37. Kerry Blue Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  38. Lakeland Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  39. Jagdterrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  40. Indian Bull Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  41. Irish Bull Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  42. Japanese Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  43. Brazilian Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  44. Old English Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  45. Scoland Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Skye Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  47. Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  48. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  49. Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  50. Welsh Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds