About Our English Setter Rescue
About English Setters
The English Setter breed originated from the joining of the French & Spanish Pointer in the 1600‘s. The Water Spaniel and Springer Spaniel were added to the mix to create one of the oldest gun dog breeds and one of the first breeds to be recognized by the AKC.
The English Setter we know today are known as “Bench” Setters, used in the show ring, and Field Bred Setters, who are more proficient in the field.
Setters get their name from their distinctive stance; a sort of crouch or set upon finding their quarry. Once they catch the scent, they go “on point” and do not move until the hunter releases them.
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The English setter is a gentle, friendly, placid dog that is especially good with children. He is mild-mannered and sensitive, and loves to both give and receive affection. He does not respond well when spoken to or handled in a harsh manner. He is more likely to do the opposite of what you demand of him, if handled this way.
These dogs are known to be alert and protective of their families and territories but will calm down quickly when told to.
English setters are very sociable dogs. They enjoy being with both people and other dogs. They do not do well isolated.
They are very active as puppies, but are known to mellow out considerably when they fully mature.
Setters need plenty of physical and mental exercise. If not exercised enough they can revert to destructive behavior in the house and become difficult to manage.
English Setters can live with cats, birds, and other dogs especially if they are raised together. Introducing an adult Setter with a high prey drive can be a challenge, but usually one good swipe from the cat, and he’s good to go. Introductions to other dogs are not a problem if done correctly.
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Life Span: 10-12 years
Group: Gun Dog, Sporting Dog (AKC)
Recognized By: CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR
Color: White with overlay markings in the following colors: Orange, Blue, Liver, Lemon, Tricolor (Blue/Tan/White).
Hair Length: Medium
Size: Large
Shedding: Moderate Shed
Male Height: 24-27 in (61-69 cm)
Male Weight: 55-80 lbs (25-36 kg)
Female Height: 23-26 in (58-66 cm)
Female Weight: 40-70 lbs (20-32 kg)
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The English Setter can be affected by a number of health problems, including:
Hip Dysplasia (common in larger breeds of dog; avoid strenuous exercise early in life and see a veterinarian regularly)
Elbow Dysplasia
Hypothyroidism
Congenital deafness (puppies can be tested for this at about five weeks of age)
In addition, all members of the breed are susceptible to certain cancers and skin diseases. Most of these ailments are genetic, and selecting an English Setter puppy carefully from reliable breeders (or another reliable source) will sharply minimize the risk for your dog.
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The English Setter needs inspection at least once a week to check for matting behind the ears or along any feathering he may have. Followed by a good brushing. This is a good time to check for ticks and possible fleas, as well.
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You and your English Setter will benefit from at least, the basic commands. The “Recall” is the most important command you can teach your dog. You could save his life someday by being able to call him to you immediately. The English Setter only wants to please you and is very receptive to positive reinforcement. Any other type of training method used, and you will have a disobedient dog. Setters are very sensitive, especially to any kind of harsh handling or harsh voice commands. They will stop wanting to please, if handled this way.
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A tired Setter is a happy Setter! They do require active exercise – their age dictates as to how much. As a setter matures they can get by with less, as opposed to a puppy who needs time to expend all the pent up energy. He can be become destructive if not getting enough exercise.
Join us
VOLUNTEER
We depend on volunteers to help our setters find their perfect forever home.
FOSTER A DOG
We always need approved foster homes to help when we get notice of a dog in need.
ADOPT A DOG
Setters that are part of our rescue deserve a good home. We find the best matches.
Our Pack
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Intake Coordinator
Denise found her first Setter about 20 years ago, in horrific condition along a country roadside, and brought her home. Denise has opened her doors to incoming OESR dogs that needed immediate help, a shelter from the storm. She soon began screening applications, and found she had a knack for matching the right dog with the right people, Denise is now our Intake/Petfinder Coordinator, and is also on our Board of Directors. She enjoys cooking, good friends, and one day hopes to build her own tiny house.
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Treasurer
I am employed by a Restoration Company as a Controller; I have been doing accounting for forty years. I am married to Ed, who is a Marine, and we have five fur babies.
One day I was watching Dogs 101 and they were featuring English Setters. I didn’t know anything about them, but immediately fell in love with the breed. In 2016, I researched English Setter rescues near Marietta, and there was a center near my home. Happily, enough they had my sweet Earl for adoption. I immediately put in an application for him, and he came home a week later.
I began doing transport and really loved being a part of that. I was approached about joining the board in 2023 and happily decided it was a great fit. I’m very excited to continue to save Setters and very eager to make a difference in these fur babies lives.
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Application Coordinator
Carla has always been a dog girl but got her first English Setter in 2006. A 2 year old named Andria, adopted from Aces. Teal came along in 2020 and was adopted from OESR. Carla and Paul drove to Western Illinois to meet up with Teal and her foster during the pandemic. Truly love at first sight! Carla began volunteering in 2022 helping with application screening, transports, and emergency short term fostering or overnighting setters waiting on transportation. Carla is married to Paul and since retiring from nursing has all the time for her grands and dogs! Carla was excited to join the board in 2025 and is learning much! Personal goal is to foster and to help people be matched with their dog. Also passionate about strength training for my old lady body. This helps carry more dogs!
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Secretary
Mary Helen’s childhood love was an Irish Setter named Erin. Setters will always have a special place in her heart.
In the mid 1990s, Mary Helen began volunteering at her local animal shelter. When she re-located from VA to KY, she began volunteering to meet more animal lovers in her new community. She and her husband, Kirk, fostered their first English Setters for Another Chance For English Setters (ACES). Over the years, many fosters came from that rural KY shelter, but they never adopted a setter of their own.
In 2020, Mary Helen adopted Wembley from OESR. He has renewed her obsession with setters. Since then, Mary Helen has conducted screening interviews and virtual home visits with applicants, been a driver for transport, been a foster mom, and has helped with social media posting on Facebook and Instagram.
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Placement Coordinator
Ashley grew up with a setter in the family and loved to go pheasant hunting with her dad. When Ashley got married, she and her husband rescued their first setter, Ruger, from a local shelter. As their family continues to grow, Ruger is best buds with his little humans. Ashley loves screening applicants and being a part of helping setters find their furever home. She also plans on fostering in the near future.
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President / Transport Coordinator
Kirk was first introduced to English Setters while he was the President of the Mayfield/Graves County Animal Shelter in Mayfield, KY. He and his wife, Mary Helen, fostered several English Setters that were left at the shelter. While timing was never right for them to adopt one of those fosters, they always knew they would eventually adopt one. They found OESR when the timing was right and were fortunate to be matched with Wembley. Kirk joined the OESR team as a Transport Coordinator in early 2021, and is now also helping with IT support. He and Wembley, along with the rest of the Taylor Pack, enjoy life in the Virginia mountains, just outside of Roanoke.
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Foster Liaison
Taylor grew up surrounded by Gordon Setters and Irish Red and White Setters, developing a deep passion for the breed from an early age. After falling in love with English Setters through close family friends, she found her way to OESR and fostered three dogs in 2019 and 2020 — ultimately foster failing on her soul dog, Ember. Over the years she has helped dogs get one step closer to their forever home, by completing transports, shelter pulls, and home visits. Taylor and her husband have since welcomed Charlie, another OESR alumnus, into their home. She works at William & Mary and enjoys long walks with Charlie, traveling, and reading (preferably on the beach). She believes setter people are the best people!
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Medical Coordinator
Amy has worked in the veterinary field for 15+ years and has met various setters at work during that time. After falling in love with her rescued Cocker Spaniels and seeing some setters in action, she decided a setter would be a great addition to the family! Amy foster failed Leeloo, an English Pointer (oops!), from OESR in 2018 and started volunteering in 2019. She shares her home with her husband, Klyde the Great Dane, Anja and Cinder the Cocker Spaniels and Flutter the Cocker/Cavalier mix. In her free time, Amy enjoys running/working out, gardening and traveling.
Your donations change setters’ lives
GENERAL DONATION
Every dollar you donate helps us save English Setter dogs in need.
SPONSOR A DOG
Sponsorship of special cases ensures high risk dogs get the medical care they need.
Thank you to our partners
OESR is a member of the following important programs that help us raise funding to help Setters in need. Please take time to review them and use whenever you can! Thank you!
You can learn about our partners by clicking on their logos.
Code: ourenglishsetterrescue10
Join our pack.
Fill out the form or email us to get in touch. Connect with us on social media to see the latest on our dogs ready for adoption, in the foster program, or coming soon. We are always looking for more volunteers and people who love setters like we do.