Setter owners, some advice

Get a field bred for sure, no question. Several good FB groups for Setters and Field Trialing and Hunting.

My current young Setter in ND
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Awesome, thank you. Do you have any breeders you’d recommend?
Alex Mauck, Talmadge Smedley, Brett gorash (sp), Robertson Kennels, Bruce Sooter, Phil Bowden, Long hollow bird dogs for white dogs. If you want a Gordon, tall grass kennels, Clear cut kennels for starters.
 
We had a GSP growing up, he was very good with kids but his energy was out of this world. He never mellowed out, up until the day he passed. I do love them, but I like hearing the good experiences people have had with setters in the home
we had gsp (my uncle) and britannies (ours) all our life at the farm in france. the granda of my wife had setters (the english kind ) and they were never with the family (cant explain how come) and they had always one idea in mind is to escape the kennel and go after the chicken in the neighbourood which of course show a great prey drive ... now we are griffon but the most important is to find the breeder that will fit your hunting and lifestyle.
 
Hey everyone. Im looking to get my first bird dog, and I’ve pretty much settled on an English Setter. From my research, they seem to be a good blend of hunting ability and having an off switch in the house. I have little kids at home, so the dog being well mannered around kids is very important for me.



I live in CA and 90 percent of the time I hunt chukar and quail. Right now I’m trying to navigate the process of selecting a breeder, and a lot of them seem to breed for grouse and woodcock in the Midwest, which is something I may not ever do. Does anyone have any experience hunting “western” birds with dogs from these breeders? Or can anyone provide any insight or experience on selecting between a Ryman type, Llewellin, or field bred setters? I appreciate all the advice
Here is an add from the most recent Pointing Dog Journal. I believe this is an Idaho breeder.

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We hunt a lot of Chukar, and I love the high white tail and their ability to chill or kill depending on the situation. Unfortunately lost mine, but would absolutely get another setter. If you live in PNW a couple of guys at work here are guides and breed. Just DM me if you have any interest in learning more.
 

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Alex Mauck, Talmadge Smedley, Brett gorash (sp), Robertson Kennels, Bruce Sooter, Phil Bowden, Long hollow bird dogs for white dogs. If you want a Gordon, tall grass kennels, Clear cut kennels for starters.

I know Mauck, and Long Hollow are top notch.


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Setters are great. Well-bred field setters are great on all kinds of birds, should hunt to the cover naturally without training as long as you take 'em for walks as a puppy, should have a built-in light switch for indoors and will undoubtedly be one of the best dogs you've ever owned.

A few breeders in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nor Cal and Utah are where I'd start. Field-bred all the way if you are looking for easy.
 
“Ryman-type” is a bit of a crap shoot that is supposed to be the older conformation. Many of them are not what I would call hunting dogs, but some are. Imo may take more vetting of the breeder to make sure you are getting what you want. Many are also very sensitive dogs that require a very light touch in training. In general they are bigger dogs, not as fast, not as high drive compared to any dog bred out of any of the trial circuits east or west. But there are definitely exceptions, just do your homework.

Many of the midwest/eastern breeders run in coverdog trials. Different format than aa field trials, but those are hot dogs with a lot of drive and are NOT “close range” dogs. Get those dogs in the open and they’ll run as big as you let them.
 
“Ryman-type” is a bit of a crap shoot that is supposed to be the older conformation. Many of them are not what I would call hunting dogs, but some are. Imo may take more vetting of the breeder to make sure you are getting what you want. Many are also very sensitive dogs that require a very light touch in training. In general they are bigger dogs, not as fast, not as high drive compared to any dog bred out of any of the trial circuits east or west. But there are definitely exceptions, just do your homework.

Many of the midwest/eastern breeders run in coverdog trials. Different format than aa field trials, but those are hot dogs with a lot of drive and are NOT “close range” dogs. Get those dogs in the open and they’ll run as big as you let them.
I wouldn’t buy a Ryman or any show lined dog.

Dogs with FT wins and that compete are about the only true test unless you have hunted over the parents. Everyone has the best dog ever, just ask them lol..
 
@WRO I’ve hunted over a handful of nice dogs that were billed as rymans. Mostly what I’ve seen is not my speed, but imo they’re out there IF you do a LOT of research. But of course, setter people being the single most opinionated group of dog people Ive been around, any given setter guy may or may not agree with that, but thats my opinion having hunted with several dogs each ranging from all age pointers and setters, to good coverdog bred ones, to what seemed like the worst slugs out there from show lines. But in general I dont disagree with you at all, your post is simply a more blunt way of saying more or less exactly what I meant.
 
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