Whats the difference between English Setters and the other Setters?
The other two breeds of Setters–Irish (the red ones that originated in Ireland) and Gordon (the black and tan ones that originated in Scotland)–are similar to English Setters in many ways, yet there are subtle differences among them. Irish Setters are described in their breed standard as “rollicking,” Gordon Setters (in their standard) as “alert,” and English Setters (in their standard) as “gentle.” In general, Irish Setters are tall and usually refined in build, Gordons are the heaviest of the three Setters, and English Setters are the smallest of the three. The English Setter is known as the moderate Setter. This applies to physical build as well as temperament.
