The English Setter is an intensely friendly and good-natured
breed of dog whose mellow temperament makes it an excellent family pet.
The English Setter is one of the oldest breeds of gun dog, with a history
that traces back to the 14th century. It was developed over hundreds of
years from spaniel stock. It was originally called a Setting Spaniel, used
for finding and "setting" birds. Before the use of firearms became
widespread (19th century), hunters used nets to ensnare game birds. They
would spread a large net over a wide area, including the dog. When the
hunter made a loud noise to cause the birds to fly, they would be caught in
the net and easily harvested. The Setting Spaniel, and later the Setter,
crouched down on its front legs as though bowing to indicate the presence
and location of birds. This unique stance, which facilitated the use of the
net, is where the Setter got its name. Later, when guns began to be used in
hunting, a more upright, pointing stance was bred into the Setter so he
could be more easily seen (and not accidentally shot!).
Today, Setters use a variety of stances to indicate the presence and
location of birds, including standing still and leaning forward intensely,
setting, or pointing.
www.esaa.com/breedfaq.html
