Marc, you are right about not seeing a lot of English Setters, but I think they are making a comeback. When I was 15 years old (61 now) I had my first bird dog, a tri-color setter out of Ryman stock in Northern N.J. I believe. Actually had 2, brother and sister, kept outside and the 1 got to be a handfull (male) so I gave him away. Kept the female and at the time my good friend had a Vizsla and we worked these dogs all the time on pen raised quail. It didn't take long to train these dogs but you had to let them know that you were the boss. No electronic collars then. Long check ropes and commands. She turned out to be a very good dog on pheasants, wild and pen-raised, quail (wild) and woodcock. Had her for 9 years, developed cancer because I didn't have her spayed. Missed her for a long time. She turned out to be a house dog and in my opinion that is the best way to have them. You get to know their idiosyncracies and they yours.
Had another ES after than, this one ranged and had to be controlled. Hunted like no-tomarrow, but didn't care if you were there or not.
Went to Brittanies after that, out of a famous kennel in New Jersey, owner Jack Cash. Good dogs, but not the same as a setter.
Had a 20 year span no dogs and finally after I retired and for alamost 2 years going back and forth to New York to breed my friend's female, DeCoverly's Bella Sera, it finally took and she had 7 males and 1 female. Had my choice of litter and decided on a male.
Just to give you an idea of the genetics of my dog, here are a few more pictures at various months.
Max at 9 weeks, the first week I had him and the first time I threw a training dummy.
Max at 4 months on quail, you could walk all around him and he will not rush in.
So whatever breeder you get them from, just pick out a nice looking dog, even though an ugly dog hunts good, it is still ugly.
Also don't be fooled into the wing on a stick thing, none hunting dogs will flash point it also. Just a gimmick. Real birds make a dog and the more they see the better they get
