Llewellin Setters Breeders Blog

There is much discussion by Setter owners, and would be owners, on the topic of Setter tail carriage. In particular, how the tail will or does appear when the dog is on point.

This is of much more interest in the United States than in Europe. The reason for this is that the field trial community, especially the horse back trial enthusiasts in America, have selectively bred both Pointers and Setters over the past 100 years to be “High at both ends” meaning the dog should point its birds with the head held high and the tail at or close to vertical, the so called, “twelve o’clock”, position.

This is the appearance we have all become most accustomed to seeing in gun dog magazines and sporting artwork of more recent origin. The reason for the high tail being preferred is connected to increased visibility of the dog on point at long ranges associated with horse back trialing. (Read on …)