Llewellin Setter

Llewellin Setters are medium-sized dogs with athletic bodies. Their movement is effortless and energetic.

Llewellins have medium-length soft feathered coats. They come in black, white and tan; black and white; lemon and white; orange and white; liver and white; blue, lemon, orange, or liver belton; and solid white. Pups are born without any ticking or belton coloring, and develop those markings as they age.

Llewellins are known for carrying their tails high to be seen in tall grass and brush. They have moderately-sized ears and a lighter build compared to their show cousins.

The Llewellin Setter dates back to the mid-1800s, and to this day it is a subject of much debate whether the Llewellin is a specific working line of English setter, or its own breed.

The Llewellin is named for its founder, the Welsh gentleman Richard Purcell Llewellin, who sought to develop a superior hunting dog, derived from Edward Laverack’s popularized English setters. While Laverack’s lines are now most closely associated with the show or “bench” lines of the English setter we know today, Llewellin sought to create an exclusively field-style or working bird dog without any physical exaggerations. Because the Llewellin is defined by its working ability, not appearance, it is often a little smaller than the show style English Setter, with a shorter coat and smaller ears, but with greater stamina and the ability to handle warmer temperatures.

Many gundog enthusiasts describe the Llewellin as the premier quail hunting breed, and to this day, you will find show-style English setters referred to as Laveracks and working English setters as field setters or Llewellins. The reality is they are both English setters.