Setter Breeds Rescue & Adoption FAQ Answered

Interview with Peter M. Gigliotti, Chair, Communications Team, Above & Beyond English Setter Rescue

In addition to articles that describe a dog breed based on research, in this case Setters, I wanted to share insider and breed expert knowledge with you. I hope that this interview will help answer your every question about what life with a Setter would be like so that you can make an educated decision about whether this breed would be a match for you and your lifestyle. The following is a summary of our conversation about the breed and breed rescue for Setters; it is a combination of direct quotes and my best attempt to paraphrase based on my interpretation of sentiment.

If after reading this and our informative article about the breed, you would like to learn more and possibly adopt an English Setter or Setter mix from rescue, then I encourage you to contact Above & Beyond English Setter Rescue directly.

Systematizing Setter Rescue

Above & Beyond English Setter Rescue celebrated its twentieth anniversary in 2024 and reached a milestone of rescuing over 3500 dogs since their inception. They take in pure and setter mixes from a combination of shelters, feral street dogs, many of whom are international, and some released setters who didn’t cut take to hunting. Although they started small, they have grown to having volunteer fosters and coordinators nationwide, like Pete, who believe it is “important for [them] to support the dog breed, to give them the home that [they] think they deserve” and “bring them back to [the] life that they should be living”.

New to board, Pete “takes a great deal of pride” that the group has a “process [that’s] very efficient” as he describes it, “rescue, foster, adopt“. After the initial intake, the process continues:
Step 2: A volunteer foster evaluates and works with the dog until s/he deems the dog to be ready. Some of the prep may be medical care that can include the basics like spay and neuter for the welfare of the animal population at large.
Step 3: People fill out an application with questions about lifestyle and dogs had before (applicants are often times repeat adopters who know the breed too or who have had similar sporting dogs).
Step 4: The board reviews the application
Step 5: If the applicant is a “yes”, a buddy is appointed to help transport the dog to its new hopefully “safe and loving forever home” that is an appropriate match for the breed and lets the dog “become the dog [it] should be”.

Know Your Breed

Pete and his wife have had a number of different setters over the decades since it is the “breed closest to [his] heart”. Prior to having children, they had shown some of their setters. They had different setters including Irish, Gordon and English all of whom Pete describes as loving, cuddlers that stick with you through thick and thin.

As I write in just about all of my breed specific articles, it is important to know your breed, especially if you are going to get a pedigree dog because it will have physical and behavioral traits that are fairly consistent and predictable. Pete, like the other breed experts I have interviewed, also advised getting to know your breed prior to adoption. He suggested going to dog shows like he and his wife did. A “dog is not a trinket” he pointed out, its “someone who is going to be around for a long time.” For that reason it is important to “find a dog whose lifestyle, personality, and exercise [needs] fit with you” and your lifestyle. He suggests that potential adopters “look at the breed and talk to people who have it” and then ask yourself ‘is this dog/ lifestyle that I want to live with for the next 15-16-18 years”. And in addition to personality and energy level match, we also discussed how important it is to understand the financial commitment and be prepared. I certainly know first hand how expensive veterinary care can be, especially emergency as Lovie’s care during his last five years totaled more than a year’s salary for most, but he was so worth it.

Tips for Travelling With A Setter

As an advocate for pet-friendly living, I like to ask the breed experts if they have any special travel tips specific to the breed. Pete suggested stopping a lot of times to give your setter a chance to exercise. He went on to explain that it’s “like travelling with a child: how many miles where you could stop and give them a break”. This is why I like to point out pet friendly businesses in a cluster: places to stay, eat, and play all nearby each other. I am a fan of identifying dog-friendly parks in advance which is why I created and posted so many video reviews. But if you cannot find a good park or fenced area, Pete cautions to at least find a place that is not too close to the road where they could get killed. He also suggested throwing blankets in the back so they can have something familiar. Although I am a fan of crates for freeway and highway travel, Pete prefers seatbelt harnesses and using crates at night for sleeping in a familiar “safe place”.

Dog-Friendly Dining Out With Your Setter

Unlike many pet owners who seek out pet-friendly restaurants, when I asked Pete to share some pet-friendly dining with setters tips he declared “that’s a difficult one” since and his wife don’t make a habit of taking their dogs out to eat. He appeared to be concerned about if the dog would obey commands and not get in the way, but even though he “feels [that it’s] intrusive to everyone else” he understands that it is ultimately a “personal decision” if the owner really believed that their dog was prepared properly to handle the situation without jumping or barking or other behavior that indicate poor training and socialization. In my opinion, Lovie was better behaved then many children we encountered while dining outdoors at numerous pet-friendly restaurants.

Common Misconception

(Quoted from Written Response)

I think most people who are interested in the breed know what to expect. One possible misconception is that Setters are high strung dogs. The truth is they are playful, energetic and loving.

Pete’s One Wish

(Quoted from Written Response)

If I had one wish it would be that we would have enough safe and loving homes to rescue all deserving dogs.