Common English Setter in History

The English Setter is noted to have existed as early as the 14th century and obviously started out as a “Hunting dog in utility". Since this early time, the evolution of the English Setter has not presented any major change as the bloodlines have been kept pure by many of Great Noble Men and other breeders of England. This strongly suggest that certain qualities, traits, and other attributes have earned the English Setter breed a right to continuation in its original form; it has thrived and migrated to a worldwide know breed and has earned its place in society, in both history and modern day!

Early on, the hunting society took notice of the English setter as a matter of necessity and sport and the breed soon became one of many canines of prestige in the Gentlemen status. Naturally the owners and breeders took pride in their English Setter stock, but some bloodlines stood out among others and were used in breeding as to better the bloodlines. These particular group owners maintained a certain standard and integrity in the breeding’s as to preserve the purity of their particular bloodline, seeking only to better perfect, within the perfection of the English Setter! These Gentlemen were craftsman in their trade, particular and selective in their breeding, recognizing certain traits and better genetic qualities, while holding certain goals in mind, all while maintaining a pure of bloodline as to achieve the ultimate bird dog...The Noble, Arrogant, and Prideful English Setter!

Although there were many centuries and of Noble owners and breeders who kept the English Setter bloodlines pure, there are only a hand full that is notably recognized for their efforts and contributions. For the Field Dog breed of the English Setter, over a century of fate and fame seems to have solely rest in the hands and the intentional acts of two men: Edward Laverack and R. Purcell Llewellin! These two men, living a generation apart and sharing the same era, handed down their legacy; some of England's finest English Setter champion bloodlines of the 1800-1920s,.... a bloodline of English Setters who's legacy has continued pure, and are still sought out by hunters worldwide to this day!

To mention the Llewellin setter is to pay respect and accredit Mr. E. Laverack for his efforts and pure bloods. The Laverack were "and are" of equal , if not of more importance, in the Llewellin History books, in the UK Kennel club's history books, as well as the history book of the pure bloods of the English Setters! This will be obvious and explained as you read and come to understand my short summary of the two men and the role they played.

Mr. Edward E Laverack was born in 1800 and was an avid sportsman and hunter in his early and able years. In his book ("The Setter", E. Laverack-1872) he admits to traveling across England, Ireland and Scotland, hunting over many breeds of bird dogs, most being of the English Setter bloodlines and breed.

Around the age of 25 (1825), Mr. Laverack documents that he had obtained his first brace of English Setter pure bloods (blue belton strain) from "Rev. A. Harrision's". Obviously, these pure bloods would have originating much earlier than 1825 representing a deeper history into the English Setter pure blood heritage. However, such earlier documentation is not readily available as to offer any insights or proofs of the earlier events. Such can be speculated with certainty however, that Mr. Harrision's pure blood could be trace back to at least 1800 or earlier times (perhaps even) in the mid to late 1700s.

While Edward Laverack's was not the only English Setter pure blood owner and breeder of his time, nor the only available bloodline through out the UK, his setters were sought out by many English Gentleman and breeders from the beginning. In fact, Mr. Laverack was so well known for his breed and pure bloodline that a majority of the other English Setters owners (at least those that competed in the UKC trials), their setters were direct or related descendants from Edward Laveracks's stock and pedigrees. It is very likely that this was due to Mr. Laverack's English Setters pureness of blood, quality and performance.

In addition to all the above and up to this point, is the fail to mention the many competition successes in which the Laverack is and should be accredited! While Mr. Laverack may not have won all of competitions directly, other owners who purchased from Mr. Laveracks Stock of setters are noted with wins which indicates Laveracks's superior bloods lines and strains. As proofs of these claims, one only needs to look into the UKC publishing “The Dog Show and Field Book,  Kennel Club calendar and studbook (1874 and earlier versions)”as to attest to such.

Sadly there comes a time when we all must retire our trade and passions and so came this moment for Mr. E. Laverack as he neared his elder years. In his own realizations, he would have heavily considered the transferred his brace of Laverack Setters to another estate as to ensure the pure Laverack Setter bloodline' and strains continuation. Of course the estate would need to be of a Notable and Worthy breeder as to honor his Legacy and Standards; his lifelong passion, love and devotion of his pure blood English Setters! The person in his eyes, would have been reputable in the breeding circuit, capable of maintaining such additions, as well as liken to his own Laverack standards and breeding practices. Such qualifications suggest none other than his acquaintance with none other than..
Mr. R. Purcell Llewellin!

It is unknown exactly how many English Setters were owned by Mr. Laverack and Transferred to Mr. Llewellin.

RP. Purcell Llewellin

Mr. R.P Llewellin was a respectable owner and breeder in the UK English Setter circuit having many English Setters that competed and took prize and/or wins in the kennel club field trials. However it would be at a later time that his success and fame came to be recognized on a worldwide scale!

Mr. Llewellin had built his reputation on his own and many of his Setter victories in competition (of 1874) were equally shared with the sum of other contestants wins and awards. This was not accidental nor desired as Mr. Llewellin goal was to breed the Ultimate English Setter while maintaining the English Setter bloodlines. In such efforts he often crossed many of his pure blood lines in attempts to reach his goals.

In mention of Mr. Llewellins goals, one must consider the English Setters common qualities in contrast to his ideals commonly held for the English Setter. Mr. Llewellin realized that these current standards for the English Setter were not ideal for the Field Dog hunting settings (in performance and standards). The English Setter faced a few obstacles of minor details that hindered the Setter from its ultimate performances. Realizing such, Mr. Llewellin sought to eliminate these obstacles through his breeding programs by selectively breeding for certain qualities and traits that he commonly found more favorable. However, in doing so... one must keep in mind his absolute need to keep the English Setter bloodline pure, not only as a matter of integrity, but also as to conform with the Kennel Clubs convictions which governed each breed.

In 1879, Mr. Llewellins hard work paid off! Although Mr. E. Laverack had recently passed away (1877), Mr. Llewellin had acquired (additional) Mr. Laveracks's brace of pure blood English Setters. The addition of the Laveracks's was a blessing in Llewellins breeding efforts as one particular crossing Llewellin/Laverack pure bloods breeding produced an exceptional English Setter which was later proved with 3 consecutive years of championships titles "Duke".

As these championships come to pass, the news quickly spread in the sportsman circuits in both the UK and over seas in the US where Mr. Llewellins fame grew proportionally. Soon the Champion Llewellin bloodline was in high demands. However, for the few Llewellin Champion litters that were available (the litters from the champion), many were being bought and exported from the UK and imported to the Americas where the upland game birds were abundant and the hunting sport thrived.

Until R.P. Llewellin’s ageing years and death in 1925, he continued to breed and perfect his champion line of the English Setter, offering them in a limited supply as one only can with litters of pups. While such is only common sense and inferred, in consideration of the demand for the Llewellin strain there is little doubt that Mr. Llewellin continued his breeding programs with his other Laverack and/or Llewellin bloodlines; surely a few of these litters were sold and transported as Llewellins well. This later proves to be an issue of controversy which would need to be addressed.

The above would have caused many complications as any pedigree's containing the Llewellin line or name was considered a Llewellin even though it may not have been of the predominate superior Championship blood line. The 3 time Championship Line itself faced degeneration in future breedings as those claiming to own a Llewellin would soon discover they were only from the Llewellin Kennel but not descendants from the Championship blood. While all the Llewellins imported were of a pure bloodline, there was a the desire and demand to own direct descendants of the Championship Llewellin bloodline. However, such could not be verified easily as there was no American Registry tracking the pure bloods of any breed entering America.

As not to discuss or speculate all other possibilities and bring this topic to close; With the birth of the American Field in 1874, the first US registry to exist in the US, the Llewellin Championship line was insured by their creation of the rule that all Llewellin descendents must trace back to 3 of the responsible Champions ancestors (Duke, Robe, and Kate). Since that ruling time and today, only those Llewellins that meet these requirements are considered worthy of the registration title Llewellin Setter!~