Personality
The English Pointer is gentle by nature, but can also be strong willed and mischievous. English Setters are energetic, people-oriented dogs, that are well suited to families who can give them attention and activity, or to a hunter who can give them a job to do. They are good around children.
Setters are active dogs and need plenty of exercise in a good sized fenced-in yard. Inside, they tend to be lower energy and enjoy laying on the couch or in their owner's lap.
Training
English Setters are very intelligent and can be trained to perform many tasks. However, their natural bird instinct can make training outdoors difficult. Their temperament is considered soft or gentle. They are very sensitive to criticism and will be unwilling to repeat a behavior out of fear to disappoint their trainer. Training methods that use positive reinforcement work best for English Setters.