English Setter Dogs Available for Adoption in Chelsea, Michigan

Socialization: Morgan has loved every person he has met so far! He is very friendly meeting new people, though he gets excited and jumps on people. He leans into you for hugs and love. Morgan has not been exposed to children in my home, but I feel with proper introductions he would not be a problem for older children but with the jumping he might accidentally knock a younger child over. Morgan has never had a problem with my female English Setter since the day I picked him up and she was with me. He has tried to initiate play with her but is a little more rambunctious than she likes so she doesn't join in. He seems fine entertaining himself or playing with me instead. He was fine with the overnight hosts' female dogs and very chill male dog. He has barked/growled at two dogs at the vet clinic (it might be best to wait outside until it is his turn to see the vet) and barks at neighborhood dogs when they walk by the house and up to our fence. Due to his high prey drive, cats are probably a no for him.

Training: Housetraining is going very well. He has only had 2 accidents in the house since he has been with me this short time. I suggest using a belly band initially while he learns a new routine. He has quickly picked up our daily schedule and is doing well in this area. We are working on him learning commands (off, woah, come, sit, wait, place, and okay) with a trainer. Morgan has enjoyed the mental stimulation of learning and has picked it up very quickly. He behaves very well inside the house and also in his crate. He is not fond of going in his crate on his own (unless it is thundering and then that is his safe space) but he will go in when encouraged with treats. He will sometimes bark for about 15-20 minutes then settles if I need to be gone for 3-4 hours during the day. He is crated at night next to my bed and sleeps through the night without a peep. Prior to coming to me, there were reports of resource guarding of his toys so we have been mindful of that by providing a separate playtime for Morgan. He is very good when playing with me and lets me take toys out of his mouth to throw without any problem. Continued training in this area would be beneficial for him. The only thing he has bothered in the house was stealing a belly band off the counter & tearing it up. In general, he has not shown signs of destruction to things inside and telling him 'no' has seemed enough for him to learn boundaries of things he needs to leave alone.

Activity requirements: Morgan has a high prey drive and pulls very hard on the leash. He is a challenge to walk on leash at this point because of the pulling and his focus is on anything moving instead of the walk. I am currently using a regular harness but a no pull harness along with continued training would be good for him. We've just started to address this area in our training sessions. He would benefit from being able to run off-leash in a safely fenced area.

Fence requirements: He will need at least a 6' fence. Due to reactivity towards some dogs, his adopter would need to prepare for this on walks and use appropriate boundaries and leads. He would not be a good candidate for a dog park. An invisible fence will not be considered for him, and a physical fence is required to adopt Morgan.

Personality: Morgan has the biggest heart and absolutely loves people and being with you. Outside he is active and alert at every sound and enjoys watching for critters (squirrels & blue jays especially get his attention). Inside the house, he is very good (unless he sees something out the window that he needs to let you know about). He loves being part of the family and snuggling next to you on the couch or relaxing in the same room while you do chores.

Health history: Morgan had severe trauma to his lower jaw when he was found in Greece and had been unable to eat for who knows how long. He went through an 8 hour surgery to rebuild his lower jaw so he can eat properly. He is missing the bottom front part of his lower lip, which makes his tongue peek out and adds to his charm with that million dollar smile. He still needs to gain weight and is very food oriented. I separate him from the other dogs while I am preparing his food and while he eats. A slow-feed bowl would work best because he tends to eat his food fast. He doesn't have trouble with sweet potato chews and I haven't given him anything harder. He doesn't have any health concerns with his mouth. He is neutered, microchipped, up to date on vaccinations, and on monthly heartworm prevention. His next leishmaniasis test is due in September 2026.

This dog originates from Greece where Leishmaniasis is endemic. They tested negative before coming to the USA, but the parasite can remain dormant in the system for many years, so potential adopters must be willing to commit to annual testing for the next 7 years. Typically, the test needs to be sent to a special lab, but any regular vet can draw the blood and send it to the lab. The cost of the test seems to vary widely by area, but is approximately $150-$250. or if your vet is willing to send the test to a veterinary college lab, cost can be as low as $80.

Foster comments: Morgan has a pretty high prey drive so a home with experience in that area would be a good fit for him. He is such a love and very good in the house. He is a quick learner, eager to please and just wants to be part of whatever you are doing. Morgan would be fine as an only dog household or possibly a female with about the same energy level.

Foster location: Oregon, MO

Transport note: We are able to arrange volunteer transport to get dogs from their foster home to their adopter as long as the adopter and the foster are within a 1,000 mile radius of each other and the adopter is located in the USA. If the adopter is more than 1,000 miles from the foster home, adoption would only be possible if the adopter is willing to drive the distance beyond the 1,000-mile transport limit. Long distance adoptions may also be possible if the adopter is willing to pay for a flight for getting their dog from the foster home to their location if the foster feels this is an appropriate arrangement for the specific dog. Canadian adopters would have to drive into the USA to pick up their dog, as we do not transport outside of the USA.

The English Setter is a graceful and elegant hunting dog known for its distinctive feathered coat, which comes in various color combinations such as orange, blue, or lemon belton. These dogs are friendly, affectionate, and sociable, making them excellent family pets. English Setters are energetic and require regular exercise to be happy and healthy. With their keen sense of smell and natural hunting instincts, they excel in fieldwork and dog sports thanks to their enthusiastic nature and quick intelligence.