By pure coincidence, over the past few weeks I've been reading up the origins of spaniels, which is inseparable from the origins of setters. (I admit I have strange habits.)
I found the sheep-like setter I posted above most interesting ... you can see feathering depicted on tail, hindquarters, and lower legs. This is a depiction of the same "setting spaniel" mentioned as early as 1387 (in French), so I take it to mean that spaniels and setters quite similar to our own were among the oldest varieties of European dogs. English setter hunters are heir to a 600-year tradition, which is surely worth a shout out. :)
