Another maker- my 1892 Baker B grade, apparently the engraver had a different dog trainer than the guys over at Parker! Tail at 10:30

http://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/49779_600x400.jpg

And another that may be an A grade. I'm having a really hard time trying to find examples of setters with tails more than about horizontal.

Is it possibly a difference anatomically between a pointer and a setter that prevents a setter from being able to hold his tail in a more erect position?




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Here's a setter on a CH Bernard gun. Beautiful engraving but tail is still not what you're looking for.





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Dean,
I'd like to know a little more about the 1980 Parker you posted, I don't think I've heard that story before.
Regarding the tails, I think Mr. Higgins might verify that the high tails have evolved through breeding as it became more desirable, and possibly some training. In the earlier days my understanding is the low or horizontal tails were more normal and acceptable and a lot of pointing dogs actually were in a near squat or setting position. If I was a setter or pointer person I wouldn't care, so long as the dog handled birds well but my understanding is a high tail is a more desirable trait.

Their tails can definitely go 12 o'clock, this is a depiction of my setter Freckles, that Mark Larson did on my custom hammer 16.. From a photo, I know it is not engraving....but it IS gold leaf!

http://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/49780_600x400.jpg

To Mike's information above, here is the setter from the side of the "three dog" DH. Tail low...squatting.

http://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/49781_600x400.jpg

If their tail is too high they start to resemble a skunk

* month old Tober on Point. He is a classic Lavarack setter type. dont mix up tail position with intensity. intensity comes from the other end...The Nose.

And here is Tober's sister Grace early this spring pointing what turned out to be a very tight-sitting woodcock. Sometimes she'll lift a front paw and sometimes a rear paw but she slammed onto this point and lifted the back one. I've tried but can't convince her to hold her tail any higher... and it's not really important to me

Maybe Steve Hodges will post a picture of his Star with a very high tail position.