UPDATE: Year (and a half) later - Senior rescue ES
I want to start by thanking everyone for all of your tips and tricks. I regularly looked back on them for guidance. The ES community on Reddit is truly a wonderful place. Thank you all.
Gracie has been the kindest, most gentle creature to enter my life and intern I have tried to create a matching world for her that is just as soft and wonderful. I hope this post helps anyone who finds themselves adopting an English setter for the first time.
Food: Yikes! We have spent the last year trying to find the perfect match. While of course transitioning foods slowly as you should we have still not found something that Gracie absolutely loves. What works Monday morning might not work Tuesday night. Very, very picky eater. This has resulted in being creative with where/how/why we eat our dinners. With the sensitive stomach issues that many ES have I’ve tried the rice/chicken, with no luck at times, but currently she is on raw/frozen diet that seems to work for her.
Temperament: as graceful as the queen herself, Gracie is a true testament to her name. She waits for permission to enter any door or jump on any couch/bed. Her manners are impressive, and sometimes even questionable because I would easily let her do whatever she wants, yeah, she waits for permission. I have only heard her bark one time in a year and a half. She is very calm and collected.
Other dogs: personally I am not a big fan of dog parks so that is not something we do however I have fostered other small dogs briefly, we have also lived with another dog to the end of her life, to which Gracie, the ES was as graceful, as could be. Together, we saw her off over the rainbow bridge.
Groomer: she has been a few times in the last year or so, however it seems to be slightly traumatic for her, so I have been trimming her nails at home and maintaining her flowing hair myself as needed to avoid the drama. I’m still looking for the perfect groomer and if I find one, I will stick to it however, this seems to be the best option for my sensitive little girl.
Birds/critters: we go for daily sniff-aris (sniff safaris) that seem to really benefit her overall well-being however, a few months after adopting her, I let her into the backyard while watching from the door she caught and killed a rat. Wow very uncommon in my yard and area it did happen and I have never seen a happier dog. Tidbit for anybody looking to adopt: Little creatures might not be the best for ES.
Overall, she has been an absolute delight that I am so grateful to have. After several years of senior rescue and foster I am now considering an ES puppy because of how wonderful my life has been with her.