Dogs, say, in setters and labradors, energetic initially (4)
I believe the answer is:
isle
'dogs say' is the definition.
(Isle of Dogs)
'in setters and labradors energetic initially' is the wordplay.
'in setters' becomes 'is' (this might be a standard abbreviation I've not previously seen).
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'initially' suggests taking the first letters.
The first letters of 'labradors energetic' is 'le'.
'is'+'le'='ISLE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for isle that I've seen before include "cut-off location" , "Wight or Man, say" , "Man, maybe" , "''There is an ..., a bonny ...'' (anthem of Shannon RFC)" , "Small region of land" .)