irish Setter

Irish Terrier

(Red Setter)

This elegant Irish breed is considered by many to be one of the world's most beautiful dogs, but the Irish Setter doesn't rest on beauty alone for its popularity - it is lively and active and has a sense of fun to match! Irish Setters have captured hearts all over the world; one famous fancier was former US President Harry S. Truman, who owned an "Irish" called Mike

History:

The Irish Setter was developed in Ireland during the eighteenth century to hunt upland game, and was a clearly established breed by 1800. The Irish, or Red Setter as it is commonly known, is descended from a breed known as the Setting Spaniel and was refined and developed by the breeders of the day by crosses with Pointers, English Setters, Gordon Setters, and other Spaniel types. Indeed, the early name for the breed was Red Spaniel or Modder Rhu (red dog).

There is some suggestion that other breeds such as the Irish Water Spaniel, the Bloodhound and the Irish Terrier were also crossed to create the Red Setter, but as with so many of the sporting breeds developed in the eighteenth century, there is no documentation to prove this theory. Until the early- to mid-nineteenth century, Irish Setters were not only red, but also came in red and white; however, the red and white dogs are now considered a separate breed, the Irish Red and White Setter.

Physical characteristics:

Height: 25 - 28 in (63.5 - 71 cm). Weight: 60 - 70 lb (27 - 32 kg). The Irish Setter is a refined breed with no outstanding physical peculiarities except for the deep chestnut-red coat; no other breed has a coat quite the same stunning color. The coat is medium-long and short on the back with feathering on the ears, stomach, tail, and back of the legs. The head on an Irish Setter is long and narrow, but deep and rather square, not weedy. The ears are set on low and are moderately long. The eyes are hazel or dark brown, and almond-shaped. Irish Setters have deep, narrow chests, a straight back, and their tail is set on low and carried level with the back.

Behavior:

The Irish Setter was originally a wonderful working dog. Over the generations, it has been selectively bred for its magnificent physical characteristics. Unfortunately, this selective breeding seems to have been at the expense of the dog's temperament. Irish Setters are wonderfully gentle dogs, but they can be very skittish and their playfulness is very exaggerated. To train an Irish Setter you need a lot of patience, as they can have difficulty in completing a task without being sidetracked. If owners adopt a very sensitive approach and can retain a bottomless sense of humor, the Irish Setter can make a wonderful companion animal. They do require a lot of exercise and attention.