A Irish Setter In The Hunting Field

If anyone has ever asked you about an Irish Setter, most people are able to bring to mind the red dog with the beautiful coat. They are known for their beauty, with their distinct traits that mark each gender of the dog, males looking masculine and females looking delicate and feminine. They do very well in the conformation ring and are a favorite for many breeders.

Despite their beauty, the Irish Setter is an excellent hunting dog that is used to “set” prey. They can be versatile in the field and since the breed has been used for two purposes, there is a slight difference between field bred and show bred Irish Setters.
That being said, both of them are very warm and loving dogs that make excellent family companions. They are the eternal puppy and will take a significant amount of time to mature but they are usually a joy to be around. They can be difficult to train, since they lose interest in a task easily but if they find it interesting and fun, they will quickly pick up whatever you are training.
However, in the end, there is little doubt that this is an amazing dog to both watch and work in the field.

Pro’s and con’s of owning a Flat Coated Retriever.

Irish Setters are a breed of dog that was originally developed in Ireland and were used primarily as hunting dogs used to “set” the quarry and have proven that they can be used both in the field and out of it. They make excellent therapy dogs and have been used in a variety of roles. They can be a bit high strung and have a lot of energy but with proper training and socialization, they can be an excellent hunting dog and family companion.

The Pro’s

There are many good points about the Irish Setter, one of them being their beauty and grace both in the field and in the show ring. They are excellent family dogs that can be a joy to have in a home. Below are some of the pros associated with the Irish Setter.

• Irish Setters are a beautiful breed of dog that can be found in both the field and many other roles. This makes it a very versatile dog that can be used for a variety of purposes.
• They are very good with children and make excellent family dogs.
• They usually do very well with other pets in the home but it is important to socialize them.
• They are considered to be moderate shedders.
• Irish Setters are very inquisitive and have a personality that makes them a joy to be around.
• They love being companions and will be happy sharing their time with those they love. This is not an independent breed that simply shares your house.

The Con’s

As with all dog breeds, there are a number of cons that should be taken into consideration before you purchase an Irish Setter. The breed has a number of serious health issues, listed in the section below, and they have an energy does not work for everyone.

• Irish Setters are not the ideal breed for apartments. They do much better in a home with a large fenced yard.
• They can be very high strung so it is important to meet the parents before selecting a puppy to alleviate some of the risks of having a high strung dog yourself.
• Socialization is very important with the Irish Setter.
• Training can be very difficult with the Irish Setter since they are often distracted by things around them. To make training easy, it should be interesting and kept in short bursts that doesn’t try your dog’s focus.
• They are very close to their family and are not a breed that can live outdoors or in kennels.
• They can suffer from separation anxiety if they are left alone for long periods of time.
• They have a number of serious health problems so it is important to find a reputable breeder for your puppy.
• Irish Setters have a high amount of energy and will require a lot of exercise, about 30 to 60 minutes per day.
• They need to be groomed on a regular basis.
• They are usually an eternal puppy and can be very active throughout their life. Don’t expect your Irish Setter to mature until they are older than 2.

Health Issues:

Although there are a number of health problems in this breed, it is important to note that they can live a very healthy life if effort is made in finding the best Irish Setter breeder. Make sure that all health checks have been done on the parents and that the breeder is using healthy breeding stock. If you doubt at any time that they are, look for a new breeder.

• Hip Dysplasia
• Elbow Dysplasia
• Gastric Torsion (also known as bloat)
• Hypothyroidism
• Canine Leukocyte (CAD)
• Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD)
• Epilepsy
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
• Hemophilia A
• Panosteitis
• Hyperadrenocorticism
• Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy (HOD)
• Megaesophagus

Height & Weight:

The Irish Setter is a beautiful dog that is known for their grace and athleticism, which is seen in both their proportions and shape. They are known for their balanced structure and long, lean head that gives a beautiful line to the dog. While size is not important with this breed, they should have a perfect balance to their look and they should be slightly longer than they are tall.

The size of an Irish Setter is:

Males: 27 inches (69 cm) tall and up to 70 pounds (32 kg)
Females: 25 inches (64 cm) tall and up to 60 pounds (27 kg)

Note: Height is always determined from the ground up to the withers, also known as the highest spot on the shoulders, of the dog.

Grooming:

One of the most noticeable quality of the Irish Setter is their beautiful, silky coat that is of moderate length with feathering at the back of the legs; foreleg and thigh, and ears. The coat also has impressive fringing on the tail, which tapers down the length, the belly, sternum, chest and brisket. There is little doubt that the rich chestnut red to mahogany coat is something that will require a bit of work to keep healthy.

Surprisingly, despite the coat, the Irish Setter is considered to be a moderate shedder, with only a few times during the year when they become a regular to heavy shedder. Even with the lower shed rate, the coat should be brushed on a daily basis to keep it free of tangles and debris. It is very important to brush out the coat after any field work to remove any debris.

While the Irish Setter needs to be brushed on a regular basis, they do not need to be bathed on a frequent basis. They have a lower doggy smell than some breeds and will only require one or two baths per month to keep them clean and healthy.

After the coat, it is very important to really care for the Irish Setter’s feet. Hairs between the toes should be kept short to keep debris from gathering there. Make sure that you check the dog’s feet after any field work to remove any trapped burrs. Also keep the nails trimmed to ensure that they do not split.

Lastly, keep the ears clean and make sure you remove any debris, dirt or water to prevent ear infections from occurring since this is very common in breeds with pendulous ears.

Life Expectancy: 11 to 15 years

History:

As the name implies, the Irish Setter originated in Ireland and can be dated back to about the 18th century. It was used originally as a hunting dog and is believed to be descended from a variety of breeds such as pointers, other setter breeds and spaniels.

Originally, the breed had a coloring of red and white but the first full red setter was born in the early 19th century. It was this dog that gained popularity and the solid color became the preferred coloring in Irish Setters from that time on.

Although the breed did begin to gain popularity in the mid-1800’s, it wasn’t known as the Irish Setter until much later. Originally, it was known as either “Red Spaniel,” or the “Modder Rhu,” which means “Red Dogs” in Gaelic.

Despite the confusion over the name, the Irish Setter thrived in Ireland and it quickly gained popularity in both England and the United States. In fact, the first Irish Setter to be imported into the United States in the late 1800’s and is one of the first breeds to be recognized by the AKC.
Although the Irish Setter was used for hunting for much of its history, many breeders realized the potential the breed had in the show ring and they became a very popular breed for conformation. This has led to there being two types of Irish Setters; field and show Irish Setters, and while there is a slight difference between them, both can shine in the field.
Grouping:

Gun Dog, AKC Sporting

Recognition:

CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, KCGB, CKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, CCR, APRI, ACR

It just shows English setter gundog puppies running on the garden, just watch how much fun they have.

english Setters Can Be Exellent Gundogs

The English Setter is a beautiful dog in both form and temperament. It is identified by its unique coat that is white and speckled with lemon, brown, orange or blue color. The coat of the English Setter is long and flat with feathering at the legs, chest and tail.

While it is striking in appearance, they are striking in temperament and are known for their gentle nature that makes them an ideal family pet. They are generally mild mannered and live life with a give love, get love mentality. In fact, they are happy to spend all their time with their owners and can become destructive if they are left alone too long.

Although the English Setter is an excellent gundog, it does have a strong temperament and needs an owner that will give it clear and firm rules right from the beginning. It needs a gentle but firm training technique and without it, they will quickly develop many bad habits.

That being said, an English Setter is amazing in the field and with the proper training and raising, it can be an ideal dog from many.

Pro’s and con’s of owning an English Setter

Being one of the oldest hunting dogs has certainly lead to many pros for the English Setter but there are also some cons that should be taken into consideration before you make an English Setter part of your home.

The Pro’s

Like all breeds, there are a number of pros that make this an amazing gundog for many owners. Those pros are:

• They are very good with children and can make an ideal family pet.
• They do well with other pets and work well in a multi-dog home.
• English Setters usually love everyone.
• They will bark if they see someone suspicious so they can make good guard dogs although there protection usually stops at barking.
• English Setters can be very quiet in a house, making them an excellent dog for indoors.
• They are very affectionate dogs with a good nature.

The Con’s

There are a number of cons that make this breed a little more difficult that others and it is important to be aware of them before you purchase an English Setter. Those cons are:

• They have a high energy level and require about 60 minutes of exercise per day.
• They have been known to wander off in pursuit of something they feel is “quarry” so they require a fenced yard.
• They enjoy human interaction and are not a suitable breed for kennels.
• They can suffer from separation anxiety when they are left alone for long periods.
• Some English Setters can be slow to housebreak.
• They have been known to be stubborn, which can make training difficult.
• English Setters enjoy digging and can be a nuisance digger.

Health Issues:

The English Setter is considered to be a hardy breed that does not suffer from a large number of health issues. That being said, it is still important to make sure the breeding stock is healthy and that it has had clearances prior to breeding. English Setters can be prone to the following health issues.

• Hypothyroidism
• Hip Dysplasia
• Elbow Dysplasia
• Allergies
• Deafness

Height & Weight:

The English Setter is a beautiful dog that should be a blend of stamina and grace. It should be athletic with a strong build but it should also be graceful in its movement and should have a balance to its look. The English Setter should have a clear distinction between males and females with the former being more masculine looking then the latter. It is important that the masculine and feminine qualities of the dog’s appearance is not over emphasised to make the dog look either coarse or over-refined.

The size of the English Setter is:

Males: 24 to 27 inches (61 to 69 cm) tall and 55 to 80 pounds (25 to 36 kg.)
Females: 23 to 26 inches (58 to 66 cm) tall and 45 to 70 pounds (21 to 32 kg.)

Note: Height is always determined from the ground up to the withers, also known as the highest spot on the shoulders, of the dog.

Grooming:

The beautiful coat of the English Setter can be both an attractor and a detractor for potential English Setter owners but if it is cared for properly, the coat is very easy to care for. Generally, you should brush an English Setters coat daily or at the very least, once or twice a week. You will end up brushing your English Setter more often when it is being used in the field to keep mats and debris out of the coat. When the dog is not being used in the field, once or twice a week can be more than enough to keep the coat healthy and free of dead hair.

In regards to other grooming, an English Setter should be bathed on a regular basis and many breeders will recommend that you bathe your dog about once a month or once every six months. When you do bathe your English Setter, it is important to use a good quality pet shampoo. Ears should be checked when you groom your dog to ensure that there is no debris or irritations that may lead to an ear infection. The same care should be given to the feet and any long hairs may need to be trimmed, along with the nails. English Setters are considered to be average shedders.

Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years

History:

The English Setter is one of the oldest gundogs today and they can be traced back to the 14th century. Although it is not complete clear what dog breeds went into the development of the English Setter, it is believed that the Spanish Pointer, Springer Spaniel and several other spaniel breeds were used to create the breed.

Originally, the English Setter was called the Setting Spaniel in reference to the way the breed would stand when the dog spotted quarry for the hunter.

Although the breed can trace its origins back to the 14th century, the breed as we know it today can attribute its existence to Edward Laverack and R. Purcell Llwellin who both raised and bred English Setters to create a versatile working dog in the field. The English Setter was accepted by the AKC in 1878.

Grouping:

Gun Dog, AKC Sporting

Recognition:

CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, KCGB, CKC, ANCK, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR

For More Info On English Setters Go To English Setter Association