A Little Bit Of History
Irish Setters are the oldest of the setter group, proceeding Gordon and English setters. The country of origin is, of course, Ireland. It is believed the breed developed from old spaniels, setting spaniels and a Scottish setter. The breed was first developed for hunting and has always had a good nose for scent. However, it has not always proved to be the greatest of hunters as its mischievous, fun-loving nature sometimes gets in the way. It was in 1882 that the Irish Red Setter Club was formed in Dublin, prompted by the breeding programme of The Earl of Enniskellen, who developed the signature solid red coat. |
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However, major show winners in the late 1800s, still had some markings of white or black, harkening back to their relations, The Red and White Setter and The Gordon Setter. While doing well in the show ring, the first field trial champion was not made up till 1929. In the 1940s the breed was nearly decimated by the eye disease Progressive Retinal Atrophy, better known as PRA. This disease is a non sex-linked genetic illness that causes night blindness. Thankfully, it is now known how to DNA test to identify carriers and thus, eliminate them from a breeding programme. Due to this scientific advance, the breed has recovered itself and the incidence of PRA has dropped dramatically. |
General Appearance
The long, lean head should be twice the length of the width between the eyes. There should be a distinct stop and a well-defined occiput, so that in profile the head appears slightly domed with a deep muzzle which is fairly square at the nose. The jaws should be of nearly equal length, with a perfect scissor bite, and a black or dark mahogany which adds to the aristocratic appearance. Almond shaped eyes of a dark to medium brown. Feathering begins at the ear tips, on ears set back and low, in length, almost long enough to reach the nose. They should have a long, very muscular not too thick neck. The shoulder blades should slope well back over a deep, rather narrow chest. A slightly sloping topline is completed by the plumed tail, which should be held level with the topline. Strong, well-boned legs support the dog. Muscle should be evident in the hindquarters and the hocks should be nearly perpendicular to the ground. This anatomy should produce the graceful and efficient gait that helps make the dog so showy in the ring.
Colour
The Irish Setter should be a deep red chestnut colour. A small blaze of white may appear on the chest.
Temperament
The Irish Setter plays enthusiastically but gently with children and is extraordinarily sweet and affectionate as a pet. They get on well with other dogs but do need early exposure to cats and other pets in order to live in peace with them. Being terribly friendly, this is not a good guard dog, though it will announce the presence of a visitor. If bored, Irish Setters are known to bark to excess so it is best to keep them happy and active. Again, they should be trained early on as they have a tendency to scavenge and can eat some terrifying objects, e.g. light bulbs, fish-hooks, etc. Despite its noble appearance, The Irish Setter remains a pup at heart throughout its life, one of its more endearing traits.
Intellegance
Early obedience training is a must in order to get this dog to come back if it ever gets off the lead. Being a hunter, although an easily distracted one, it will follow a scents all over if not trained to come back to its owner. With patience and kindness, The Irish Setter is easy to train and can even compete in obedience trials. It is a sensitive breed though and will not respond well to harsh correction. This breed matures slowly, both physically and mentally and should never be pushed too far too fast. They are hardheaded, stubborn and independent.
IKC Breed Standard
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