Irish Setters

There has been so much concentration on breeding beauty into red Irish Setters that their gun-dog abilities almost have been forgotten. The first ones brought to this country from Ireland were intended mainly for upland game and they made good, but then many fanciers, attracted by the dog's good looks, began to breed for the bench only and his working qualities were ignored. 

Under the encouragement of the Irish Setter Club Of America, the breed has been making advances toward field utility in recent years, although it is unlikely he will attain the popularity afield of his cousin or the Pointer.

You can read about "Gordon Setter" here

Irish Setters are, Of course, natives of Ireland. The Irish Setter Club of America discounts a theory that he was developed from an Irish Water Spaniel-lrish Terrier cross, giving more credence to the idea he resulted from an English Setter, Spaniel and Pointer combination, with possibly a small mixture of Gordon. 

Most of the original dogs were red and white and even today traces of white do not disqualify. The Favorited colours are a rich golden chestnut or a mahogany red. The standard requires that there must be no black in the coat.

The Irish Red Setter, as he is officially known, made his first appearance as a solid red in Ireland in the early Nineteenth Century. In 1812, for instance, the Earl of Enniskillen would have nothing but the solid red dogs in his kennels. The breed played an important part in the early days of field trials, but the rise of the Llewellin English Setters in the Eighties and the subsequent popularity of Pointers pushed him into the field background but into the highest circles of bench competition.

Characteristic of Irish Setter

Excellent gundog; good housedog; poor watchdog, very good with children.
Height: Dog about 27in, bitch about 25 in.
Color: Mahogany or rich chestnut red.
Weight: Dog about 70 lb, bitch about 60 lb.
Coat type: Moderately long and silky; feathered; needs regular grooming.
Exercise: Needs a lot

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