Irish Setter

AKC Group: Sporting

Club: Irish Setter Club of America, Inc.

Corresponding Secretary : Fran Sloughfy
Address: 20 Maple Shade LN, Fleetwood, PA , 19522
Website: www.irishsetterclub.org
Email: sloughfyc@aol.com
Club Type: Specialty

General Apperance:

The Irish Setter is an active, aristocratic bird dog, rich red in color, substantial yet elegant in build. Standing over two feet tall at the shoulder, the dog has a straight, fine, glossy coat, longer on ears, chest, tail and back of legs. Afield, the Irish Setter is a swift-moving hunter; at home, a sweet natured, trainable companion.
At their best, the lines of the Irish Setter so satisfy in overall balance that artists have termed it the most beautiful of all dogs. The correct specimen always exhibits balance, whether standing or in motion. Each part of the dog flows and fits smoothly into its neighboring parts without calling attention to itself.

Size:

There is no disqualification as to size. The make and fit of all parts and their overall balance in the animal are rated more important. 27 inches at the withers and a show weight of about 70 pounds is considered ideal for the dog; the bitch 25 inches, 60 pounds. Variance beyond an inch up or down is to be discouraged. Proportion --Measuring from the breastbone to rear of thigh and from the top of the withers to the ground, the Irish Setter is slightly longer than it is tall. Substance --All legs sturdy with plenty of bone. Structure in the male reflects masculinity without coarseness. Bitches appear feminine without being slight of bone.

Coat:

Short and fine on head and forelegs. On all other parts of moderate length and flat. Feathering long and silky on ears; on back of forelegs and thighs long and fine, with a pleasing fringe of hair on belly and brisket extending onto the chest. Fringe on tail moderately long and tapering. All coat and feathering as straight and free as possible from curl or wave. The Irish Setter is trimmed for the show ring to emphasize the lean head and clean neck. The top third of the ears and the throat nearly to the breastbone are trimmed. Excess feathering is removed to show the natural outline of the foot. All trimming is done to preserve the natural appearance of the dog.

Temperament:

The Irish Setter has a rollicking personality. Shyness, hostility or timidity are uncharacteristic of the breed. An outgoing, stable temperament is the essence of the Irish Setter.

History:

The Irish Setter, recognizable from media such as Big Red, first came into popular notice in the 18th century. In less than a century following his arrival as a breed, the Irish was firmly established not only in his native Ireland but throughout the British Isles. Most authorities agree that the breed arose from mixtures of Irish Water Spaniel, Irish Terrier, English Setter, Spaniel, Pointer, and a dash of Gordon Setter. Originally, the Irish Setter was included in the family of Setters that included mostly red and white setters, although today in America the solid red is typical and the only acceptable variety to date in the show ring. The solid-red Setter first appeared in Ireland in the 19th century, and in 1812, the Earl of Enniskillen declared he would have nothing else in his kennel. Solid red became synonymous with dogs of "high mark," and the breed was revered for its remarkable sporting abilities.

As a gun dog, the Irish works equally well on a number of birds, and after importation to America in the 19th century, he soared in popularity there as he had in the British Isles. Despite a veritable monopoly on the field trial circuit by the Llewellin (English) Setter and Pointer, the Irish proved himself in America and demonstrated great ability. However, combined with the Irish's token good looks, the field handicap imposed by the aforementioned breeds has led to the breeding of two increasingly different types of Irish Setter, field and bench. Efforts are being made to reunite the Irish Setter's field ability and beauty, and dual champions are becoming more and more common. He is a popular breed across the globe, and he is probably the most recognizable of the Setters and even among the Sporting breeds.

Fun Facts:

• The solid red Irish Setter first appeared in Ireland in the 19th century.
  
  
• The earliest ancestors of the Irish Setter were not solid red but red and white.
  
  
• The Irish Setter first became popular in the 18th century.
  
  
• Although the breed possesses no disqualifications, any presence of black in the trademark red coat of the Irish Setter is regarded as absolutely taboo and faulted at shows.
  
  
• The Irish Setter is believed to have developed from an English Setter-Spaniel-Pointer-Gordon Setter mix.
  
  
• Contrary to popular belief, the three setters - English, Gordon, and Irish - are not merely representatives of different colors or varieties within one "setter" heading but are in fact three separate breeds.