<C>Availability:</C> May take some effort to find.
<b>History:</> The Irish Setter, originally called the Irish Red Setter in the United States, is a fine all-around hunting dog. He is fast, with an excellent nose, and is good on any terrain. His technique for finding game is to run quickly back and forth in front of the hunter. The Irish Setter is both a pointer and retriever, particularly good for hunting game birds. Because of his handsome looks, however, many breeders have selected for beauty rather than hunting ability. So today's Irish Setter is usually a show dog and/or family companion, though he sometimes still serves as a hunting dog.
<b>Description:</> An energetic, aristocratic, beautiful setter with a distinctive glossy, silky, fringed mahogany coat. Small spots of white on the chest, toes and forehead are allowed in the show ring. Black is not permitted. Some young dogs have silvery-gray hairs behind the ears and legs, but these may disappear as the dog matures. The dog is slightly longer than tall. The chest is deep and fairly narrow. The head is long and chiseled, with a well- defined occiput and stop. The muzzle is also long and rectangular when viewed from the side. The nose is dark, either black or brown, and the eyes are brown. The long pendant ears are fine-textured and triangular. The teeth should meet in a scissors or level bite.
<b>Notes:</> Best suited to country rather than city life as he has high activity requirements and needs a lot of exercise. Easily housebroken. Beware of hip dysplasia and PRA. Buy only from OFA and CERF certified stock. Prone to bloat. Professional grooming two or three times a year will help the Irish Setter look his best. In between, a good weekly brushing should suffice. Both field lines and show lines make good pets, though the field lines are generally smaller, with shorter coats and a much higher activity requirement.
<b>Personality:</> Giddy at times, very lovable and impulsive. Outgoing and happy-go-lucky. Energized. Can be high-strung. Some are more reserved. Train firmly and early to prevent development of bad habits, as this breed tends to pick up bad habits quickly. Important to train for good house manners. Responsive yet sensitive. Needs to be well- exercised or may become destructive. Good with other animals.
<b>Behavior:</>
<C>Children:</C> Good with children.
<C>Friendliness:</C> Loves everyone.
<C>Trainability:</C> Easy to train.
<C>Independence:</C> Needs people a lot.
<C>Dominance:</C> Low.
<C>Other Pets:</C> Generally good with other pets.
<C>Combativeness:</C> Friendly with other dogs.
<C>Noise:</C> Not a barker.
<b>Grooming and Physical Needs:</>
<C>Grooming:</C> Regular grooming needed.
<C>Trimming & Stripping:</C> Skilled trimming or stripping needed.
<C>Coat:</C> Feathered coat.
<C>Shedding:</C> Average shedder.
<C>Exercise:</C> Vigorous daily exercise needed.
<C>Jogging:</C> An excellent jogging companion.
<C>Indoors:</C> Very active indoors.
<C>Apartments:</C> Not recommended for apartments.
<C>Outdoor Space:</C> Best with a large yard.
<C>Climate:</C> Does well in most climates.
<C>Owner:</C> Good for novice owners.
<C>Longevity:</C> Moderately long lived (12 to 15 years).
<b>Talents:</> hunting, tracking, retrieving, pointing, watchdog, agility, and competitive obedience.
<b>For More Information:</>
Call the AKC Breeder Referral Hotline: 1-900-407-PUPS for the name of a breeder referral representative in your area. Cost is 99 cents per minute.
<b>Photo Caption:</> IRISH SETTER
Photo copyright: Cook PhoDOGraphy 1995. All rights reserved.
