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Archive-name: dogs-faq/breeds/irishsetters Posting-frequency: 30 days Last-modified: 20 Feb 1995 This is a regularly posted faq and appears every thirty days in rec.pets.dogs and news.answers. The latest version of this file is a hypertext document available via the Web at http://www.io.com/user/tittle/dogs-faq/breeds/homepage.html The most recently posted ASCII version of this file is available via anonymous ftp to rtfm.mit.edu in the directory pub/usenet/news.answers/dogs-faq/breeds It is also available via email: check the weekly posting Cindy Tittle Moore (tittle@netcom.com) puts out entitled "Complete List of rec.pets.dogs FAQs" for details. IRISH SETTERS Author Holly Kruse, 2 January 1995 [hkruse@globalcom.net] _________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents * Characteristics and Temperament * Frequently Asked Questions * Breed History * Standard * Recognized By * Special Medical Problems * Other Resources _________________________________________________________________ Characteristics and Temperament Many observers find Irish Setters to be among the most beautiful of all dog breeds. Their dark red color, profuse feathering, and happy-go-lucky nature make them quite attractive to many dog lovers. However, Irish Setters are not the breed for everyone! They are very energetic dogs who require plenty of exercise, attention and affection. Irish Setters were originally bred to hunt upland game, and they are still proficient hunters. The breed today is essentially split into two varieties: the larger, darker, more heavily-coated dogs who come from conformation bloodlines, and the much smaller, lighter dogs descended from field trial lines, often called "Red Setters." With the institution of AKC Hunting Tests and the Irish Setter Club of America's Versatility Certificate program, many owners of non- field-bred Irish Setters in the United States have been delighted to learn that their dogs still possess a strong hunting instinct. Irish Setters are among the largest of the sporting breeds, with males ideally measuring 27 inches at the withers and weighing about 70 pounds, and females measuring 25 inches at the withers and weighing about 60 pounds. The Irish Setter is characterized by its "brick-on-brick" head and its silky coat, which is short on the body and longer on the chest, ears, backs of legs, tail, and undercarriage, and which ranges in color from chestnut to mahogany. Although its potential is often not fully developed, the Irish Setter is a very versatile breed. Not only are Irish Setters beautiful companions and able hunters, they also possess the ability to excel at competitive obedience, tracking, and agility. There are several Irish Setters with advanced obedience degrees, and many Irish Setters are now pursuing agility titles. _________________________________________________________________ Frequently Asked Questions "Are Irish Setters high-strung and hyperactive?" Irish Setters are extremely active, energetic dogs, as are most sporting breeds. If they do not get adequate exercise and training, they can be difficult to live with. Their reputation as "hyper" dogs seems to have emerged when Irish Setters became extremely popular in the 1970s. The combination of irresponsible breeding without selection for sound temperaments and placement in homes which were not up to the demands of an active, sporting breed undoubtedly contributed to the perception that Irish Setters are "hyper." With the decreased popularity of the breed in the 1980s and 1990s, the quality of the Irish Setter temperaments being produced is uniformly much higher. "Are Irish Setters stupider than most other breeds?" Anyone who has lived with them knows that these dogs are experts at getting their way! Irish Setters present a training challenge because they are stubborn, easily distracted, and quick to bore, but most of them are quite intelligent. It takes a great deal of patience and commitment to train an Irish Setter; however, such training is an absolute necessity, and it usually proves to be fun and rewarding for both dog and owner. Training must start early, and the trainer should keep in mind that most Irish Setters aren't mentally mature until they are at least 2 years old. "How much grooming does an Irish Setter need?" Their long feathering requires quite a bit of attention, otherwise it will quickly become matted. Daily brushing is the MINIMUM grooming Irish Setter grooming requirement. "Would an Irish Setter make a good guard dog?" No. Many Irish Setters will alert you to the presence of strangers on your property, but for the most part they are more likely to happily greet intruders (or to hide behind the sofa) than wrestle the family silver from burglars. "Are Irish Setters good with children?" Yes, though since both Irish Setters and children often have a tendency to play rough, interactions between them should be supervised. "Since Irish Setters are no longer near the top of the AKC popularity list, are they hard to find?" Quality Irish Setters from reputable breeders can be hard to find, so there is usually a wait for a puppy. Also, in some places the demand for older rescue dogs is far greater than the supply. Whether you are dealing with a breeder or a rescue representative, expect to be questioned thoroughly about your expectations and your ability to cope with the breed's maintenance demands. _________________________________________________________________ Breed History As with most of the sporting breeds that developed in the British Isles and Ireland, there is much speculation about the origins of the Irish Setter. The breed's formative years were in the eighteenth century, and the breed was clearly established by 1800. Its ancestry can be traced to a dog known as the setting spaniel, and crosses were undoubtedly made with Pointers, English Setters, Gordon Setters, and other spaniels. Some breed historians have suggested that early crosses were made with Bloodhounds, Irish Water Spaniels, and Irish Terriers, though there is no documentation to support such conjecture. Among setters in Ireland, red and white coloring was dominant well into the nineteenth century; even today many Irish Setters are marked with small areas of white on the chest, neck, or between the toes despite the long-standing official division of Irish Setters and Irish Red and White Setters (not AKC-recognized) into separate breeds. Nineteenth century descriptions of Irish Setters with black or, more rarely, orange coloring or markings point to the probability of cross-breeding with English and Gordon Setters. Indeed, until its most recent revision in 1990, the American breed standard stated that the presence of black hairs in an Irish Setter's coat was grounds for disqualification from AKC conformation competition. Modern Irish Setter type can be traced to a British dog of the 1870s named Ch. Palmerston. Palmerston has been described as large for his time -- he weighed 64 pounds and measured 23.5 inches at the shoulder -- with an unusually long and narrow head, heavy bone, and dark red coloring. Because of the impact of the few of Palmerston's daughters who were imported to the United States, there is little doubt that all American Irish Setters can trace their ancestry to Palmerston. During the first half of the twentieth century, there was very little difference in "type" between Irish Setters who competed in field trials and Irish Setters who competed in conformation competition. In recent decades, however, as field trial competitors sought to breed dogs that were competitive against other pointing breeds in field trials, and as conformation-minded breeders produced larger, heavily-coated dogs that were more competitive in the show ring, the breed has split into two distinct types. _________________________________________________________________ Standard American Kennel Club -- approved August 14, 1990. GENERAL APPEARANCE: 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 dogs. The correct specimen always exhibits balance, whether standing of in motion. Each part of the dog flows and fits smoothly into neighboring parts without calling attention to itself. SIZE, PROPORTION, SUBSTANCE: 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. HEAD: Long and lean, its length at least double the width between the ears. Beauty of head is emphasized by delicate chiseling along the muzzle, around and below the eyes, and along the cheeks. EXPRESSION soft, yet alert. EYES somewhat almond shaped, of medium size, placed rather well apart, neither deep set nor bulging. Color, dark to medium brown. EARS set well back and low, not above level of eye. Leather thin, hanging in a neat fold close to the head, and nearly long enough to reach the nose. The SKULL is oval when viewed from above or front; very slightly domed when viewed in profile. The brow is raised, showing a distinct stop midway between the tip of the nose and the well-defined occiput (rear point of skull). Thus the nearly level line from occiput to brow is set a little above, and parallel to, the straight and equal line from eye to nose. MUZZLE moderately deep, jaws of nearly equal length, the underline of the jaws being almost parallel with the top line of the muzzle. NOSE black or chocolate, nostrils wide. Upper lips fairly square but not pendulous. The TEETH meet in a scissors bite in which the upper incisors fit closely over the lower, or they may meet evenly. NECK, TOPLINE, BODY: NECK moderately long, strong but not thick, and slightly arched, free from throatiness and fitting smoothly into the shoulders. TOPLINE of body from withers to tail should be firm and incline slightly downward without a sharp drop at the croup. The TAIL is set on nearly level with the croup as a natural extension of the topline, strong at root, tapering to a fine point, nearly long enough to reach the hock. Carriage straight or curving slightly up- ward, nearly level with the back.. BODY sufficiently long to permit a straight and free stride. CHEST deep, reaching approximately to the elbows with moderate forechest, extending beyond the point where the shoulder joins the upper arm. Chest is of moderate width so that it does not interfere with forward motion and extends rearwards to well sprung ribs. LOINS firm, muscular, and of moderate length. FOREQUARTERS: Shoulder blades long, wide, sloping well back, fairly close together at the withers. Upper arm and shoulder blades are approximately the same length, and are joined at sufficient angle to bring the elbows rearward along the brisket in line with the top of the withers. The elbows moving freely, incline neither in nor out. FORELEGS straight and sinewy. Strong, nearly straight pastern. FEET rather small, very firm, toes arched and close. HINDQUARTERS: Hindquarters should be wide and powerful with broad, well developed thighs. Hind legs long and muscular from hip to hock; short and perpendicular from hock to ground. Feet as in front. Angulation of the forequarters and hindquarters should be balanced. 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. COLOR: Mahogany or rich chestnut red with no black. A small amount of white on chest, throat or toes, or a narrow cantered streak on skull is not to be penalized. GAIT: At the trot the gait is big, very lively, graceful and efficient. At an extended trot the head reaches slightly forward, keeping the dog in balance. The forelegs reach well ahead as if to pull in the ground without giving the appearance of a hackney gait. The hindquarters drive smoothly and with great power. Seen from front or rear, the forelegs, as well as the hind legs below the hock joint, move perpendicularly to the ground, with some tendency toward a single track as speed increases. Structural characteristics which interfere with a straight, true stride are to be penalized. 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. _________________________________________________________________ Recognized By American Kennel Club Canadian Kennel Club Kennel Club of Great Britain Kennel Union of Southern Africa Federation Cynologique Internationale Field Dog Stud Book _________________________________________________________________ Special Medical Problems Irish Setters are generally a hearty breed, often reaching 13 or 14 years of age; still, they are prone to health problems of varying degrees of severity: GASTRIC DILATION VOVOLUS Often also called gastric torsion or bloat, afflicts Irish Setters more often than most other breeds. Precautions should be taken by Irish Setter owners to lessen the likelihood that their dogs develop this acute and life-threatening condition. HIP DYSPLASIA Also somewhat common in Irish Setters, though they are less prone to the disorder than some other large breeds. All breeding stock should be radiographically cleared of hip dysplasia at two years of age before being bred. HYPOTHYROIDISM Hypothyroidism is fairly common in Irish Setters. Proper diagnosis of low thyroid activity requires a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) response test in addition to the standard T4 test. EPILEPSY Epilepsy is also present in Irish Setters. With seizure disorders, and with all the conditions mentioned above, it is important that Irish Setter puppy buyers ask breeders about the frequency of occurrence of such disorders in the pedigree. PROGRESSIVE RETINAL ATROPHY PRA was once a serious problem in Irish Setters. Recently, however, a DNA test was made available to determine which Irish Setters are PRA carriers and which are not. HYPERTROPHIC OSTEODYSTROPHY HOD afflicts some Irish Setter puppies and can be fatal. Oversupplementation of puppies and high levels of protein in puppies' diets have been linked to the development of this condition. SPONDYLOSIS Elderly Irish Setters often develop spondylosis, an arthritic condition of the vertebrae which decreases mobility. _________________________________________________________________ Other Resources - BOOKS, PERIODICALS, AND ARTICLES - E. Irving Eldredge and Connie Vanacore, The New Complete Irish Setter, Howell Book House, 1983. (In print) Luz Holvenstot, Irish Setters, T.F.H. Publications, 1979. (In print) William C. Thompson, The New Irish Setter, Howell Book House, 1968. (Out of print) Patricia Gallagher, Irish Setters Today, 1977 (Out of print) Joan McDonald Brearley, This is the Irish Setter, T.F.H. Publications, 1975. (Out of print) Walter Hutchinson, Hutchinson on Setters, Donald R. Hoflin Publishing, 1980 (Out of print) Irish Setter Club of America Memo to Members. Bi-monthly magazine available to ISCA members. For membership application, contact: Robert L. Robinson 1826 Palmcroft Way Northeast Phoenix, AZ 85007 602/253-0753 - BREEDERS - For the Irish Setter Club of America Breeders Directory and other ISCA pamphlets: Sam MacDonald 10901 Ives Fort Worth, TX 76108 817/246-4342 - RESCUE (NATIONAL) - Marilee Larson 2351 Prosperity Way San Leandro, CA 94578 510/351-2966 email: BRGF61A@prodigy.com - BREED CLUBS - Irish Setter Club of America Mrs. Marion Pahy, Corresponding Secretary 16717 Ledge Falls San Antonio, TX 78232 210/494-0389 (Founded 1891) Irish Setter Association of England Mr. W. Bryden Hill Farmhouse Church End Renhold, Bedford MK41 OLU Belfast and District Irish Setter Club Mr. P. Nolan 16 Clifton Crescent Belfast 14 Irish Setter Club of Wales Mr. P. Rowlands 11 Ffordd Lerry Wrexham, Clwyd LL12 8JB _________________________________________________________________ Irish Setter FAQ Holly Kruse, hkruse@globalcom.net