History of the Breed The Irish Setter is a very old breed, but the Irish red Setter itself is not the first known "Irish" Setter. The original Irish was of red and white colour. When the first dog show was held in 1860, most Irish shown were of the red and white variety. The "trend" of solid reds did not originate until approximately 1875. In field trials around this time, more and more hunters were interested in the pointer over the setter. Irish Setters are still popular in the field, but not as they used to be.
Characteristics The irish setter is an active, aristocratic bird dog and is said to be one of the most beautiful breeds of dog. With his gleaming, flowing, red coat and the simple elegant lines of his conformation he is a sight to behold.
Apart from his glamorous appearance, his personality is a hallmark of the breed. An irish setter loves life and loves people. He responds well to other dogs. To gain attention, he acts "the comedian" because he has agreat sense of humour, which sometimes is mistaken for being stupid .. do not underestimate the intelligence of the red dog! Some think he is difficult to train, however, some of the biggest winning obedience competitions have been taken out by irish setters. Find a way to let an irish know what you want - then he will always oblige. |