Irish Setter
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The Irish Setter, also known as the Red Setter, is a breed of gundog. The term Irish Setter is commonly used to encompass the Show-bred dog recognized by the AKC as well as the field-bred Red Setter recognized by the Field Dog Stud Book.
Appearance
The coat is moderately long and silky and of a deep red color, and it requires maintenance. The undercoat is abundant in winter weather. Irish Setters range in height from 25 to 27 inches (64-69 cm), males weigh 60 to 70 pounds (27-32 kg) and females 53 to 64 pounds (24-29 kg). The FCI Breed Standard for the Irish Setter stipulates males: 23 to 26.5 inches (58-67 cm), females: 21.5 to 24.5 inches (55-62 cm).
Temperament
This happy, playful breed is known for its joie de vivre and thrives on activity. It is faster and has more endurance than other setter breeds. In general, Irish Setters are friendly, enjoy human company, and actively look for other dogs with which to play. They are excellent with children. Due to the breed's need for frequent activity, this is an inappropriate dog for inactive families or apartment dwellers. Possibly due to their stubbornness and resistance to obedience training, they have been marked as being stupid, but are really quite intelligent.
History
The breed was developed in Ireland in the 1700s from the Old Spanish Pointer, setting spaniels, and early Scottish setters. Early Irish Setters were white with red blotches on their coats, but today the Setter's coat is a rich mahogany color. The Irish Red and White Setter is more closely related to those early Setters. The Irish Setter's name in Gaelic is Madra rua or "red dog". Originally, the Irish Setter was bred for hunting, specifically for setting or pointing upland gamebirds. They are similar to other members of the setter family such as the English Setter and Gordon Setter. Today, the Irish Setter is more commonly found as a companion and family pet.Miscellaneous
Bus Éireann, the national bus company in the Republic of Ireland, uses the Red Setter as its corporate logo.Famous Setters
- King Timahoe, pet of Richard Nixon
- Mike, pet of Harry Truman
- Big Red, book/movie character Big Red (film)
External links
- [Irish Setter Breeders Club]
- [National Red Setter Field Trial Club]
- [Irish Setter UK & Ireland Website]
- [Irish Setter Club of America]
- [Gun Dog Magazine on Red Setter]
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