This beautiful bird dog performs with dignity and a sense of humor at home, in the field and in the show ring.

The Irish Setter has been termed the most beautiful of all dogs.  Whether on the sidewalk, in the field or the show ring, it will cause many a head to turn.  A long time favorite in conformation classes, it has won its share of Best-of-Breed awards, but it is more than "just another pretty face."  It is, and should be, first of all, an active aristocratic bird dog.  This bird dog began many years ago and it had a purpose.  Once you can see past its outer splendor, you will find that it is smart, courageous, loving and just as funny as it is beautiful.

I'd like to say it brought with it a rainbow and sprang from a shamrock, and that may well be true, because its origin is as mysterious as a leprechaun's.  We know it had its origin in Ireland but after that, everything is just an educated guess.

Because of its beginning in Ireland and because of its domed dog skull, it is thought that a likely ancestor to the Irish Setter lived as far back as the seventh century.  This was the Irish Water Spaniel, a breed that originated in Spain, therefore called the spaniel.  With the influence of this spaniel and another dog from Spain, the large and plodding Spanish Pointer; bred to the Irish Water Spaniel to improve its speed and agility, and with a bit of Bloodhound, along came the Irish Red and White Setter.  The Irish Red and White Setter, at its early inception was predominantly white with reddish-brown patches.  So prized were these Irish Red and White Setters that in the 16th century Sir Robert Cecil made a practice of presenting Irish "setting dogs" to the Kings and dignitaries.

The Irish Setter is a pointing breed, but the early dogs were known as setters rather than pointers because of the way they hunted.  In the sixteenth century Dr. John Caius wrote of  "… the dogge called the Setter, which layeth its belly to the ground and creepeth like a worme …"  As the dog crept toward the birds, the hunter followed and threw a net over the birds and the crouching, sitting or "setting" dog.

This early form of pointing, "setting," began to change with the introduction and improvement of firearms.  The setters began to range farther in the field in search of their game.  It was difficult to see the solid red dogs crouching from a distance; thus "setting" evolved into what we recognize today as the pointing stance.  Because stalking comes naturally to dogs and other carnivores, setting and pointing are not limited to the pointing breeds, nor even to dogs.  Selective breeding, however, has preserved the natural instincts that are more pronounced in the pointing breeds.

There was much mixing of breeds during the late 1700's when the solid red dog began showing up.  'Till this day, it is difficult to say what was behind the solid red; some say the Gordon Setter, but it may well have been the native Irish Red Spaniel or modder rhu, in Gaelic, that lent much to the beginning of this magnificent red dog.  In the early days, the dogs looked more like spaniels than setters.  They were short on leg and much closer to the ground, and they were smaller than the setters of today.

The solid red was the topic of many debates amongst the Irishmen.  The argument was that, unlike the Red and White, the solid red blended into the brush and field and could not be seen, therefore, it could meet with an accident and be shot.

It didn't take long before the Irish Red Setter won over those that doubted it had its place in the field.  According to the magazine, Rural Sports, published in the 18th century, a landlord in Northern Ireland gave his tenant the renewal of a farm lease for 999 years in exchange for an Irish Red Setter dog and bitch.  He would have made a lot of money each year upon its renewal.  It is also noted that in the 19th century, an Irishman by the name of McCarthy sold a brace of Red Setters for an outrageously large sum of money.

These early red dogs must have been exceptional hunters and companions to command these prices.  Their hunting instinct was said to be extraordinary.  A well-known but sad story is that of an Irishman who lost his Red Setter while hunting, found him a year later; just a dog's skeleton, in a bog --- on point.

When the breed's reputation reached the United States around 1875, Americans began importing the red sons of Erin.  One of the first famous dogs was known by the name 'Elcho'.  He was by Oppenheimer's Charley and out of Oppenheimer's Nell.  He became the first dog of any breed to win a championship in this country.  The Irish Setter's debut in America was so widely acknowledged that after only two years more than 130 Irish were entered at the first Westminster dog show.

Reminiscent of their HERITAGE, these early imports had white markings, usually on their forechest, on their feet or on their forehead in the form of a star or blaze.  And, like their ancestors, they excelled as gun dogs.  They were equally popular as personal shooting companions or field trial contenders.  To obtain a true picture of the early history of the Irish Setter in America, the first volume of The American Kennel Club Stud Book (1878) is an excellent source and can be found in the library of the American Kennel Club.  Only sporting dogs were registered in that first volume.

The end of World War 1 brought the breed to a heightened popularity both here in the states and in England.  To protect the breed, England's Kennel Club ruled that all gun dogs must earn working certificates in order to win championships.  That action was not taken here in the United States and as the Irish Setter's popularity grew in the show ring, it began to fade in the field.

Around the year 1950, however, a group of field enthusiasts vowed to restore the redhead's rightful place in the field.  Calling their dogs Red Setters, they formed the National Red Setter Field Trial Club.  They entered and placed with their Red Setters in more than 500 field trials from 1953 to 1966.  When comparing their dogs to the earlier specimens, the Red Setters, or the field type of the Irish, are smaller, more compact and weigh little over 50 pounds.

The Irish Setter in America is a larger dog.  According to the breed standard adopted in 1960 by the Irish Setter Club of America, the ideal male is 27 inches and weighs 70 pounds; the female is 25 inches and weighs 60 pounds.  The Irish has a classic long lean head, with a well-defined stop and occiput, its delicate beauty is emphasized by its soft chiseling and, yet it has that expression of alertness.  Eyes should be dark to medium brown, sometimes called natural in color.  They should never be light, giving way to a hard expression.  In body, they are slightly longer than tall, allowing their body a big efficient gait.  The rear driving with great power, the front reaching as if to pull in the ground below them.  They should be sufficiently balanced with correct angulation, neither straight nor extreme; deep chest; well-sprung ribs; straight, sinewy forelegs with plenty of bone; and powerful hindquarters with broad, well-defined thighs.  Their feet are also important, they should be small and firm, with toes arched and close.

There is no word to describe the coat color of the Irish Setter.  The color red, chestnut, brown, mahogany, and at times so deep that even purple cannot describe it.  It is said to be the Irish Setter's crowning glory.  It should be straight, free of curl, fine, with long silky feathering.  It is void of black, should be ample but never so profuse to hinder its job in the field.  It is not uncommon to see an Irish with a splash of white adding to its glorious shades of red.  Today, that splash is usually found on the forechest.

The Irish Setter loves nothing better than to be hunting.  Your setter will want you following behind as it quarters left to right with style and grace.  Now and then it will glance back to see if you're watching and paying attention.  When it slams to a halt, breathlessly still, on point of its bird, it will take your breath away.

Many breeders believe it is important that the Irish be able to do what it was meant to do and originally bred for.  It is in the Sporting Group.  They wish to support, prove and promote this heritage; not only the Irish Setter's elegance but also the Irish Setter's birdiness, its beauty and its brains.  The Irish Setter Club of America began a versatility excellence program sometime back in 1984.  For an Irish to earn this certificate, it must qualify in the field, the show ring, and in obedience.

Irish Setters are intelligent and once they learn something they rarely ever forget it.  They are not, however, blindly obedient.  If you respect and understand them, they can do quite well in the obedience ring and in other events.  They have become good agility and therapy dogs.  They are inquisitive and sometimes adventurous.  They are always ready for a new game and they can become easily bored.  The Irishman is a fun-loving fellow who would rather play than work.  You will be successful with your training if you make it fun for them.  If you do that, this frolicking show-off can go far with whatever you wish to teach him.  Many Irish have earned tracking and obedience titles in the United States.  It was an Irish who placed high in trial in 1936 at one of the all-breed obedience trials.  In 1960 it was an Irish that was the first breed to become a field and bench champion, and a utility dog tracker.

Beauty has its price.  The beautiful coat of the Irish Setter needs to be brushed often to keep it from matting.  Some Irish are also plagued with skin problems and allergies, so their skin must receive special care like frequent bathing and protection to fight against excessive dryness.  Their ears need to be checked weekly because long ears are more susceptible to ear infections.  Show dogs require more grooming, conditioning, and lots of work, particularly in the clipping and scissoring department.

The Irish Setter is a slow maturing dog and physically is not fully mature until about four years old, maybe even five, maybe even never.  Their life expectancy is in the wide range of 10 years to 16 years.  Mentally it is always a puppy and perhaps this is why it has such a wonderful rapport with children.  It is the picture of quiet dignity one moment; the next moment it is a frolicking puppy of ten years, rolling on its back and bounding about, counter surfing, tissue paper pulling and dragging its blankets and toys all over the house.  This dog loves life and all this is part of its Irish Setter charm.  The world was made for the Irish Setter and it expects everyone and everything to love it.  It is not a guard dog, although it will bark and alert you to strangers, its tail will wag them to death. Even as a stranger, to them, they are that long lost friend.

In the field the Irish Setter is very independent, it is business and birds, and at home it is the other way around.  At home, the Irish Setter is dependent.  It will want you to play, if you don't, it will contrive ways to convince you its play time.  And if you are too busy and you can't play, it will go off by itself and find a game it can play by itself.  The Irish Setter is happiest when it is under foot and close to its people.  After a long run or romp in the field, it is content to lie at your feet, the closer the better.

The Irish Setter is not for everyone.  During the 1960's everyone wanted one and it became the number three AKC ranked breed.  This spirited sporting dog, bred to run miles and miles in search of game, was often kept confined and chained.  The energy it once spent "doing its thing" became locked-up-energy.  Is it any wonder that humans tagged them as having a "hyper" reputation?  It is very important that an Irish have plenty of exercise, and if it does, you could not ask for a happier pet.  This does not mean that an Irish should be allowed to run freely  Because of what it was bred for, and what it is, it will follow its nose to the end of the world.  If it does not meet with misfortune, its curiosity will certainly get it into trouble.  A large fenced-in yard will lend to your Irish running off steam and enjoying its days outside, however, the Irish is NOT an outdoor dog.  It will never be happy away from the companionship of the people it loves. 

The Irish Setter, like all breeds, is not immune to genetic health problems, but reputable breeders are constantly working to overcome these problems.  Some of these problems began with the indiscriminate breeding of the '60's. There are tests now for PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy).  More is known about that cute chubby puppy that is growing too fast and could be stricken by HOD, (Hyperosteodystrophy).  That puppy just can't bear the weight being put on those soft forming bones.  (See Health page)

If you chose the Irish Setter for your breed, there is one important thing to remember, your Irish will be hard to ignore.  In fact, they will not let you ignore them.  The Irish asks a lot of its people.  The dog is big in heart, spirit, and devotion.  He owns you.  In return for your love and care the Irish will return your affection ten times over, again and again.  You cannot fool them, they will know if you are their kind of people.  Your Irish will bring you cherished memories that will live in your heart forever.