Irish Setter
Solid mahogany red, bred that way for the show ring rather than for the field. Fast, tall and enthusiastic, and it takes years to settle into itself.
Overview
The Irish Setter is the solid red version, bred out of the red and white in the nineteenth century when the colour became fashionable, and it then became a show dog to an extent that split the breed. Field bred Irish Setters are smaller, less coated and considerably more driven than show bred ones.
The long silky red coat is the reason the breed is famous and it is also a good deal of work.
Temperament
Exuberant, affectionate and famously scatterbrained. Irish Setters are outstanding with children, sociable with everyone, and they stay adolescent for two or three years.
They are not a calm dog and they are not a stupid one, though the reputation persists. They are easily distracted and they need training that holds their attention. They are also intensely social and prone to separation anxiety.
Care and grooming
The long feathered coat needs brushing every day or two, with attention behind the ears, on the legs and under the body where it mats.
Hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy and canine leucocyte adhesion deficiency all have tests, and bloat is a real risk in this deep chested breed. Epilepsy also occurs. Twelve to fifteen years.
Living and exercise
Two hours a day minimum. They are built to run and they do not settle without it.
A bored Irish Setter is destructive and noisy, and that is the commonest complaint about the breed. Given real exercise they are one of the most delightful dogs to live with.
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