Irish Setter Dog Breed Information
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13 to 14 years
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Expensive *
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Star
Superstar
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Rare
Easy to get
Introduction
When you get an Irish Setter home remember that you share your pet with the White House residents, these breed gained prominence under the reign of President Truman and President Nixon who were both proud owners of an Irish Setter. They have grown to prominence ever since then in the United States.
This is one of the most boisterous breed around that loves to run and play. Many proud owners would say that these happy go lucky dogs thrive on physical exercise. If you want to be the proud parent to this breed and do not like to exercise then it is advisable to not even consider bringing home an Irish Setter as they are not for the couch potatoes.
The most appealing feature of the Irish Setter is its deep mahogany color that catches light with every sprint or leap he takes. This unique dog helps the hunter to find birds, points towards it and even retrieves it.
The Irish Setter is an easy breed to train, these adorable Setters love to please their owner, which makes it easy to train them and their exuberance and abundant energy further helps in the trainign process.
In this following write up we will help you to understand the Irish Setter better, whether it is understanding the temperament or being ready for some of the common health issues that you can face in your Setter we aim to help you through it all.
History
Let us begin from the beginning and find out how did these majestic dogs come into existence. The Setter dog finds reference in history as early as 1570 under the literature Caius’s De Canibus Britannicus. It is widely assumed that the Irish Setter came into prominence in the early18th century. They were developed by inter-breeding the Setter, Irish Water Spaniel, English Setter, Pointer and the Gordon Setter.
In the beginning the Red Setter just had one coat i.e. white with red patches but in due course of time this breed has to come to be known for its deep oak red or mahogany coat. In fact the red and white Setter is a different breed all together now. The Irish Setter was bred to help the hunters in setting their game. They were given shorter legs that would help the dog to lie near the bird to allow the hunter to put a net over its prey. When this Setter finds its game it runs back and forth to the hunter and the prey to alert him.
Unique Aspects
The most unique feature of the Irish Setter is its zig zag pattern of running. This helps them to catch the scent of the bird or the game. Further helping the hunter to locate the prey unlike scent hounds who track the smell through the ground, the Irish Setter track the game through its scent in the wind.
The Irish Setter is a majestic looking breed that has abundance of energy and has a need to please people, they attach themselves easily with one person or the family and can develop separation anxiety at times. This is a very common problem in the Irish Setter, if he or she is bored or left alone then they can soon turn to destructive behavior to keep themselves busy. They like to stay near to its family.
This breed is recognized worldwide with its dark mahogany or red oak color and is one of those few breeds in the world that come just in one coat color setting them apart from other breeds.
Fun Trivia
The Irish Setter is an agile and handsome breed but they have not had a wide presence on the silver screen. Here is a list of movies and celebrities that you share your pet with.
Movie character
The most prolific character ever played by an Irish Setter was in a 1962 Disney movie called ‘Big Red’. Mad Men, the television series also features this dog as the fictional dog of Duck Phillips. They have also featured in the Stroh’s beer commercial.
Celebrity owners
The most famous Irish Setter in the Untied States of America was King Timahoe, who was the proud resident of the White House under the reign of President Richard Nixon. The other resident was Mike, President Truma’s pet. Alexander II of Russia also owned a Irish Setter. Henry Gross dedicated a song to his pet after its death in 1976. Mitt Romney also owns a Irish Setter called Seamus.
Vital Stats:
Dog Breed Group: Gun Dogs
Height: 27-33 Inches
Weight: 24-32 Kg
Life Span: 13 to 14 years
Pros
- Affectionate and loving
- Happy go lucky dos
- Excellent family pets
Cons
- Grooming needs attention
- Will need a lot of space to run
- Prone to health issues
