The Irish Setter

Brought to the United States in the early 1800s, the Irish setter commanded great respect in the field and was one of the most commonly used dogs among the professional meat hunter fraternity.

It was back in 1874 when the American Field brought to existence what was called the Field Dog Stud Book and that is where dogs registry started (in the United States) and of course it continued to the present day. The FDSB is the oldest pure-bred registry in the United States. In those day of the beginning, one could registry a dog even if it came as a result of mixing 2 different breeds. Around this period the Irish setter ancestor came to life in the sense that the Llewellyn Setter was bred with bloodlines from the Lavarack breeding of English setter also bloodlines from native Irish Setters.

Therefore what they called an Irish setter in 1800s did not look as it does today. The AKC registered Irish Setters in a myriad of colors. A 19th-century writer (Frank Forester) portrayed the Irish Setter saying: "The points of the Irish Setter are more bony, angular, and wiry frame, a longer head, a less silky and straighter coat that those of the English. His color ought to be a deep orange-red and white; a common mark is a stripe of white between the eyes and a white ring around the neck, white stockings, and a white tag to the tail."

The Setter that was completely red, however, was preferred in the show ring so the breed followed this "red" direction. However, a great concern came to the surface when some facts became evident: for almost a century (the period between 1874 and 1948), this breed created a as many as 760 conformation champions, but contrary to this number the field champions were only five!

This situation was a serious concern because the Irish Setter was running extinct from the field and this had to be remedied. That’s why to resurrect the breed outcrosses represented the optimum solution.

It was Ned LaGrange of Pennsylvania that invested an important amount of money to get some of the last working working Irish Setters in the States and to bring dogs from Europe. This is how he started the outcross red and white field champion English Setters.

Working Irish setter kennels today numerous field champion dogs that claim lines from both the FDSB dogs and AKC dogs.

The Irish setter is big and beautiful. With a long coat that has a lot of feathering, the Irish setter is a high maintenance dog, but don't let that put you down; if any dog can bring you fun and joy, it’s the Irish Setter!

The Irish setter was trained in Ireland in the 1800s to hunt game. Since then he has become more of a show dog than anything else, although, many people have taken in this red dog and enjoyed many years of companionship and fun. It is not to underestimate the therapy of such a playful mate! Often times its unconditional love will conquer people as it is surely received in more abundance by comparison with our humans fellows.

The Irish setter is a good watch dog that will bark and warn you of anybody and almost anything, but at the same time they have a good heart and absolutely love the children!

If you are interested in keeping an Irish Setter be prepared for a dog that has a lot of energy and a dog that needs good, firm training (because he can be stubborn) and of course there is always the shedding. An Irish setter needs constant brushing or else you are going to find long red hair everywhere.

Something that is no so well known about the Irish setter is that he can come with white markings on the chest, feet and face. It is not an abnormality; it's the fact that these dogs are closer to their ancestors then the solid red Irish Setters.

Other than that, he is a most beautiful dog that will bring joy and constant laughs to you and your family! Children and Irish setters? An absolute love story and endless fun, see it for yourself!