Irish Red and White Setter
The Irish Red and White Setter is a hunting dog breed with excellent working abilities and an innate ability to crouch when spotting game. It is used primarily for hunting land birds.
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History of origin
The ancestors of modern setters have been assisting humans in bird hunting since ancient times. Even during the Roman Empire, they were used to hunt alongside hawks. Later, nets replaced falcons, and snares gave way to guns, but the dogs remained. By the 17th century, individual hunting dogs could already be identified as setters. Hunters increasingly controlled the breedings, selecting only the best specimens.
In 1875, 66 setters were registered at a show in Dublin. Twenty-three of them were red and white, and the rest were fawn. The solid color quickly gained popularity, leading to a decline in spotted dogs, almost to extinction. A few breeders in remote areas of Ireland continued to breed them.
Since the 1970s, the breed has been actively revived with the support of the Irish Kennel Club. Today, the Irish Red and White Setter is recognized by almost all international conservation associations.
Use in hunting
The Irish Red and White Setter's job is to locate game. It uses its superior sense of smell, making it excellent at tracking the scent of birds such as partridge, grouse, snipe, and pheasant. Upon spotting the game, it stops and freezes in a characteristic crouch, indicating to its handler where the game is hiding. On command, it flushes the game, and after a shot, it locates and retrieves the wounded bird.
The Irish Red and White Setter is more prized by hunters than the Red, and is more visible among the yellowed vegetation in autumn.
The Red and White Setter is primarily a hunting dog. However, it has also proven itself to be an excellent companion for active people and an athlete, capable of achieving excellent results in agility, flyball, and other active sports.
Appearance
The Irish Red and White Setter is a well-proportioned, balanced, medium-sized dog with a strong, powerful body, but not coarse, an aristocratic stance, and a high-carried head. Everything about him speaks of endurance, passion, and exceptional intelligence. Sexual dimorphism is pronounced.
- Height at withers: 57-66 cm;
- Weight: 23-32 kg.
The head is relatively broad with a convex skull and a prominent stop. The muzzle is square and dry. The eyes are oval and slightly convex. The ears are set level with the eyes and lie close to the head. The neck is slightly arched and moderately long.
The body is strong and muscular, with a firm back and deep chest. The limbs are well muscled, with well-developed tendons and strong bone. The paws are arched and have plenty of hair between the toes. The tail reaches the hocks.
The coat is long, silky, fine, and straight. The base color is white, with scattered solid dark red spots, with or without speckles.
Character and behavior
Irish Red and White Setters are often described as tireless and playful. These dogs enjoy long, moderate-paced walks and love to run and frolic in the open air. With sufficient exercise, they are calm and cheerful companions. They are a good choice for families with older children. Irish Setters get along well with other pets. They are good-natured and affectionate by nature, have a balanced temperament, and are completely non-aggressive. They will bark to announce the arrival of guests, but greet everyone with a friendly wag of their tail.
The Irish Red and White Setter is suitable only for active people who can provide it with sufficient exercise and the opportunity to realize its potential in the form of games, sports, and field trips.
The Irish Red and White Setter is intelligent and quick-witted. It responds well to positive reinforcement training and quickly learns behavioral rules. However, it matures slowly and can seem overly playful and curious, like a puppy, until it's 3-4 years old.
Content Features
The Irish Red and White Setter is best suited for indoor living. It's very sociable and requires constant companionship.
Weekly brushing is recommended. The fine hair on the legs should be trimmed regularly, and the thick hair behind the ears should be thinned. The single coat is not very dense and does not require frequent washing. Other essential hygiene procedures include regular ear cleaning, teeth cleaning, and nail trimming.
Health and life expectancy
There are three hereditary diseases in the breed that are constantly monitored by clubs:
- leukocyte adhesion deficiency;
- von Willebrand disease;
- cataract;
They are becoming less common each year. Most dogs are healthy and have fairly strong immune systems. The average lifespan of Irish Red and White Setters is 10.5 years.
Buying a puppy, price
Even in the CIS red Irish setters They aren't very popular, let alone their lesser-known relatives. Most of the breed's representatives were imported from Europe. The first litter in Russia appeared only in 2018. There are breeders in Simferopol, Feodosia, Stavropol, and Moscow. Puppy prices vary widely, averaging 25,000 rubles.
Photos and videos
More photos of Irish Red and White Setter puppies and adult dogs are presented in the gallery.
Video about the Irish Red and White Setter breed
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1 comment
Karina
The Irish Red Setter is an affable, spirited, and energetic dog. It is quick and resilient, and stands in a typical half-crouch. It is not suitable for people who prefer peace and quiet. It requires long walks with the opportunity to run freely; it will get the exercise it needs by accompanying its owner on a bike ride or jogging. It loves to play, is intelligent, and is easily trained with consistency. Like all dogs with a well-developed hunting instinct, it must learn basic obedience skills to listen to its owner's commands even during outdoor walks. At home, it is a pleasant and calm dog. Find and cite references to independent, authoritative sources that support the information.
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