Irish Setter Picture Gallery

Irish Setter Breeders

Irish Setter Clubs/Associations

The Full Irish Setter Description

The Irish Setter is a likable dog: friendly, loving, loyal, and protective. He enjoys the company of children. In fact, he takes a while to grow up himself. He's usually about three years old before he settles into adulthood. He likes plenty of room to run, vigorous exercise, and loving attention.

Did you know?

The solid red Irish Setter first appeared in Ireland in the 19th century.
The earliest ancestors of the Irish Setter were not solid red, in fact, they were red and white.
The Irish Setter first became popular in the 18th century.

So you want to own an Irish Setter?

The Irish Setter's coat requires weekly attention to avoid mats.
The Irish Setter likes lots of exercise and requires long walks.
The Irish Setter is not an early developer and they frequently require more training than some other breeds.

Indicative Breed Standard

General Appearance

Must be racy, balanced and full of quality. In conformation, proportionate.

Characteristics

Most handsome, and refined in looks, tremendously active with untiring readiness to range and hunt under any conditions.

Temperament

Demonstrably affectionate.

Head and Skull

Head long and lean, not narrow or snipy, not coarse at the ears. Skull oval (from ear to ear) having plenty of brain room and well-defined occipital protuberance. From occiput to stop and from stop to tip of nose to be parallel and of equal length, brows raised showing stop. Muzzle moderately deep, fairly square at end. Jaws of nearly equal length, flews not pendulous, nostrils wide. Colour of nose dark mahogany, dark walnut or black.

Eyes

Dark hazel to dark brown, not too large, preferably like an unshelled almond in shape, set level (not obliquely), under brows showing kind, intelligent
expression.

Ears

Of moderate size, fine in texture, set on low, well back and hanging in a neat fold close to head.

Mouth

Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck

Moderately long, very muscular but not too thick, slightly arched and free from all tendency to throatiness, setting cleanly without a break of topline into shoulders.

Forequarters

Shoulders fine at points, deep and sloping well back. Forelegs straight and sinewy having plenty of bone, with elbows free, well let down and not inclined either in or out.

Body

Chest as deep as possible, rather narrow in front. Ribs well sprung leaving plenty of lung room and carried well back to muscular loin, slightly arched. Firm straight topline gently sloping downwards from withers.

Hindquarters

Wide and powerful. Hindlegs from hip to hock long and muscular, from hock to heel short and strong. Stifle and hock joints well bent and not inclined either in or out.

Feet

Small, very firm; toes strong, close together and arched.

Tail

Of moderate length proportionate to size of body, set on just below the level of the back, strong at root tapering to a fine point and carried as nearly as possible on a level with or below the back.

Gait/Movement

Free flowing, driving movement with true action when viewed from front or rear, and in profile, showing perfect co-ordination.

Coat

On head, front of legs and tips of ears, short and fine; on all other parts of body and legs of moderate length, flat and as free as possible from curl or wave. Feathers on upper portion of ears long and silky; on back of fore- and hindlegs long and fine. Fair amount of hair on belly, forming a nice fringe which may extend on to chest and throat. Feet well feathered between toes. Tail to have fringe of moderately long hair decreasing in length as it approaches point. All feathering to be as straight and flat as possible.

Colour

Rich chestnut with no trace of black. White on chest, throat, chin or toes, or small star on forehead or narrow streak or blaze on nose or face not to disqualify.