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Irish Setters: the most honest dog breed review you'll ever find. Information about Irish Setter personality and behavior. main page breed review faq health training adopting/buying links My book, Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyer's Guide (published by Henry Holt & Co.), includes a full-page profile of the Irish Setter, including these excerpts: "The most popular of the setters, the elegant Irish has been described as rollicking, happy-go-lucky, clownish, impulsive, flighty, and demonstrative. Though some individuals are more dignified and aristocratic, without enough running exercise and obedience training to instill good manners, this lively dog can turn into a destructive handful, especially during the gawky adolescent stage -- which lasts two or three years. The sociable Irish Setter gets along well with everyone and doesn't thrive if left alone all day without the companionship of either people or other pets. Though he has a willful streak and is easily distracted, he is more willing to please than the other setters and responds well to persistent -- but never harsh -- training. Setters are sensitive dogs with long memories: Once they learn something (whether right or wrong), they'll remember it for a long time. On the negative side, this means bad habits can be difficult to break and harsh handling is not easily forgotten." History Developed in Ireland as a solid color strain of the original red and white setter, he hunted game birds. Size 24-28 inches and 60-80 lbs

Irish Setters What's good about 'em What's bad about 'em If you want a dog who... Is medium to large, elegant and graceful in build and motion Has a lovely feathered RED coat Thrives on lots of exercise and athletic activities Is good-natured with everyone Is peaceful with other animals Is more willing to please than the other setters An Irish Setter may be right for you. If you don't want to deal with... Providing enough exercise to keep him satisfied Exuberant jumping, especially when young "Separation anxiety" (destructiveness and barking) when left alone too much Stubbornness (mind of his own) Frequent brushing and combing Shedding An Irish Setter may not be right for you. If I were considering an Irish Setter... My major concerns would be: Providing enough exercise. Irish Setters MUST have regular opportunities to vent their energy. Otherwise they will become rambunctious and bored -- which they usually express by destructive chewing, especially when young. Separation anxiety. More than most other breeds, Irish Setters need a great deal of companionship and do not like being left alone for more than a few hours. They tend to express their unhappiness through destructive chewing and barking. If you work all day, this is not the breed for you. Stubbornness. Irish Setters are not Golden Retrievers. They are the most trainable of the setters, but they can be extremely stubborn and manipulative. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say. To teach your Irish Setter to listen to you, "Respect Training" is mandatory. My Irish Setter Training Page discusses the program you need. Grooming. To keep their silky coat free of mats, Irish Setters require regular brushing, and also clipping and trimming every few months. Shedding. Irish Setters shed quite a bit. Their hairs come off on your hands when you pet them, stick tenaciously to your clothing, upholstery, and carpeting, and hide under the furniture. Be prepared for vacuuming. Not all Irish Setters are alike! There are energetic Irish Setters, and placid Irish Setters. Hard-headed Irish Setters, and sweet-natured Irish Setters. Serious Irish Setters, and good-natured goofballs. Introverted Irish Setters, and Irish Setters who love everyone. If you acquire an Irish Setter puppy, you can't know for sure what he or she will grow up to be like. Because a good number of purebred puppies do NOT grow up to conform to the "norm." If you're considering an adult Irish Setter... There are plenty of adult Irish Setters who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics. If you find such an adult, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you. When you acquire a puppy, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important. But when you acquire an adult, you're acquiring what he already IS. If you would like to link to this review, here is the HTML code: <a href="http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/irishsetters.html">Irish Setters: What's Good About 'Em, What's Bad About 'Em</a> Copyright © 2000-2008 by Michele Welton. All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without the permission of the author.