Williams - Irish Setter

Physical Characteristics of the Irish Setter

(from the American Kennel Club breed standard)

Skull: Very slightly domed when viewed in profile.

Head: Long and lean, its length at least double the width between the ears.

Ears: Set well back and low, not above level of eye.

Eyes: Somewhat almond shaped, of medium size, placed rather well apart.

Nose: Black or chocolate; nostrils wide.

Muzzle: Moderately deep, jaws of nearly equal length.

Teeth: Scissors bite in which the upper incisors fit closely over the lower.

Neck: Moderately long, strong but not thick, and slightly arched.

Chest: Deep, reaching approximately to the elbows with moderate forechest.

Forequarters: Shoulder blades long, wide, sloping well back, fairly close together at the withers. Upper arm and shoulder blades are approximately the same length.

Feet: Rather small, very firm, toes arched and close.

Forelegs: Straight and sinewy.

Topline: From withers to tail should be firm and incline slightly downward.

Body: Sufficiently long to permit a straight and free stride.

Loins: Firm, muscular and of moderate length.

Size: 27 inches at the withers and a show weight of about 70 pounds is considered ideal for the dog; the bitch 25 inches, 60 pounds.

Tail: Set on nearly level with the croup as a natural extension of the topline, strong at root, tapering to a fine point.

Hindquarters: Wide and powerful with broad, well developed thighs. Hind legs long and muscular from hip to hock; short and perpendicular from hock to ground; well angulated at stifle and hock joints. Feet as in front.

Coat: Short and fine on head and forelegs. On all other parts of moderate length and flat. Feathering long and silky.

Color: Mahogany or rich chestnut red.

Contents

Meet the lovely Irish Setter, a breed steeped in ancient lore, tracing its history through hundreds of years of working gundogs. See how the breed established a foothold in Ireland, its homeland, and England, and then spread in popularity to the US and beyond.

Delve beneath the Irish Setters silky red jacket and handsome physique to learn about the breeds personality, trainability and energy, a rewarding combination for the right owner. Also become aware of the breed-specific health considerations about which new owners must know and understand.

Learn the requirements of a well-bred Irish Setter by studying the description of the breed set forth in the American Kennel Club standard. Both show dogs and pets must possess key characteristics as outlined in the breed standard.

Find out about how to locate a well-bred Irish Setter puppy. Discover which questions to ask the breeder and what to expect when visiting the litter. Prepare for your puppy-accessory shopping spree. Also discussed are home safety, the first trip to the vet, socialization and solving basic puppy problems.

Cover the specifics of taking care of your Irish Setter every day: feeding for the puppy, adult and senior dog; grooming, including coat care, ears, eyes, nails and bathing; and exercise needs for your dog. Also discussed are the essentials of dog ID and travel.

Begin with the basics of training the puppy and adult dog. Learn the principles of house-training the Irish Setter, including the use of crates and basic scent instincts. Enter Puppy Kindergarten and introduce the pup to his collar and leash, and progress to the basic commands. Find out about obedience classes and other activities.

By Lowell Ackerman DVM, DACVD

Become your dogs healthcare advocate and a well-educated canine keeper. Select a skilled and able veterinarian. Discuss pet insurance, vaccinations and infectious diseases, the neuter/spay decision and a sensible, effective plan for parasite control, including fleas, ticks and worms.

Know when to consider your Irish Setter a senior and what special needs he will have. Learn to recognize the signs of aging in terms of physical and behavioral traits and what your vet can do to optimize your dogs golden years.

Step into the center ring and find out about the world of showing pure-bred dogs. Heres how to get started in AKC shows, how they are organized and whats required for your dog to become a champion. Also take a leap into the realms of obedience trials, agility, tracking tests and field and hunting events.

KENNEL CLUB BOOKS IRISH SETTER

ISBN 13: 978-1-59378-231-3

eISBN 13: 978-1-59378-990-9

Copyright 2004 Kennel Club Books An Imprint of I-5 Press A Division of I-5 Publishing, LLC
3 Burroughs, Irvine, CA 92618 USA
Cover Design Patented: US 6,435,559 B2 Printed in South Korea

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by photostat, scanner, microfilm, xerography or any other means, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the copyright owner.

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Photography by:

Paulette Braun, T.J. Calhoun, Kent & Donna Dannen, Isabelle Franais, Carol Ann Johnson, Bill Jonas, Antonio Philippe, Karen Taylor, Michael Trafford and Alice van Kempen.

Illustrations by Rene Low and Patricia Peters.

The Irish Setter was named Supreme Champion of Englands biggest show, Crufts Dog Show, three times in the 1990s. Heres the third victor, Eng. Sh. Ch. Caspians Intrepid, owned by Jackie Lorrimer and bred by Mr. M. and Mrs. S. Oakley. This prestigious win took place in 1999.