Irish Red Setter: Beautiful And Friendly
The Irish Red Setter originated as a hunting dog, but their extraordinary beauty and character have led them to leave the woods and enter homes as a companion dog. Discover all the characteristics of this unique breed.
History of the Irish Red Setter
The Irish Red Setter originates from another variety of setter that is less popular today: the color combination variety between white and red. There are records that defend that this breed of dog, almost as we know it today, already existed in the 18th century.
At that time it was a great hunting dog, specifically, a pointer. That is to say, their job is to accompany the hunter and show him where the hidden prey are. This same work is carried out by pointers or bracos, for example.
However, in the 19th century she entered to participate in beauty contests, in which she quickly established herself and gained a lot of popularity. Since then, breeder-born setters have been more into beauty pageants than hunting: today, few purely hunting setters remain.
However, as we will see later, the hunting instinct remains in this breed. Regarding his physical appearance, despite the standards of the contests, he has changed little over time.
Characteristics of the Irish Red Setter
This breed of dog stands out for its slim, elegant and agile presence. They are tall dogs that reach 65 centimeters to the withers, but barely weigh 30 kilos at most. This is because they have a narrow body and long legs.
The head is long and thin, but harmonious and has a gentle and kind expression. The nose can be light or black in color. The ears are triangular and rounded, set low on the head and drooping back.
As for the hair, it is fine and long throughout the body, silky to the touch and shiny in appearance. It has longer fringes on the ears, belly, chest and tail. It is intended to be as smooth as possible, but it is often wavy. The tail is long, set low and, even in an alert position, it is never carried higher than the line of the spinal column.
In terms of colors, as its name suggests, the Irish Red Setter can appear only in chestnut color. You may have white patches on your forehead and face, toes, or chest. There are other varieties of setter in other colors that appear black or spotted.
Behavior of the Irish Red Setter
The hunter genes of the setter remain despite all generations away from the mountains. It is, in short, an energetic and intelligent dog, very friendly and hard-working.
In general, they are dogs with good character, but they need to meet their daily exercise needs to avoid unwanted behaviors. Three quality walks a day should be enough, but we must not forget about mental exercise: following tracks, solving problems and having interactive toys within reach is equally important.
They are very sociable and affectionate dogs, so they are dogs that live easily with children or other pets. They are not distrustful of strangers, so they are not good watchdogs: instead, they are dogs that tend to make friends wherever they pass.
Due to his intelligence and docility, it is not difficult to train if you take a positive perspective that approaches training as games and is based on positive reinforcement. It is easy to get collaboration and learning from a working dog like the Irish Red Setter, while establishing dominance relationships is unproductive.
Irish Red Setter care
The Irish Red Setter is generally a healthy breed. Due to its size, it has a certain propensity to suffer from hip dysplasia and it is one of the breeds in which gastric torsion can occur. In addition, it seems that within the breed the most common diseases are hemophilia, epilepsy and eye problems.
As in any other breed of dog, the diagnosis of these diseases or their prevention should be in the hands of a veterinarian. It is necessary to follow the vaccination and deworming schedule recommended by health personnel to ensure the health of these dogs.
The fine and silky hair of the Irish Red Setter needs a good brushing every few days to stay healthy. Otherwise, knots are created that, in addition to being unsightly, can cause discomfort or skin problems for the dog.
As they are dogs that tend to enjoy the mountains, they must always be dewormed and their ear pads and ears should be checked frequently in search of pricked thorns or spikes, as well as parasites such as ticks.
The Irish Red Setter originated as a hunting dog. However, its great beauty and friendly character made it easier for, as soon as it found a place as a companion dog, it never left the houses again. Remember to keep your setter physically and mentally exercised, and you will enjoy a loving and loyal dog for many years to come.
