Why don't I ever see Irish Setters?

[adojrts]

One of my agility students breeds and shows Shar Pei's, she has many. She has OB Titles on most of them as well, along with doing very well in the breed ring.
Two of them also do agility, one has competed in NADAC and the other one is in training.

I have seen an increase in Setters at agility trials in the last couple of years as well.

 

[smkie]

All the "what kind of dog should you get" websites tell me my life will never be complete without a Clumber. I have to conceed that I am very fond of the breed. However, I sincerely hope they do NOT become popular . . . they have plenty of problems without being puppy milled. So many genetic problems that I pretty much took them off my list . . . that all that white, sheding fur.

Yeah, I was never a fan of Shar Peis . . . many of the adults are both ugly and mean . . . but I remember when they were everywhere and a Shar Pei puppy was THE thing to have. It is a little spooky to see a breed that was so popular just sort of vanish . . .you end up wondering what happened to them all . . . though I guess they'd be dead of old age now.

Irish settlers are just lovely . . . but I have to admit their reputation is 'boneheads' . . . but that is probably the result of all the overbreeding. Sporting dogs can't be dumb and really do their jobs. I do have to admit that I have never figured out why big high energy dogs are always touted as family dogs . . . my family maybe . . . but we lived in the country.

having a white dog i think i can say this....it's worth it. (you just dress differently)

 

[MafiaPrincess]

I met 9 red and whites and one red at a fun match earlier this year. Only time I've ever seen any, and there were a ton of them.

 

[GipsyQueen]

I met one about a week ago while walking Gipsy and a friend. Well I wasn't walking him - he was walking with me. lol. Her name was Gypsy! Gipsy even came when he called 'Gypsy! Come!'

 

[pafla]

They are quite popular in Croatia.Not between most popular breeds but there is still a lot of them.I walked seven of them for a breeder and they are really sweet dogs.They love to run and play and keep behaving puppy like for most of they life.They need quite a bit of exercise and while they are very human oriented they love to have a freedom to roam and arent dogs that will happily walk by your leg.It all depends what you want from dog.I dont think they are stupid they just arent like most shepherds or retriver breeds.Provided they had enough exercise they are rather quick to follow basic commands.They just dont have patience for long mental exercise,they are much happier when having a brisk walk or when you play with them.And they are extremly affectionate.If they love you they will pretty much drol all over you.And yeah they drol alot and are really good in aiming that drol at you.So they are not for people who have problem with that.I find them a charming breed and since my favourite breeds are usually shepherds and terriers that pretty much said everything.I find them easy to train if you want a companion dog who is quite exurbant.The sadest thing is when this happy buggers get in wrong hands.There is a woman in my park who I met often while walking irish and she has male irish.She forces him to run on leash by her side,and yeals after him the minute he moves more then 5 meters away.I tryed talking to her and telling her that he want run away that they are breed to run in woods in circles and raise game and taht he is just behaving naturally.But no she thinks her dog is stupid.She doesnt want to run with him off leash because he dosent run in heel.she is the perfect example of someone who got a tottaly wrong breed.Every breed has certain temperament and way of behavior and irish setters are great dogs they are just not for everyone.

 

[Renee750il]

Great post, Pafla!

 

[Lilavati]

having a white dog i think i can say this....it's worth it. (you just dress differently)

If it had JUST been the white fur, I probably would have gotten one anyway. Though I must say, our white cat died this summer, and though I miss him dearly, after spending almost $300 on cleaning to finally get all the white hair out of my suits, my sweaters and various other and sundry possessions, I'm not too sure if a white animal is in my near future . . . being both an attorney and a klutz, I'm sort of stuck with dark clothing

 

[heartdogs]

I've had acouple of Irish red and whites show up to my agility classes. Come to think of it, I have had some really interesting breeds show up to my agility classes.

I think in the last five years, I've had one Irish and one Red & White show up in my classes. But, I get some weird ones, too. I've had a Kooikerhondje.

 

[Dekka]

I had an Alaskan Klee Kai.. Would love to have a Kookierhondjem at class. I hear they are a lot like tollers (look like them too)

 

[LilyoftheValley]

Maybe its just me, but I see sharpeis all the time. Irish setters, hardly ever. My friend has an irish setter, and I saw a Irish setter puppy today at the dog park.

 

[ihartgonzo]

I've met quite a few Irish Setters... there is one, named Lady, that I see at our local dog park at least once a week. =) I think they're very sweet dogs, and stunningly beautiful.

There's a Kooikerhondje in my Flyball classes! He's super sweet. I was embarassed, because I assumed he was a Brittany or a Brittany mix when I first met him. There's also 3 Danish Farm Dogs on my team! One is the Mom, the other two are her puppies. Her owner told me there are, like, 20 in the entire country.

 

[bubbatd]

Oh our Irish Setter was a sweet as honey until my Dad went off to the war . After that when left alone , he tore down every curtain in the house , would go out to get muddy they hit every bed in the house , when then put in the basement torn off all door frames , started after people walking by and ripped their coats , etc etc . My Mom finally found a home with a male who took him on until dad got home ......6 years !!! He was fine again and acted like things had never changed .

 

[vanillasugar]

I meant to post this yesterday but forgot. Guess what came into our store yesterday? An Irish Setter of course! lol

His name is Buddy, he's 4 years old and HUGE! Bigger than any IS I've ever met. Beautiful dog though. I hope they bring him in more often, he was really nice Apparently they've been meaning to come into the store for a long time, but always walk by when we're closed. I thought it was funny that they came in with him just after we'd had this conversation here on the forum!

 

[Scooter]

Well I'm so glad to learn that they are still around. When I was a child, our Irish Setter, Brandy, was the most gentle, sweet dog ever (with the exception of my current doggie, Zoe of course!)

 

[Laurelin]

My friend has one. He's pretty but he's not that bright, lol. He's a sweet dog though.

My father had setters for hunting growing up. If you talk to him, they don't make Irish Setters the way they used to, lol. I get to hear it every time we're at a dog show about how watered down most are these days. I have no idea how true that is, I've little setter experience.

Around here there's a LOT of field bred English setters. Actually, I've never seen hunters using Irish setters around here, which is odd because judging by our old photo albums, they were used a lot.

 

[Whisper]

I've only met one in person. They're not that common around here.
His name was Bump and he was absolutely adorable. He was still about a year old, verrrrry energetic, and a skinny little guy. He was really delightful and sweet and I adored him, but I would say probably overwhelming to someone who hasn't spent much time with exuberant dogs.