A bit of History About this Wonderful Breed
In Ireland, Irish Setters were developed to accompany and aid their owners in their sporting pursuits. The setter became more popular in later times as the sports that they were developed for became popular with the development of firearms in the 18th century. The breed was developed to hunt game birds on the mountains, bogs, farmland and forests of the country and up to World War II were almost exclusively the only breed used for that purpose.
The Breed is derived from the Irish Red and White Setter and an unknown solid red coloured dog. It was a clearly identifiable type in the 18th century.
Since this identifiable type, the breed has undergone evolution and division.
Today we see a lot of variation as breeders consolidate their own style. We have 3 main styles with variations within these:
UK - English;
USA - American;
Field;
UK and USA styles in Australia are seen in the showring, obedience, agility, tracking and minimally in the field
Field style in Australia seen predominantly in the field, but also in obedience and agility.
The Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC)
Irish Setter 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 the 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 nor 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 nor 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 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.
Size: Not Specified.
Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
Notes: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
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Whilst actual measurements may be tabled in some standards, it is a matter of fact that there has never been a measured height specified in the Breed Standard for Irish Setters as approved by the Australian National Kennel Club (ANKC) for use within its jurisdiction: i.e. Australia.When the Standard of the Breed was drawn up and approved by the Dublin Club in 1886 all references to height and size were omitted, and when the Standard was revised in 1930 the inclusion of size was discussed but firmly rejected in favour of overall balance.
The Irish Kennel Club passed the introduction of a height standard at their AGM in 1986. This was then adopted by the FCI as the Standard of the "Country of Origin" but not by our ANKC.
In 1998 the Irish Kennel Club published the Working Style for the Breed.
To date, The Kennel Club, UK and ANKC does not have a height and/or weight provision in the Irish Setter Breed Standard.
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Correct Structure of the Irish Setter
The Irish Setter in Australia (facebook page) has some valuable information on the current breed type in Australia and references to the original Irish Setter - the UK Type. Check out this public facebook page for photos and some discussions.
www.facebook.com/ISinAustralia/
The following is the link to the Irish Setter Breed Standard for Australia.http://www.ankc.org.au/Breed_Details.aspx?bid=90
The link for the Extended Breed Standard can be found at the top right hand of the page on the above link to the Breed Standard.
Additionally, the Extended Breed Standard of THE IRISH SETTER was adopted by the ANKC in 2010.
The purpose of the Extended Breed Standard is for the training of Australian judges and students of the breed.
In Ireland, Irish Setters were developed to accompany and aid their owners in their sporting pursuits. The setter became more popular in later times as the sports that they were developed for became popular with the development of firearms in the 18th century. The breed was developed to hunt game birds on the mountains, bogs, farmland and forests of the country and up to World War II were almost exclusively the only breed used for that purpose.
The Breed is derived from the Irish Red and White Setter and an unknown solid red coloured dog. It was a clearly identifiable type in the 18th century.
Since this identifiable type, the breed has undergone evolution and division.
Today we see a lot of variation as breeders consolidate their own style. We have 3 main styles with variations within these:
UK - English;
USA - American;
Field;
UK and USA styles in Australia are seen in the showring, obedience, agility, tracking and minimally in the field
Field style in Australia seen predominantly in the field, but also in obedience and agility.
The Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC)
Irish Setter 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 the 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 nor 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 nor 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 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.
Size: Not Specified.
Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
Notes: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««
Whilst actual measurements may be tabled in some standards, it is a matter of fact that there has never been a measured height specified in the Breed Standard for Irish Setters as approved by the Australian National Kennel Club (ANKC) for use within its jurisdiction: i.e. Australia.When the Standard of the Breed was drawn up and approved by the Dublin Club in 1886 all references to height and size were omitted, and when the Standard was revised in 1930 the inclusion of size was discussed but firmly rejected in favour of overall balance.
The Irish Kennel Club passed the introduction of a height standard at their AGM in 1986. This was then adopted by the FCI as the Standard of the "Country of Origin" but not by our ANKC.
In 1998 the Irish Kennel Club published the Working Style for the Breed.
To date, The Kennel Club, UK and ANKC does not have a height and/or weight provision in the Irish Setter Breed Standard.
««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««
Correct Structure of the Irish Setter
The Irish Setter in Australia (facebook page) has some valuable information on the current breed type in Australia and references to the original Irish Setter - the UK Type. Check out this public facebook page for photos and some discussions.
www.facebook.com/ISinAustralia/
The following is the link to the Irish Setter Breed Standard for Australia.http://www.ankc.org.au/Breed_Details.aspx?bid=90
The link for the Extended Breed Standard can be found at the top right hand of the page on the above link to the Breed Standard.
Additionally, the Extended Breed Standard of THE IRISH SETTER was adopted by the ANKC in 2010.
The purpose of the Extended Breed Standard is for the training of Australian judges and students of the breed.