Origin

The Spanish Pointer is the Descendant of the Irish Setter and the English Setter. They generally evolved in Ireland and they have a great sniffing power. They were also used in hunting, dog shows etc.

General Description

The Irish Setter is a medium sized breed with a skinny figure. They have a round shaped head and a long sharp muzzle with a big black nose at the tip. they have black round eyes and a long thin neck. They have straight boned limbs and legs and a wide chest touching the elbows. The Irish Setter has a long furry tail and long ears hanging by their head. They have a furry coat mainly found in dark red and spots of white.

Character

The Irish Setter is very famous for hunting and barking. They are great barkers. They love barking as they do that to make their owners cautious. Their barking habit is sometimes very disturbing so they should be trained properly. They are not great watch dogs but they can warn their owners well by their voice. They generally do not have a biting habit. Have a great hearing power and very protective of their families. The Irish Setter is very enthusiastic and playful. They love human companionship a great deal and love to be with the family. They are also good to children and love to play with them. They get mature slowly and they are not properly trained till they are four years old.

Temperament

This breed is independent by nature. They are very lively, playful and also sometimes destructive. They love to play always and also love to work. If they are left alone for a long time they may behave in a destructive manner. Irish Setters bark a lot and they have a great hearing power. That makes they good watch dogs but more than being a great guard dog they are better at warning their masters about any unwanted situation. I must say that they are the sole companions and love human interaction to a great level. The Irish Setter love to stay with the family and they are also good to children and other dogs if properly socialized. In maximum cases they would not mix with strangers well.

Training

The Irish Setter is very independent and intelligent in nature. If they are forced while training they will be worse so training should be done with firm hands but at the same time the training methods should be gentle also. They are not fast matured so patience is the main tool which is required while training sessions.

Health

They may be affected by bloat, eye cataracts, hip dysplasia etc. Their average life span is 10-12 years.