Any experience with setters?

[lyndsayberesford]

Currently looking for puppies, and some other breeds that i quite like are

Irish Red and White Setter
Irish Red Setter
Gordon Setter

Does anyone have any of these dogs and/or experience of them and their personalities/health problems/recommended breeders in the north west/midlands area

Many thanks

 

[galaxy]

I know a Gordon Setter breeder in Hampshire may be a bit far?

Seem lovely dogs. I think you have to be careful with their hips as they are big and rangy. So make sure the parents have good hip scores.

 

[Spudlet]

There's an Irish Setter at training. He is very handsome and loving, a real looker and a softy. But his recall is horrendous! I don't know how much of this is down to environment and how much is down to him mind you.

 

[lexiedhb]

A mate had red setters when we were kids - NUTS NUTS NUTS- the amount of times I was flattened by them is just daft
Woman at work breeds and shows Gordons- Beautiful looking critters- a bit less nuts

I think all setter types tend to be quite hard to train- or so I have heard!

 

[lyndsayberesford]

so lots of training required then with them! oh things to look forward to!

hmm, i could give it lots of exercise and fields to run in as there are plenty of paddocks at the stables

 

[Inthemud]

My family have always had one or more (pet) Irish Setters.

They have all been sweet, gentle dogs but they haven't had a brain cell between them.

Mum is no dog trainer, but I think they would be quite hard to train 'cos they have the attention span of a gnat (or at least hers have). She adores them though and loves their "free spiritness".

I had to look after her young dog in a London semi during the foot and mouth crisis, for nearly 6 months. Both dog and I still shudder at the memory! Lol.

 

[Inthemud]

Have a search in the archive for the "breed owner stereotypes" thread. They were spot on for the 2 types of setter owner!

 

[Paint Me Proud]

all are nice dogs and i know of breeders in all three of the breeds you have suggested.

Do you have experience of gundogs and their unique care requirements?

I have a Large Munsterlander which is very much like a setter. Require a lot of exercise and tend to dislike being left for prolonged periods as they are very 'people' dogs.

Irish red and Whites are gorgeous but you may have difficulty finding a decent litter as they are a numerically small breed. Gordons also similar but you shouldnt have problems finding an Irish Red setter.

 

[Spudlet]

Oh, I think they can be vulnerable to bloat?

 

[lyndsayberesford]

Have read about bloat on the KC website.

Mum and Dad are both in all day every day, popping out for shopping etc but usually at least one person is at home for 99% of the day.

I could offer the dog a lot of exercise on morning and evening walks and free runs (if i dared) at the stables/paddocks

Are they quite an affectionate dog?

 

[MotherOfChickens]

I have an Irish setter. he's gorgeous, not as daft as people think but very sensitive. recall was iffy until he was fivish , very easy to train other than that-very people oriented, loves a lean. they are a little enthusiastic but trained mine to not jump up as I would with any other breed-he's very gentle with my disabled step kids and my horses.

very affectionate
requires more grooming that I realised
I am careful re feeding, exercise wrt bloat
need lots of exercise-they have to run
lays in the weirdest positions ever
recall required patience, eventually cracked it with a certain whistle and treats. mine is not difficult to train at all apart from that-he's learned 2 new commands just recently.

will get another although I admit, the thought of a 12month old setter is a little daunting!I adore him, if only I could be so happy finding a sock or a ball!

 

[reddie]

We had a Irish setter. She was gorgeous lookng and a fabulous temperament. She was great with children. She needed lots of exercise, was destructive when alone, and bounced aroud all the time. But I think their brilliant nature just makes up for all the other points. Although on a walk she could be running around several fields away. You might not know where she was, but she always knew where you were and would come back!! I would get another one, but only if I was working part time at the most, as they do need alot of attention.

 

[Spudlet]

From the breed sterotypes thread:

Here's the Setters:

The Setter owner is either 1) properly dressed in tweed, hunters and a rifle with several setters all beautifully under control. Their coats are so beautifully long and they shimmer in the light. Everyone sighs in their presence at their beauty and marvels at their owner's ability to control them with one harsh bark. However, the owner inevitably looks down on the other kind of Setter owner as they seriously let the side down!
2) This type of setter owner is possibly the opposite to number one. Dishevelled and covered in hay and mud, they invariably look either lost or completely resigned as they amble across the countryside. In fact, you probably won't even realise they own a dog as the Setter is nowhere to be seen. It will be several fields away. You may wonder why the owner isn't calling for her dog, but it's simply because she knows that there is no point. The dog will finally appear and although it clearly is a beautiful dog, it's quite hard to see under all the mud - you see, the dog doesn't realise it's a dog, the dog thinks its a hippo!

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=439519&highlight=breed+stereotypes

 

[lyndsayberesford]

im 100% id be type 2 owner!!!

 

[Dobiegirl]

If you pm Vislak she is currently gun dog training a LLewellyn Setter.

 

[Cop-Pop]

Tinkerbelle on here has a v handsome red setter I think there are some posts from her somewhere regarding training etc.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Beautiful dogs but every one I have met has been a bit mental

As others, be aware of hips and bloat.

 

[Vizslak]

If you pm Vislak she is currently gun dog training a LLewellyn Setter.

I am indeed. Very different dog to setters I have delt with before. Far more trainable, recall no issue, very switched on little chap and very quick to learn not as 'dippy' as others I have delt with. Classic setter nervousness on occasion, very important with setters (as with all dogs but I would say more so with setters) to get early socialisation with absolutely everything, they are one of the breeds that despite their apparent brashness and excited boundiness (I'm making words up now! ) can easily end up afraid of their own shadow. Really really like this chap and wouldnt groan quite so loudly if had to train another...the initial call to train a setter got a rather loud groan!

 

[Finlib]

I love them fun happy go lucky dogs I have had 5.
Two Red and White and three Red
They all got on really well with the horses and I have often ridden out with the setters once they were mature enough

Currently got an elderly red and white and a puppy red 9months and a puppy red and white 5 months.
Red puppies are easier to find than red and whites.
Be very careful pick a good breeder hip scores and eye checked (retinal atrophy) also red and whites parents checked for von willebrands disease
http://www.irishredandwhitesetterclub.com/ the breed web site with a puppy register

Red setters check for any epilepsy in the line.
http://www.irishsetter.org.uk/ Good breed web site with a puppy resgister

I really love them Training starts day one and needs to be 'fun'

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

We had an Irish Setter - my mums friend is a breeder and it was one of hers that came back - she was fab!

They are not nuts/daft/stupid - very far from it! She is easly the cleverest dog we have ever had, absolutley adored people/kids etc was great with other dogs, was consummate thief, would run for hours, could catch squirrels Given half a chance she would sleep on beds (preferably under the duvet head on pillow) sit on peoples laps also had an awesome range of sleeping positions and frequently could have been mistaken for an orang-u-tang As for training she was very fast to learn - could recall, sit and lie down in one swift move - for a biccy

As a breed they are also prone to Coeliac disease - so just like humans a gluten free diet is needed

Would have another - you are never short of admirers when walking a Setter as they are just SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO handsome and noble looking

 

[Welly]

Have you ever thought of an English Setter. They come in variuos colours blues, oranges, lemon have the most wounderful temperment. On the down side they don't grow up till they are about 4 years old, we have rescue one at moment and he is the best dog we have ever had.

 

[lyndsayberesford]

Ideally i prefer the IRWS out of the setter types but currently just guaging interest in all sorts of breeds!

The IRWS is really selling to me, if only i could find one for sale!!!

 

[Finlib]

As I said I have had 2 irish red and white and 3 Irish red setters
I had to drive miles to get a red and white on each occasion .
The breed website http://www.irishredandwhitesetterclub.com/ posts puppies on their register and I just logged on until I found puppies a distance where I could get to them.I set a limit of 200 to 300 miles as I could do a return trip in one day!
Usually they will want you to visit at least once before you pick up a puppy.
They are lovely dogs and I always have one red and one red and white together as I have found they love company.