Talk to me about Red Setters

[Lulutheboss]

Hello,
A friend of my husband is having to rehome his one year old red (Irish) setter following a relationship break down. I can’t stand the thought of the poor little soul being taken to Battersea so we’re thinking about taking him.
We already have two labradors. Is this total madness? I have read around the internet for some information about the breed. I am not too familiar.
Looking for real life experiences please and an idea of costs.
Thanks.

[fivedogstofeed]

I have fostered quite a few irish setters and their crosses, and adore them my next dog will be a setter, don't tell ddogs

IME their 'mad' reputation is really unfair. They do have an inbuilt need to run and once they can have their fix of running every day they tend to lie around the house like cats :).
I wouldn't recommend anyone to take on an energetic one year old unless they either had a huge amount of outdoor space or the confidence to take the dog out for big offlead runs every day. This is not a dog you can keep on lead all the time or their frustration will be unbearable.Training one is entirely different to a Labrador. Setters do also like to be with their own breed.

There are breed specific rescues who will help, and will use foster homes rather than kennels.

[Lulutheboss]

That’s good to know five. Thank you.

[Toddlerteaplease]

A friend of mine has two. I am scared of dogs, but they have helped me get over it. They are completely bonkers, very very friendly. But soon settle down and lie around like cats as a PP said. Absolutely beautiful dogs.

[Toddlerteaplease]

My friends are rescues.

[Lulutheboss]

Thank you Toddler. I’m glad to hear you have overcome your fear. My labradors also lounge around like cats!

[dudsville]

Oh they are just such beautiful dogs. Whenever we've taken in a new dog Irish setters haven't been available so we've never had one. I know nothing about them. Just came on to say I'm an admirer!

[villainousbroodmare]

The best dogs in the world.
I can't understand why they aren't more popular. Gentle, athletic, affectionate, generally great with other dogs as well as people,
absolutely beautiful , not doggy-smelling, not barky, shed relatively little and generally very healthy. As PP said, once they've had a good offlead gallop, they lounge around all day, and are very keen to please. Mine is very reliable, 100% recall and knows upwards of 60 words/commands.

[villainousbroodmare]

Here he is

[Aprilshowersarecomingsoon]

My df had one when I was a dc.
Very gentle, beautiful and scatty. Say she was epileptic, lived a canny age if I remember. Well missed.

[Lulutheboss]

Aww! He’s gorgeous villain. If you don’t mind me asking, roughly how much do you spend on insurance and food a month? I reckon i’m already spending in the region of £180 on my two labs.

Thanks April

[TeddyIsaHe]

Oh @villainousbroodmare he is completely gorgeous!

My friend had 2 setters when I was younger and they were just the most beautiful dogs. So gentle and intelligent. If I had a bigger garden I’d get one in a heartbeat.

[XmasPostmanBos]

Beautiful! I want one now!

[fivedogstofeed]

Oh villanous -gorgeous working setter, he looks so clever :)

[Ohhgreat]

They are bonkers! Utterly nutty, but so loveable.

[SqueakyChicken]

Lovely but scatty is my experience! I think they’re a great breed, very underrated!

On a side note, why is this dog going to Battersea if you can’t take it? Why isn’t the breeder taking it back, or even a breed rescue?

[Ollivander84]

Bonkers. I grew up with one, and learnt to walk by holding onto him and he would walk alongside me. He loved me stealing tins out the cupboard (I was a toddler) and rolling them down the stairs and he would "retrieve" them for me. He liked me putting tinsel on him and Christmas and would prance around the house

[Lulutheboss]

Squeaky DH only heard about the break up last night. All the friend said was that he would have to give up the dog and maybe take him to Battersea. I don’t know the ins and outs at this stage. The dog is just over a year old and possibly could go back to the breeder.
I’m asking for experiences with the breed to see if he might be a match for our family. I haven’t even seen him yet. I’m probably mad to even consider getting a third dog!!

[villainousbroodmare]

Insurance is €28 a month and food I'm guessing about €30-40. Sunglasses are extra.

[Lulutheboss]

Brilliant! Maybe more expensive in the UK. Thanks.

[Wolfiefan]

If it has come from a decent breeder then they would have to contact them in the first instance.
Gorgeous dogs but scatty and bonkers does kind of sum them up for me!
They also require an awful lot of grooming to keep that lovely feathered coat looking lovely.

[villainousbroodmare]

They do vary a bit in coat type... mine has a relatively short coat which tbh is looking better since I have three kids under 4 and groom him weekly instead of daily! Think I was stripping it a bit.
Fivedogs will have broader experience but I reckon the nutty thing is a bit exaggerated and most Weimeraners, Dobies, pointers are more ADHDish.

[Wolfiefan]

Coat will also depend on if he’s neutered or not.

[RandomMess]

Have different friends with setters, they luuuurve lots of long walks!

One couple had 2 wonderfully calm red setters, 3 next three really were nutters! Lovely natured but not calm and not good on the lead, they did mature about aged 10!

[Toddlerteaplease]

My friends pair didn't just wag their tails. They wagged their entire back ends. Very funny to watch! They ignored all women if there was a man around and would flirt terribly!

[Lulutheboss]

Thank you all so much for your input. They actually sound very much like my labradors, in particular the chocolate one. Totally bonkers but the sweetest, most soppy dog you could meet. Nine years old next month but still bouncing like a kangaroo and the whole bum wagging thing....yes!