Red Setter or other?

[KnobChops]

I’m planning to take early retirement (50) in the next 2 years, so will finally be ready for another dog. I’ve previously had a poodle and a cocker spaniel (long deceased).

Always loved the Red Setter and I want a dog that likes a walk so that I keep fit. We have 2 Burmese cats which were bred in a house with a dog, they’re pretty robust and confident and I’m sure can put a pup in their place. But it’s something to consider.

I always had the dogs sleep on the bed and the cats also sleep on the bed. I’m not sure if that’s the best way nowadays, I hear a lot of dogs sleep in crates?

Any experience of this breed or any others people might recommend? What is the moulting like? Any health issues to watch out for? Thanks

Ours and the various cats got on fine. Quite well in fact.

Our setter was a bit difficult around food, guarded it, but she was a rescue and was a bit nervous around men so I'm not sure what had happened to her before we got her.

Also was a terrible widdler indoors when she got older.

What about a wee schnauzer. They are great wee walkers and if trained properly, have good recall, playful personalities, big enough to jump on and off the sofa by themselves, while being small enough to lift and cuddle on your knee. They can be a wee bit barky, like any dog, if not trained. I would definitely recommend checking out the rescues and liking on Facebook for breed specific rescues, as they’ll be inundated once life gets back to normal and the poor lockdown dogs are no longer a novelty.

Sometimes you’ll get a beautifully trained dog that is only their because their poor owner has died.

Oh, I forgot to add, I’ve ran a doggy daycare/holidays for a few years and have a lot of schnauzers come to me.

Vizsla less crazy than a setter? 😂😂
They're lovely, but they can be completely nuts and VERY hard work as puppies and young dogs.

Puppies raised with cats soon learn who's boss (clue: not the puppy). I have high-drive working line gundogs, and the cat can lie asleep on the floor sunbathing, confident that he won't be molested.

We have show cockers. One thing I like about their size is that I can pick them up if I need to. I like the fact that if one gets hurt out in the wilds I could carry them home. Haven't needed to do it though. Well, not yet.

Our Parson will happily walk for miles or sleep 🤷🏽‍♀️

I am a big dog fan but ended up with above as a rescue...

Small dog pros:
You can pick them up if need be (usually when bin diving tbh 🤬)
The tail whipping doesn't hurt
The standing of your feet doesn't hurt
Your legs don't got to sleep when the curl up on your lap
They eat less
They poo less
Take up less room in the car/sofa/bed
Fit in a small crate
They can't pull you over

She still manages to bollock DH on occasion though 😂

Setter owner here. I agree with @GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman. Are you considering show or field type? I also recommend keeping them entire, their coat can't be ruined through neutering and it goes curly, dull and woolly.

They are are a lovely breed but not for the faint hearted. Recall is an issue for many but they weren't bred to walk alongside you, there are supposed to be working off at a distance stalking and flushing out birds. You need to be strong, mines 6 stone and pulls like a train on the outward journey. They are prone to skin conditions and allergies. They are very sensitive souls despite being a bit loopy.

I can point you in the direction of the breed Facebook groups if you are interested.

@LizzieMacQueen

We have show cockers. One thing I like about their size is that I can pick them up if I need to. I like the fact that if one gets hurt out in the wilds I could carry them home. Haven't needed to do it though. Well, not yet.

This was a consideration for us too after FILs Flat-coated retriever collapsed on a Boxing Day walk. DH is fairly fit but still struggled to lift 30 kg of limp dog.

Luckily we were close enough to a road that he could lift her as far as the car boot after calling someone to drive to us, but if it had happened in the middle of the woods it would have been very hard work getting her to help.

Our working cockers are small (only about 10 kg) so even I could, powered by adrenaline no doubt, carry one a fair distance.

Have a look at Tollers @KnobChops , more mid size so would fit on the bed better . I have a patterdale x and they are a perfect size for bed sharing but not good with cats so I can’t recommend them to you .

Thanks everyone, had to google, I hadn’t even heard of some of these breeds!

Hadn’t thought about carrying a dog home if injured. I’m pretty strong so wasn’t too worried about being pulled along, I’ve walked strong dogs and used to work in horse yard so...but of course I’m only going to get older.

It’s given me a lot to chew over. Maybe I need to think about having a medium sized pooch.

I grew up with an English Setter, absolutely beautiful dog, but v high energy.
Soft as muck though, v cuddly and loved to sleep on beds.

@IHaveBrilloHair

I grew up with an English Setter, absolutely beautiful dog, but v high energy. Soft as muck though, v cuddly and loved to sleep on beds.

I love a soft, cuddly dog. Don’t even mind if they’re daft (the cats are quick witted enough for us all).

I suppose the main concern is I can’t keep up with the exercise demands.

Not too out off by weeing in older age as that often happens with elderly pets but I guess a smaller dog will have a smaller bladder 😂

We have a Cavalier King Charles. He'll happily go for a 5 mile walk one day and sleep on your lap for the next! They're happy as long as they're with you. May be a bit smaller of a breed than you were thinking though?

How funny, we got cavaliers too!
Also gorgeous dogs.
I'm in no place to have any dog, but if I was I'd love both breeds.
I have three cats instead.

I had a setter. Lovely dogs, huge amount of stamina and very intelligent.
It’s not just exercise they need, they need to think, so training games or agility is good.
They can be a bit highly strung too.
Also worth considering their background. They’re breed to work independently, so I always found mine would be in the next field when out walking!

We have had three red setters (not all at the same time) they are the most lovely breed, very friendly and affectionate, gentle with children. Lots of fun and definitely part of the family. We haven't managed to get one to fetch a ball and recall can be a bit hit and miss but we taught all of ours to 'wait' successfully so if they won't come back at least they'll stop!
They need a good hour walking a day or can be a bit bouncy! I couldn't recommend them enough. You have to give them a brush once a day and every now and then trim their feathers, tail and paw. Ours tend to malt mainly in late spring but there is a fair amount of hair and I probably Hoover every couple of days. We also have 2 cats and they do all sleep together (on the spare bed). Our young cat and the dog have been known to play, which is really cute!! I wouldn't have a different breed!

@IndigoSkye

We have had three red setters (not all at the same time) they are the most lovely breed, very friendly and affectionate, gentle with children. Lots of fun and definitely part of the family. We haven't managed to get one to fetch a ball and recall can be a bit hit and miss but we taught all of ours to 'wait' successfully so if they won't come back at least they'll stop! They need a good hour walking a day or can be a bit bouncy! I couldn't recommend them enough. You have to give them a brush once a day and every now and then trim their feathers, tail and paw. Ours tend to malt mainly in late spring but there is a fair amount of hair and I probably Hoover every couple of days. We also have 2 cats and they do all sleep together (on the spare bed). Our young cat and the dog have been known to play, which is really cute!! I wouldn't have a different breed!

3!!! Wow!

To be honest everything that’s been said about setters reminds me of my old working cocker (even the old age incontinence) and she wasn’t spayed. She could walk miles and not tire, swam, played fetch until you got bored. I guess setters are in many ways a bigger version. Perhaps more intelligent as she could be a bit daft. But that lovely soft head and always a paw resting on you.

I haven't rtft... Has anyone mentioned the drool yet? My childhood friend had a red setter, it was never seen without strings of drool which it would shake everywhere, the whole house was a splatter pattern (even the ceiling) of various vintages of dog spit. Beautiful to look at but that's my abiding memory of it. 🤭

My friend has one and honestly he is the most adorable, soppy ridiculous dog I have ever met. He thinks he's a lap dog and will plonk himself all over you.
He's also a thief (loves stealing socks and scarves) and has poor recall... and my friend has had many dogs over the years and trained them well.. he just has selective hearing. High prey drive.

I would love one one day! (I love my dog.. she's a Eurasier but red setters are super lovely)

Family member got one as fulfilment of a long held dream. Had him 18 months and had to re-home him. She didn't exercise him anywhere near enough and he became destructive. He was also tall enough to stand up to tables and work surfaces and eat anything he came across.
He was beautiful and was successfully rehomed to a young fit couple with a farm and Landrover.

@BwanaMakubwa

Family member got one as fulfilment of a long held dream. Had him 18 months and had to re-home him. She didn't exercise him anywhere near enough and he became destructive. He was also tall enough to stand up to tables and work surfaces and eat anything he came across. He was beautiful and was successfully rehomed to a young fit couple with a farm and Landrover.

Oh dear, I’ll be retired so plenty of time for walks and play but I do worry about not being able to give them enough speed.

Oh definitely lapdogs, just don't realise tbeur suze, but they need their cuddles, and yes, v drooly.
They need exercise.
Ours got half an hour in the morning, at least an hour after lunch, half an hour after dinner and a quick walk around the block before bed.
That was absolute minimum, come rain or shine, nice weather he'd be raken out on long walks for hours, and never tired, he loved it.
Oh, he's been gone for twenty odd years now but this is making me miss him, he was such a gorgeous dog.

I have a 9 yo working type entire male Irish setter and I have found him to be the nicest, easiest dog ever.
He has a pretty light coat and requires little grooming, sheds minimally (although he doesn't get on furniture so it's not an issue anyway) and is in no way drooly. He gets one or two x one hour walks a day and spends most of the rest of the time reclining around the place.
He loves cats and will play gently or just observe; also easygoing with all farm animals and birds. He is endlessly sweet with our kids. I put a lot of time into training him as a young dog so I'm not sure if it's that or his own personality but his obedience and recall is excellent. He does run on ahead in walks but he checks back with me frequently and will wait or return if required. He absolutely needs off lead time and in fact is almost never on a lead as he pulls; really his only flaw and one I've never fully managed to iron out.
I would say he is actually quite a serious and steady dog, not a looper as so many describe them. No health issues at all, touch wood.

Here he is.

@villainousbroodmare he's lovely 😍