Setters

[ISeeTheLight]

I'd like to add a puppy to our household late next year. I have previous experience with a dachshund and a Springer spaniel (from a working line).

Our criteria are: friendly towards everyone, low tendency to bark, likes long walks but is also quite happy to sit on the sofa, okay with other pets. Dog would be walked every day - we're in the North East close to beach and countryside. I've always loved the look of setters - what are they like to live with?

What difference is there between Irish and English setters - mostly in terms of temperament and health? And this may be a long shot but how different in personality / activeness are they compared to (working) springers?

We had a Gordon Setter (she passed in summer at the grand old age of 14). She was a lovely family dog. Great with children. She did bark at any other adults that came to the house, but not annoyingly. huge amounts of energy until she was about 7 or 8 when she started to calm down. Not the cleverist of dogs, but very loyal.

I would have another if it weren't for the hair. It got everywhere. We didn't get her used to grooming when she was little so she never liked it. And it was like velcro, every seed pod, leaf and bit of twig would get caught up in it, and when she rolled in something unspeakable (which was quite often) the smell hung around.

English setters are slightly smaller than Irish setters, gordons are slightly broader.

We have just got a new puppy, and whilst we have stuck to gun dogs, we have gone for a short haired braque d'Auvergne. We can already see she is much cleverer and cleaner than our old ddog.

I have a nine year old entire male Irish setter and imo he is close to perfect. Calm, gentle, responsive, athletic and barely sheds. Needs minimal grooming. He's 28kg so not enormous. Has never had any health issues. I absolutely adore him.

He's beautiful @villainousbroodmare

Thank you both. Interesting that the Irish setter sheds little compared to the Gordon setter. All sounds positive though and exactly what I'm looking for in a dog! Would love to hear from others with setter experience.

@villainousbroodmare your dog is absolutely stunning! Can I ask you which breeder you got him from? (Appreciate it was years ago though)

We had an English Setter years ago. He was the softest, most good natured dog, ever. He was also giddy until he was about 8. He was very chewy for the first year or 2 - he was walked 2 or 3 times a day but still chewed everything including furniture, toys, shoes. However, I'd love another dog like him.

My first family dog was an Irish setter, a family of five, everyone absolutely adored her, and is very fondly remembered.

My mum and dad, then got a rescue one, who had been shut in a shed, with food thrown in, when they remembered. The owner died, and his wife couldn't be bothered with him. Again much loved.
I wanted one of my own, and achieved that when I got a red and white Irish setter for my 40th birthday, the red and white was supposed to be a bit quieter than the red.
They are scatty and puppy like to about 5, but soft and loveable dogs.
I thought the world of my girl and she was very spoilt, I was devastated when I lost her too soon at 10 years old.
If you have the energy for a high spirited, beautiful dog, you cant beat a setter.

I have several friends with various types of setter. They are all utterly stunning, lovely friendly dogs. A bit dim witted but in the nicest way.

Every Irish setter I know is bonkers until about 8 years old! And that coat is a lot of work.

It's funny, I heard all those stories about giddy ones, and I don't really know many others except mine. His mother was a bit scatty the day I chose him, though. But if I had to choose some words to describe him they would include composed and attentive. He chewed one thing, ever, and that was my fault for not watching him. And the coat is no work. Much lighter than a springer's. Maybe I've been incredibly lucky. I do think there is a big difference in type between working and show animals, though.

@villainousbroodmare he's gorgeous! May I ask which breeder you got him from? Is he a working type?

He's working bred, came from a farmer called PJ Farrell in Co Westmeath in Ireland who is not really a breeder but bred a litter from his bitch.

There's a huge difference in working bred and show types, I think. Working types have a much more manageable coat.
The ones I have known ( have fostered loads) have all been working type with lovely focus but a great off switch which means they lie around the house like cats. They have a huge in-built need to run, and it looks like they run randomly in circles and that's not actually the case but I suspect how they get their scatty reputation. They scent in the air and follow the scent, which makes no sense to most people watching. Your setter will never be happy with a lead walk round the block, they need big open spaces and this is where you will see them at their best.

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We have adopted an English setter recently (failed hunter who was abandoned). I can safely say he’s the most loving dog I’ve ever met. He will happily climb on your lap as soon as you sit down. He wants nothing more than to be cuddled up with you. He sleeps all day in the house and through the night, providing he gets enough stimulation. He’s brilliant with kids. He’s never aggressive, great in the car, loves a long walk or run. Good with other dogs but is a frustrated greeter (wants to say hello to everyone). He’s clean in the house, doesn’t bark, has never chewed furniture. He’s so eager to please. As soon as he learns one good behaviour, eg sit, go to your crate, he will offer it multiple times through the day for praise. As soon as he sees you his tail starts to go and he’s genuinely excited to see you.

But! He needs stimulation beyond just a long walk. They need to use their brains. Training tires him out, which is good, because he still needs lots. He has a high prey drive, which is making life difficult for our two cats. He’s in training sessions for that, and also recall. They are the sort of dog who will travel long distances off lead. You need to be prepared that you might never let him off. Ours will not be off lead for a long time, and even then it will be with a tracker. He loves to dig, including at our parquet floor, so he has a sandpit now and a bed full of blankets to play in. He has separation anxiety, although he’s a fairly new rescue.

Compared to spaniels I’ve known (springers and cockers) he’s much more of a people dog and wants a cuddle. Energy wise, he’s the same on walks but much more chilled in the house.

I’d recommend joining the Facebook group “setter training and behaviour UK” which gives a good insight.

I forgot to mention- setters are sensitive souls. They respond to positive reinforcement. If you try and force your setter to do anything, they won’t.

Thank you all - sounds positive and in line with my expectations. Re training - I've found a very experienced trainer near me who uses only positive re-enforcement. No slip collars etc allowed in his classes. He seems to get a lot of gundogs. Running and needing mental stimulation is fine; my mum's working springer is the same. I think I'd focus quite a bit on recall so hopefully dog could go off lead at least on the beach (far away from cars; it's down a large number of steps on a cliff). Now just need to find a good breeder with a litter late 2021! I'm leaning towards an Irish setter at the moment.

Agree with above re sensitivity and seeking approval. They care so much what you think of them and care much more about what you want than what they want. It makes them very easy to train ime. The other breed that I've found similar in nature is the flat-coated retriever.

Don't forget about Irish Red and white setters too, they're a vulnerable breed now and absolutely beautiful!

@Whatagreytdoggo

Don't forget about Irish Red and white setters too, they're a vulnerable breed now and absolutely beautiful!

Yes, mine was red and white, such a shame they are a rare breed, they were the first, then the white was bred out, that's why most red have a splash of white on the chest. Here is some of the top dogs of the country

8 years to settle down?!??
Oh dear me, we still have a very long way to go here then!
DD is totally such a chaotic, funny, cuddly goofball. But I wouldn't change any thing. She is wildly independent and won't be persuaded into doing anything she doesn't want to do (unlike the other DD). But I love her.