Honest opinions re Red setters

[ringoutsolsticebells]

Hi, as the title says.
I have 2 golden Retrievers. I would love an Irish Red Setter. However I have heard some negative things about the breed regarding difficulties with training and issues with hyperactivity. Can any one advise??

Absolutely beautiful friendly dogs. I know one quite well because I often find him about 2 miles from his home ran away from the owner🤣 Luckily he loves my dog so comes back with us!

We had a beautiful Irish Red Setter. She was stunningly beautiful. Full stop.

Behaviour wise, she was very difficult. She was loved for the years we had her but I would never have another red setter. Ever.

Prone to ear infections.
Always have a line of drool over their noses.
Can give you a guilt complex at a 1000m if you have something they want.
Can watch a cat for hours, salivating (see above) and then runs aware if they wallop him.
Smart as fuck.
And absolutely adorable!

We got Red at 12 weeks and he was the easiest puppy, not particularly loopy or needy in terms of exercise - happy to curl up in front of the fire all day. Now 5 and wouldn't be without him.

The one I grew up with

😍
I remember my df had so many fab photos of his ddog around his flat. Not 1 of me!!

I don't like them. Can be a bit whappy in my experience. What about a working GR, in a nice shade of red? I also don't like the skinniness of setters (and no my goldens are not fat, my six year old bitch is 27kg and my previous adult dog was 29kg). Nowt wrong with a decent GR and you can get hugely variable personalities depending on the lines you go for.

They are stunning dogs but absolutely bonkers in my opinion

They need tons of exercise and mental stimulation and they have a LOT of energy. All the ones I've met could go all day - teaching them to switch off and settle is absolutely vital.

If you've never had a dog before they're not a breed I would choose. I love them but they're a lot of work and require a lot of patience. A golden retriever or even a flat coat would be a better option, although the latter suffer with cancer and sadly don't live very long lives.

Oops, totally missed that you have two retrieves already 🙈

What is it you like about setters that you can't get from a retrieve?

We had a rescue one and she was gorgeous - grandmother was a Cryfts BofB. Very gentle and loving. My grandad was a gundog breeder and trainer though, so I think he would have picked her out carefully for us. He also trained her before handing her over.
She walked to heel beautifully and I can't remember any recall problems - her only issues were reactivity around German Shepherds and the door-to-door insurance man (he was a creep) . She absolutely needed long walks though - I had three siblings and we were all expected to muck in to give her two long walks every day.
Even in her final year, she would tear off through the countryside for an hour and we'd have to carry her home the last mile.

Years ago I had a red setter/lab cross. Brilliantly obedient but would immediately forget what you'd asked her to do. When you let her off lead in a field she would run and run for miles. You had to giver her masses of exercise or she'd be bouncing off the walls at home. When you called her she would start to come back but then forget what she was supposed to be doing and just run around again.
I wouldn't have another. Lovely dog but...

Like a flat coated retriver on acid.
Not like a golden at all

My mum and sister have setters - Gordon’s and English, they wouldn’t have a red as setters are nuts but red setters are often… extra mad.

Agree with some comments, recall is 50/50 ours only ever get let off on my mums land, never in public or you’d never see them ever again.
They are quite hyper and get weirdly obsessed with odd stuff, one of the Gordon’s is OBSESSED with drinking out of the toilet, it’s really odd, the other taking cans (only ever cans) out of the recycling.

That said if you can get them to focus they are a nice level of clever for an experienced home, clever enough to do some real training and work with but not that Malinois/Collie clever where they outwit you

OMG, firstly apologies for not getting back to you all sooner.
I am hearing what I expected to hear. I am not sure that this is the breed for us! I am used to Goldie levels of energy and very good recall. We def don't want a dog that needs to be lead walked! So, so disappointed

@Ihatethenewlook - that is a very good point

Beautiful dogs but in my opinion they need working homes not pet homes, or at least homes where they do gundog training on a regular basis for the mental stimulation. Definitely need very active rural homes with good fencing!

Already have a working line GR who is very red. Adore him

Just think they are gorgeous. Fancied a change. But not one like that!

I’ve known a couple, and my ex’s family had one when he was young. Nutcases, and I’ve never met one that could be walked off-lead. Also, very prone to tangled ears/legs/tails/bellies.

@twistyizzy absolutely noted!!
This is the reason I will not consider viizlas/GSPs

Ha ha yes definitely not vizlas! Again beautiful dogs but best in working or farming homes.

How about getting a flat coat or a deerhound - look through the endangered UK breed list?

Oh gosh this made me laugh! They were very fashionable when I was growing up, but the general consensus now is "absolute bonkers dog!"

Love flat coats but concerned about their health issues

We had one growing up. Gorgeous, good natured, great with us kids but mad as a box of frogs

I must have a very unique animal then because I have one, and he is damn near perfect.
I did do a lot of training with him aged puppy to two, but I think most of it is intrinsic.
Exceptionally obedient, cares so much what you think of him so while no genius was always v motivated to learn. Knew 80 words at 1 year, stopped counting after that.
Took time, but by 2yo had close to perfect recall, can turn him off a running fowl with one word. Never needs a leash except in town. Cat, kid and stockproof.
We actually have no garden wall but he stays at home despite being a very active dog.
Never ever heard him growl.
Greets politely but doesn't jump. Never stole anything, can leave the shopping in the car with him and walk away, leave a sandwich on a plate etc.
Never a health issue (touch wood) now 11 and runs and jumps like a 3yo.
Doesn't even poop in the garden, waits until on walks.
And gorgeous.

Note he is a completely ordinary non-pedigree Irish working dog, NOT a show type - I think they are possibly what people are talking about upthread.

I hope I'm not desperately disappointed in my next one! 🤣