Instructions
Look at the general appearance of the Irish setter. It is elegantly built and stands over two feet at the shoulders. It has a straight, fine glossy coat that requires constant grooming to prevent matting.
Check the size and proportion of this breed. Males should be around 27 inches at the shoulder and weigh about 70 pounds. Females should be 25 inches and weigh 60 pounds. When measured from the breastbone to the rear of the thigh, it is longer than tall. Males have a more masculine structure than females, but females, while appearing feminine, should not be slight of bone.
Make sure the head is long and lean—with the length being at least double the width between the ears. The delicate chiseling along the muzzle, along the cheeks and around the eyes give the Irish setter an extremely beautiful head. The breed’s expression should be soft and alert. The almond shaped eyes are medium-sized and are a dark to medium brown. The ears sport a thin leather and hang neatly folded close to the head. The chiseled muzzle is somewhat deep with jaws that are nearly equal in length, leading to a black or chocolate nose and wide nostrils.
Look at the long, strong neck. It should not be thick, and should be slightly arched, fitting smoothly into the dog’s shoulders. The tail is almost level with the croup and is strong at the root. It tapers to a fine point and is almost long enough to reach the hocks. It may be carried with a slight upward curve—almost level with the back. The chest is a deep chest and reaches the elbows, but is of moderate width. The straight front legs are sinewy and lead to smallish feet that are very firm with arched, close toes. The wide hindquarters are powerful and sport well-developed thighs. The long rear legs are muscular from the hip to the hock and are well angulated. The feet are as the front—smallish and very firm with arched, close toes.
Note the differences in the coat. The hair on the head and forelegs is short and fine, while the rest of the Irish setter has moderate length, flat hair. There is long, silky feathering on the ears, back of the forelegs and thighs, and a fringe of hair on the belly and tail. The coat should be mahogany or rich chestnut red. Some Irish setters may have a small spot of white on the chest, throat or toes, but there are no other colors.
How to Identify an Irish Setter
The Irish setter is a distinct sporting breed, making this breed an active bird dog with a touch of aristocracy. This breed should not be shy, hostile or timid, but should be outgoing and have a stable temperament. The Irish Setter is a mix of Irish water spaniel, Irish terrier, English setter, pointer spaniel and some Gordon setter added to the mix. This is a high-energy dog and it requires regular exercise, so if your family is the couch-potato type, this would not be a breed for you.