Thoughts On Irish Setters??

[PerchJerker]

It's time for a new family dog / hunting dog and I'm thinking about an Irish Setter. Any info / thoughts / opinions / recommendations / suggestions etc. would be appreciated.

Our last dog lived to be 15 years old so it's been quite a while since I've had to decide on a breed. The last dog was an Irish Setter / Lab cross and we liked a lot of her personality traits, and I like the long, slender body. I'd like a dog that is 55-60 lbs at the most.

A few more considerations ...... we've got kids who are 8 and 7 years old, and I do more grouse hunting in the woods than pheasant hunting in the fields. And not much waterfowl hunting.

Also, any thoughts on male vs. female? Purebred vs. cross? Breeders or kennels to use or avoid?

Thanks for help!

[IRISHSOBNO4]

there is a breeder in the duluth area that has red & white irish setters.

the kennel name is O'Dobhailien.

gordon setters may be a good choice,they are known as the grouse dog.

personally i own pointing labs, but have been thinking about one of the setters.

[pushbutton]

Have seen a red setter, separate breed i think, that is bred to be smaller and a more of a pointer for upland birds, have no clue about breeders, could probably find out if you needed. This one was really high energy would certainly have to take the time for exercise and training, that lab cross might have spoiled you

[gspman]

A FDSB Red Setter or Irish Setter would be a good choice if you want a hunting dog. Stay away from the AKC Irish Setter. The AKC Irishman isn't a good choice for hunting IMHO. There are at least a couple good red setter breeders in MN. Do some research and you should find them.

[brittman]

The people that own Rocky Bay Preserve up in Pince City breed and run Red, Gordon &/or Irish Setters. Google them and see what is available.

[PerchJerker]

A FDSB Red Setter or Irish Setter would be a good choice if you want a hunting dog. Stay away from the AKC Irish Setter.

I had no idea what FDSB vs. AKC was, but a few minutes of searching and reading on-line gave me a ton of good info. Wow, thank you thank you, for that piece of info! Pushbutton's reference to a red setter makes 100% more sense to me now too.

Thanks to everyone for all the help so far, and please keep it coming, you guys know 1,000,000 times more about this stuff than I do .......

[setterguy]

GSP is rightn on, stay away from any show type setter however there are many field red setters that are registered with the AKC, so they can run in AKC trials. They are big down south.

My first questions would be what steered you to the Red or Gordons? If its they way they look, I can't blame you, they are both beautiful animals. However if you are looking for a hunting dog first and foremost I would at least investigate and research the English setters.

All Field Gordon and Red dogs on the ground right now have at least some English setter in them, both were allowed to breed back to the English setter to get the hunting back into them decades ago. Its why you will see white on both breeds still to this day.

I don't want this to come across as bashing one breed, and I have seen lots of real nice gordons and red dogs. I just think the chances of getting a dud are higher when you choose a breed that had to be "fixed" not too many generations ago.

[RangerJack]

A buddy of mine has an Irish Setter...love the dog. It points well, but will not retrieve birds. Heck, it won't even pick one up to chew on.

[setterguy]

Roger Berg and or Berg Brothers Kennels (no relation) breed the nicest Red Dogs around. Have you ever hunted with a pointer in the woods before? These true field dogs freak some people out, if it were me I would hunt this fall with as many different dogs as I could and see what styole suited me and then make a decision come winter. You are welcome to come with my and my English setter any time this fall, adn I will be aout alot, as he is only 11 months old.

[Moose-Hunter]

Roger Berg and or Berg Brothers Kennels (no relation) breed the nicest Red Dogs around. Have you ever hunted with a pointer in the woods before? These true field dogs freak some people out, if it were me I would hunt this fall with as many different dogs as I could and see what styole suited me and then make a decision come winter. You are welcome to come with my and my English setter any time this fall, adn I will be aout alot, as he is only 11 months old.

I BIG +1 for the English Setter!!! For a family dog / hunting companion... You could do no better than an E. Setter or a Red. I'm now dogless, but if I were to buy another tomorrow... An English is what would be coming home with me. A tri color male if I could find one with good lines.

Setterguy... What flavor pup are you running? Ever hear of Havelock Setters?

Dave... Thanks for reminding me... I've got to call the FDSB tomorrow due to the passing of my lil' Jazz last Friday.

[setterguy]

Yup, heard of them and hunted behind more than a few. They are typically a bit bigger, and slower, more methodical on the ground. Suits some perfectly, I like watching a dog run like its a$$ is on fire and slamming a point.

My most recent setter is now 11 months, is from Berg Brothers kennels in Clearwater. So far so good with this this one. He is the most mild mannered dog in the house and around the neighborhoos I've ever seen for a dog of this type and age. On the ground he's real nice, gracefull, cracking tail, tall head...and about the most intense dog on point I've ever seen. He literally quivers with anticipation, which at this age isn't such a good thing. More birds is the only cure for that though...bring on October.

And to be clear, I'm not trying to steer anyone away from a breed for any other reason than I've personally seen guys buy a Red or Gordon thinking they would be getting a top notch bird dog and kick them selves later for not getting the dog I suggested. At least when you have a nice dog you get invited on all the good trips!

[PerchJerker]

I've never hunted with English Setters or been around them much, but one of our neighbors has one and I like that dog, and I like what I've read about them. I could put either the English or the Red at the top of my list, but my wife likes the looks of the Red better. And the Reds look very similar to our last dog, and that has been tugging on the heartstrings of my wife and kids .......

I've hunted with pointers and flushers, I like them both. As long as they retrieve. The guys I've been talking to about Reds say their dogs retrieve ....... I'm not worried about field trials or style points, I want a family / house dog that I can take hunting, who can birds birds in the air and bring them back when I knock them down

[setterguy]

If retrieving is a huge factor in your decision, I may look at the versatile breeds. I've been lucky that my dogs have naturally retrieved. I've seen and been around plenty of other pointing dogs that haven't. Fetch can always be "taught" if you are willing to put in the time. Good luck in your search.

[Moose-Hunter]

Yup, heard of them and hunted behind more than a few. They are typically a bit bigger, and slower, more methodical on the ground. Suits some perfectly, I like watching a dog run like its a$$ is on fire and slamming a point.

Hmmm.... Maybe we're talking about different dogs. My two E. Setters came from Havelock and were neither bigger (high 40#'s fightin' weight) or slower. Not sure what "slower" is for you, but these girls ran like no tomorrow. Yet they were very metodical when disecting a field. They'd run like the wind and, as you said, SLAMMED on point. Running this brace was so perfect. These two were made for each other. Rosie, a true speed demon, was always out first. Jasmine, the thinker, also fast but closer working. If in the rare case Rosie ran over a bird, Jazz would pick it up.

Is there dust in here? I seem to have something in my eyes... Man, I'm gonna miss those two.

[gspman]

I think setterguy was thinking of Old Hemlock Setters.

Havelock setters are out of NoDak and are trial type dogs so will have some fire and style to them. Havelock Blacksmith & Havelock Citation are probably their most well known dogs.

Hemlock setters are the old traditional style setters originally bred by George Bird Evans. They will be slower and bigger and generally less stylish on point.

[Harmonica Bear]

That is correct. Ryman, Old Hemlock, Decoverly setters are all a little bigger, a little slower than your the true field trial setters. IMHO they are a little easier on the eye as an old friends Dad once said to me when I inquired about his dogs. All personal opinion tho. All my setters have been from or descendants from those lines.

Good luck in your search. Its a lot of fun

[setterguy]

Yup you are right, when your mind is anticipating a word thats what you see I guess. Two totally different dogs,

Hemlock

Havelock

[LABS4ME]

I'm a lab guy and I want that Hemlock!

Good Luck!

Ken

[setterguy]

I knew we could turn you ken.

[gspman]

This is the guy I want but I'd probably have to rob a bank to afford him right now.

Now back to red dogs, I'm diggin' this guy...

Both of these guys have beautiful style.

[Ufatz]

[PoorWordUsage] shame.