Fun-loving, high spirited and a true sporting dog, here’s the Irish Red and White Setter!
History
The Irish Red and White Setter (IRWS) is an old breed of gundog. The Red and White is older than the more recognisable solid Red Setter. Originally used for hunting game birds, before the invention of gunpowder, these dogs would locate birds and stand over them. The hunter would then throw a net over the crouching bird.
One of nine native Irish breeds, the Red and White Setter numbers began to fall in the late 1800s as the fashion for the Red Setter became more popular.
Today they are considered a vulnerable breed and are not often seen outside of Ireland. In fact, the breed almost went extinct during World War 1. They were saved from extinction by a former Army chaplain, the Reverend Noble Houston. On his return from the Great War, he was dismayed to see how few Red and Whites existed and so he established a breeding program to save them. Read more about this on the BBC.
Appearance
The Red and White Setter is a medium-sized dog. Females are, on average, 59cm at the withers, while males are about 65cm.
Recognised for its beautiful, silky, feathered coat with “islands” of red on white. They don’t require too much brushing and look their best when the coat is left in its natural state.
Temperament
The Irish Red and White Setter is a friendly, happy dog that loves to be around people. They are high energy dogs and require lots of exercise and need plenty of room to run. Because they are an intelligent breed, they are easy to train, but they can become bored if they don’t have enough fun-filled activities.
They are loyal to their owners and make excellent watchdogs. Could this be the perfect dog for you?
