THE WORKING STYLE OF THE IRISH RED AND WHITE SETTER
As Irish Red and White Setters were originally bred as partridge and grouse dogs, their style of hunting these birds may be taken as the norm.
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Irish Red and White Setters are fast, wide rangers. They use the ground with intelligence and precision, breaking their casts as they check the wind for the faintest scent of game. Should it be unfounded they resume their cast with urgency. The depth between casts should be moderately open depending on the conditions on the day.
In their quest there must be an intensity that gives purpose to the hunt for game. The concentration on the job at hand should be evident in every stride and movement. The cooperation with the handler is part of that concentration and should not interfere with the quest for game.
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In the gallop the head is carried above the line of the back, the line of the muzzle always parallel to the ground. The gallop is fast, flowing, free of obvious effort. The line of the back remains as close to horizontal as possible, due to the harmonious interaction of front and back legs. As the body of the Irish Red and White Setter is close to being square, the galloping dog appears relatively high above the ground.
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On finding game Irish Red and White Setters either take a definite set, or draw forward to the set, depending on distance from game and scenting conditions. Standing or crouched settings are normal attitudes. The set is intense and rigid, full of energy and concentration, the placement of the feet controlling and balancing the tense and immobile body. The head is well up, eyes intense, the tail at or below the level of the back line. On a surprise set on finding itself close to game, the Irish Red and White Setter may crouch very low or lie flat on the ground, intense and rigid, with head up and forward.
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The attitude in roading must be very intense and concentrated. The head remains well up in the air to maximise the film of scent, muzzle parallel to the ground, the shoulder blades exposed over the line of the back, and the tail carried at or below the level of the back line. Any tendency towards stickiness is a grave fault. The tail is carried in the line of the back, tending downwards and should not be above the back line. When running, roading or setting the tail may be carried rigid or have movement.
Dalriach Auchindoun
FCI STANDARD No 330 FOR THE IRISH RED AND WHITE SETTER
ORIGIN
Ireland
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID BREED STANDARD
19.04.05
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I.
Group 7 Pointing Dogs, Section 2 British and Irish Pointers and setters. With Working Trial.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY
The Irish Setter probably came to its own at the end of the 17th century. It is not well known outside of Ireland that there are two breeds of Irish setters, but is fairly certain, that the Red and White Setter is the older of the two. and that judicious selective breeding evolved the solid red colour. When Irish Setters came to the show benches, just past the middle of the 19th century, there was a good deal of confusion about their proper colour. By the end of the 19th century, the Red Setter had virtually eclipsed the Red and White, which became so rare, that they were thought to be extinct. During the 1920s, efforts were made to revive the breed. By 1944, the breed had re-established itself well enough to have a club of its own, and today it can be seen in healthy numbers at Irish shows and Field Trials. The present Club the Irish Red and White Setter Field and Show Society was formed in 1981 and through its endeavours and direction the breed is now well established nationally and internationally. The Irish Red and White Setter competes successfully in Field Trials against the other pointing breeds and there are now quite a number of Field Trial Champions and Show Champions.
GENERAL APPEARANCE
Strong well balanced and proportioned without lumber; athletic rather than racy. The Irish Red and White Setter is bred primarily for the field and must be judged from the working standpoint
BEHAVIOUR/TEMPERAMENT
Aristocratic, keen and intelligent. Displays a kindly, friendly attitude, behind which should be discernible determination, courage and high spirit. The Red and White Setter is very friendly, dependable and easily trained gundog.
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HEAD
Broad in proportion to the body
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CRANIAL REGION
Skull: Domed without showing occipital protuberance, as in the Irish Setter.
Stop: Good stop
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FACIAL REGION
Muzzle: Clean and square
Jaws: Jaws of equal or nearly equal length
Teeth: Regular teeth; scissor bite ideal: edge to edge bite acceptable.
Eyes: Dark hazel or dark brown; oval, with slight prominence and without haw.
Ears: Set level with the eyes, and well back, lying close to the head.
NECK
Moderately long, very muscular, but not too thick, slightly arched, free from all tendency to throatiness
BODY
Strong and muscular
Back: To be strong and well muscled
Chest: Deep with well sprung ribs
TAIL
Moderate length, not reaching below the hock, strong at the root. Tapering to a fine point; no appearance of ropiness and carried level with or below the level of the back.
LIMBS
Well muscled and sinewy; strong bone
FOREQUARTERS
Shoulders: Well laid back
Elbows: Free, turning neither in nor out.
Forelegs: Straight and sinewy, well boned.
Pastern: Strong
HINDQUARTERS
Wide and strong; hind legs from hip to hock long and muscular.
Stifle: Well bent
Hock: Well let down, turning neither in nor out. From hock to foot of moderate length and strong.
FEET
Close-knit with plenty of feathering between toes
GAIT
When moving at the trot, very lively, graceful and efficient. Head held high, hindquarters drive smoothly and with great power. Forelegs reach well ahead and remain low. Seen from front or rear forelegs and hindlegs below the hock joint moving perpendicularly to the ground, no crossing or weaving of legs, front or back
COAT
Hair: Long silky fine hair called "Feathering" on the back of the fore and hind legs and on the outer ear flap, also a reasonable amount on the flank extending on the chest and throat forming a fringe. All feahtering straight, flat and free from curl but salight wave is permissible. The tail should be well feathered. On all other parts of the body the hair should be short, flat and free from curl
Colour: Base colour white with solid red patches (clear islands of red colour), both colours should show the maximum of life and bloom; flecking but not roaning permitted around the face and feet and up the foreleg as far as the elbow and up the hindleg as far as the hock. Roaning, flecking and mottling on any other part of the body is objectionable
SIZE AND WEIGHT
Desirable Height at the withers: Dogs : 24.5 - 26 ins (62 - 66 cm) Bitches : 22.5 - 24 ins (57 - 61 cm).
FAULTS
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to the degree
SEVERE FAULT
Any dog or bitch not conforming to the height standard
ELIMINATING FAULTS
Aggressive or overly shy
Males not having two apparently normal testicles
Although flecking but not roaning is permitted around the face and feet and up the forelegs as far as the elbow and up the hind leg as far as the hock, visible and excessive roaning, flecking and mottling on any other part of the body is an eliminating fault
Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified
NB : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum
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FCI Official Breed Standard:
