19.04.05
Group 7 Pointing Dogs, Section 2 British and Irish Pointers and setters. With Working Trial.
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.
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
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.
Broad in proportion to the body
Skull: Domed without showing occipital protuberance, as in the Irish Setter.
Stop: Good stop
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.
Moderately long, very muscular, but not too thick, slightly arched, free from all tendency to throatiness
Strong and muscular
Back: To be strong and well muscled
Chest: Deep with well sprung ribs
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.
Well muscled and sinewy; strong bone
Shoulders: Well laid back
Elbows: Free, turning neither in nor out.
Forelegs: Straight and sinewy, well boned.
Pastern: Strong
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.
Close-knit with plenty of feathering between toes
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
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
Desirable Height at the withers: Dogs : 24.5 - 26 ins (62 - 66 cm) Bitches : 22.5 - 24 ins (57 - 61 cm).
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
Any dog or bitch not conforming to the height standard
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