Setter irlandais rouge

It is probable that setters descend from the old spaniel, also called quail dog or oysel dog. In Ireland, white and red setters or uniformly red setters are very present and reputed. In the middle of the 19th century, with the appearance of cynophilia, the breeding of Irish Setters began officially with the Red and White Irish Setter. However, this breed is quickly eclipsed by the popularity of its single-colour cousin. The Irish Red Setter Club was founded in 1882 to defend the red variety. The first standard was drawn up around 1885. The Red Irish Setter is popular throughout Europe. Thomas Gainsborough painted a portrait of one A Setter Seated in a Landscape around 1774. It is housed at Petworth House in West Sussex.

The Red Irish Setter is described in the FCI standard as a lively, intelligent, energetic, affectionate and faithful dog. It is nicknamed the "red devil" or the "rusty devil" to emphasize its liveliness. Training presents no particular difficulty, it must be done without brutality but with firmness to channel the energetic temperament of the breed.

The Red Irish Setter is often compared to a Thoroughbred: it is a pointer dog of light and athletic build, giving an impression of speed and nervousness. The skeleton is light and solid, the musculature is long and dense and the fine skin is pulled without any dewlap. The body fits almost in a square, the back is straight and the loins are fused. The eyes are dark brown, the nose is dark brown or black. Of medium size, the pendulous ears have a fine texture, they are attached low and well back. The coat is uniformly fauve-red, described as "chestnut without charring", with a rough and fine hair. The belly, tail and back of the legs are fringed with long hair. A small amount of white on the chest, throat, fingers or even a small star on the forehead or narrow line on the muzzle or face is tolerated. In France, the Red Club (French club of the Irish Setter) insists on the interest of seeking sizes offering an ideal compromise between elegance and adaptation to the hunting function and proposes in its judging directives the following withers sizes: 59 to 64 cm for males and 56 to 60 cm for females. The regulations of the International Cynological Federation and the Irish Setter Kennel Club require the following sizes: 58 to 67 cm for males, 55 to 62 cm for females.

The Red Irish Setter is prone to stomach torsion and it is therefore advisable to divide the daily ration into two meals.