Irish Red Setters - Getting one......AAAHHH

[jackmilliesmom]

Great so I am getting a human child in a dog's body wwwhhhhooooppppeee what a treat oh god it is true whoever invented men did so as a bad joke (sorry guys but it is true)

[borzoimom]

With a man, I doubt you can change his mind- however- maybe once he realizes this tosses out calm home arrivals- and the need to exercise the puppy and the work involved- either he will say " I can do this," or " uh maybe later.."
And keep in mind- this constant activity level is the main reason I do not have shepherds anymore. Do I still drool over a great looking shepherd? YOU BETTER BELIEVE! Do I love to talk about shepherds?? YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT! Would I own one again- I hate to tell you.. no..

[jackmilliesmom]

I can see everybody's point here but I know this is not going to work out (I can feel a row coming on at home but....) because it will be all left to me and I have to work during the day our terriers have a nice size home but put a setter or similar size dog into the mix - not a good idea would love to just say no but maybe when he reads this post it might put him off the idea and if he wants I have no problem with him getting another terrier but please not a bigger dog it will not work

[borzoimom]

Well put it on the back burner for now. After all- I wanted a Borzoi for years, but we always had smaller dogs, or cats in the house. At some point, a breed becomes right in circumstance and timing..

[jackmilliesmom]

yeah will talk to him tonight - the more I think the more negatives are popping into my head so will talk to him about it tonight

[applesmom]

If hubby is the sort who would rather be taking long walks and spending quality time outside with his dog than sitting in front of the TV--this could be a match made in heaven.

If the dog is going to be left to his own devices or treated simply as a typical small or medium size house pet--there's rocky days ahead. A pointing breed dog must have mental and physical exercise to be happy. They need a job to do even if it's just taking the master for long walks!

As far as your little dogs go, he'll be just fine with them, though they may get trampled a time or two until they learn not to get under his feet when he's excited.

The biggest obstacle in the beginning could be lack of supervision while you're both at work. A setter can't be kept in a crate all day and neither can they be trusted not to get themselves into all sorts of mischief if not well supervised.

Many of the pointing breed dogs don't seem to "get it" until they're about 4 years old. Until then they'll often surprise you with their puppy like antics.

If provided with the proper supervision, exercise and training--they can be a joy to live with! If not,

[jackmilliesmom]

Yep thats what I am afraid of John is fine but discipline wise and with the work he does it is hard to get plenty of time for him to do anything with them apart from play with them in the yard/garden but even at that he is out at work all day and so am I. Jack and Millie know what to do and are well protected in our garden but I would not trust a setter especially a pup - Jack and Millie can go on jobs with John and be calm and quite even though they are still puppies kinda but know what is ok and what is not thanks to my training though.

But a setter where I have no real time to spend at the moment with work, studies and more work and trying to have a normal life not a runner. By the way he has read this thread and I got a phone call - "Maybe you are right Pooh Bear we should not get one now, maybe later"

You see we do know best.... lol

[borzoimom]

Jo- just put it on the back burner for now. Big dogs do have different needs- especially as puppies. As you know- I didnt get Zubin until I retired and home all day- even then I broke my leg the day after and it made chaos trying to cover those 10 weeks. Thank God for family and friends- .. Alot of body, but a puppy mentality takes alot of work..
I looked into a sporting breed a few months back if you remember. My husband has been in love with the GSP since he saw his first at a show.. We came real close- but the female we were going to adopt had a medical problem we were worried might be transfered to Galina ( who was supposed to be coming into heat.. uh huh...).. Weeks later at a canvas show, we were next to a van full of GSP's- he got to see first hand all things being said on their energy levels and how would that really fit in not just with our lifestyle- but also the other dogs..

[applesmom]

I would never say don't get one! What I would say is; if you're going to get an active dog; be prepared for the dedication it takes! Especially a puppy!

These dogs (the pointing breeds) were bred for a specific purpose which requires a much higher energy level than the majority of other breeds. They are bred to have the stamina to hunt continously hour after hour in all types of conditions.

When you think of it; there isn't another group, even the majority of the herding dogs, (often considered to be among the most active breeds), that are required to expend so much energy for such a continuous length of time. The only dogs that come to mind that would have the same amount of energy levels, would be long distance sled dogs.

Having said all that; if hubby is set on having a setter in the household, you might consider adopting an older one. Once they get past the four year mark, they should be past the mischief stage when unsupervised.

[Flatcoatluver]

I would never say don't get one! What I would say is; if you're going to get an active dog; be prepared for the dedication it takes! Especially a puppy!

These dogs (the pointing breeds) were bred for a specific purpose which requires a much higher energy level than the majority of other breeds. They are bred to have the stamina to hunt continously hour after hour in all types of conditions.

When you think of it; there isn't another group, even the majority of the herding dogs, (often considered to be among the most active breeds), that are required to expend so much energy for such a continuous length of time. The only dogs that come to mind that would have the same amount of energy levels, would be long distance sled dogs.

Having said all that; if hubby is set on having a setter in the household, you might consider adopting an older one. Once they get past the four year mark, they should be past the mischief stage when unsupervised.

Very well said.
T.j my (english setter) always amazes me. He just runs and runs and hunts all day long. Then at night he still want to run. Most setters are very picky eaters, and with them being so active they burn it off very fast. I've had gordens and irish setters in the the past, and they were just the same as my english setter. Irish will play more compared to english setters. My dad told me to tell you that with the Irish setter that the breed in general is being over bred.
T.j hunting.

[Genny]

My uncle has had 3 Irish Setters in the past, and now he has another one. My mom use to have one and he was lovely. His name was bandit and he was so sweet.

My uncle's 4 Irish Setters have been so hyper and they'll jump on you every time they see you! I personally think that different people that raise them have a huge influence on them and then each one with a different family will act different than it would if it was with another family. I know all dogs have their natural behaviour no matter what, but I think the owner has a really big part in how the dog turns out, because they have to train it and either teach it how to each, or they don't.

My mom really spent a lot of time with ehr IS, but my uncle is more high strung and gets upset easy, and he doesn't make his dogs mind, so that's probably why they act so hyper and wild!

I hope you guys enjoy your little Irish Setter. They are pretty....

[WELOVESPUPPIES]

They are gorgeous dogs but they need an extremely firm hand. They are very high strung dogs as they are a hunting breed. My parents had one when I was younger and I remember he was BAD(not that they all are, maybe he was an exception). He was over a year old when we finally got rid of him. He never got any better with his behavior. He ould get on my brothers bed and Poop, yep Poop....right in front of you. Even if you yelled his name hoping he would stop he just ignored you. Well that is my fond memory of Shane. Good luck.