Is the Irish Setter an intelligent breed?

Question

Hey, guys! I've been fascinated by the Irish Setter lately and was wondering if you'd recommend it as a nice breed. I've read that they're in the "Above Average Working Dogs" category, according to the Ranking of Dogs for Obedience/Working Intelligence by Breed. Here's a link to that: http://petrix.com/dogint/intelligence.html

Looking forward to your comments! :) Thank you.

Answer 1

I have personally only known 3 purebred Irish Setters in my life. (they belonged to friends of mine) All three were beautiful but dumb as a box of rocks. About 37 years ago I owned a mutt that was half Irish Setter and half Lab. That dog was as dumb as 2 boxes of rocks.

Answer 2

It depends a LOT on the lines. Like so many breeds there is a split between show and working lines. I think if you get a field bred one you have a much better chance of an intelligent, stable dog. Some of the show line Irish Setters seem to have been bred so much just for beauty that they've lost the intelligence and working ability. I have met some that were beautiful but just totally ditsy, silly, flighty dogs. and I've heard many other people say the same - and they were already like that decades ago. The same would go for the ones from BYBs breeding pet quality dogs for people who want a pretty dog.

But I'm told the hunting Irish Setters or Red Setters are some very smart dogs.

So if you want an Irish setter, whether you plan to hunt with them or not it might be a good idea to look for a breeder whose breeding stock are field champions . more likely dogs would be registered with FDSB or dual registered not solely AKC.

Anyway, make sure to do your homework . And get out and meet some dogs in person.



Remember these are dogs that need a lot of exercise!

Answer 3

Yes, they can be very intelligent. I have a pure bred Irish Setter and he is very, very smart. Quick to learn and obey. But he was trained early on - and that's key. This breed's personality can be very "rollicking" with a puppy-like temperament the first several years, so training in the first year, preferably the first six months, is important to make the Setter more manageable. They are lots and lots of fun, but can be hard to control without training. They can also tell if you're the type of person they can dominate - he will become your alpha, but only if you let him. My Setter thinks he owns me. It is quite cute and not at all a problem. My husband, however, has established that he's in charge and it's a different dynamic (though still adorable). Between the two of us, you can really see the difference in how an Irish Setter will behave when he thinks he's the one in charge, and when he doesn't.



My Setter was bred with part show lines and part field. Our breeder specifically breeds all her Irish Setters from part field and part show lines, for the look of the show dog and the intelligence of the field dog. So I agree with some of the other commenters here that the intelligence of an Irish Setter really depends on the breeding. The breed was originally created for hunting birds, but when Nixon had one for a pet in the White House during the 1970's, the breed became extremely popular, and unfortunately their breeding became out of control, especially as the show look was more emphasized, resulting in very unintelligent dogs. Now that the breed is less well-known, I highly recommend you do your research on the breeders out there. Don't just go for a backyard breeder who's bred their Setter just to make money. Look specifically for a breeder who has been careful about the lines they breed from, not just for the show look, but for intelligence. That really makes a huge difference in the intelligence of your Setter. This breed is a good example of what can happen when breeding is done responsibly. They should be near the top of "Most Intelligent Dogs" lists, but these days, you hardly ever see them listed at all. It's a shame.

Answer 4

Not Particularly.



The Irish Setter is an active, lovable dog. She is full of spirit and needs plenty of exercise. She is a watch dog but not a guard dog. She can get along with other dogs but it is best if she is socialized with other pets early on. She is patient with children. As a reminder, never leave a child unsupervised with a puppy or dog.



*Approximate Adult Size. The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the male Irish Setter is 26 to 28 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and 65 to 75 pounds. The female ranges from 24 to 26 inches to the withers and 55 to 65 pounds.



Irish Setter - http://www.dog-pound.net/setters/irish-setter-dog-breed-profile.php

Answer 5

Here is the standard for the breed;

http://www.akc.org/breeds/irish_setter/



I've been showing in the performance rings since 1968 and have seen only 2 Irish Setters, neither one went very far. My classes have had 3 Irish Setters and they are difficult to settle down so they can learn, very unreliable in a ring situation, and truly belong in the field doing what they were bred to do, not working in the competition rings. None of the ones I've had contact with have been very bright, although they are loving dogs and have a fun disposition. As a competitor it is not a breed I would want to put in the obedience ring.

Answer 6

Depends on the breeder you are buying from. Most of the Irish Setters now you see in the show ring are stupid when it comes to "working" dogs. they bred them more for beauty in the rings. But if you buy from a reputable breeder that actually uses and trains their dogs for hunting, etc you will get a more working dog then a pretty pet dog.



Depends on what you want to do with your Setter.

Answer 7

Nothing from Ireland is intelligent