Irish Setter

(Breed Standard)

Partha Sekhar Chatterjee

International All Breeds Dog Show Judge

General Appearance:

The Irish setter is a racy, balanced and quality dog. 

Characteristics:

They are handsome and refined in their looks. They are tremendously active with untiring readiness to hunt under any condition.

Temperament:

They are very affectionate. 

Head and Skull:  

The head is long and lean. The skull is oval with plenty of brain room and a well defined occipital protruberance. The muzzle is moderately deep, square with jaws of equal length. The nostrils are wide and the nose is coloured mahagony, dark valnut or black.

 Eye:

They are dark hazel to dark brown in colour, not too large and are almond in shape with an intelligent expression. 

Ears:

They are of moderate size, fine in texture set low, and hang in a neat fold close to the head. 

Mouth:

The mouth has strong jaws with a perfect scissor bite.

Neck:

The neck is moderately long, muscular and slightly arched. 

Forequarters:

The shoulders are fine at points, deep and well sloped bask. The forelegs are straight and sinewy.

Body:

They have a deep chest with well sprung ribs. They have muscular and slightly arched loins. The top line is straight which slopes downwards from the withers.

Hindquarters:

They are wide, powerful and muscular. The stifle and hock joints are well bent.

 Feet:

They are small, very firm having string toes whish are placed close together and are well arched. 

Gait:

It is free flowing showing perfect coordination. 

Tail:

It is of moderate length, proportionate to its body. It is strong and tapers to a fine point and is carried as nearly as possible on a level with or below the back.  

Coat:

The head, front of legs and tips of ears have short and fine hairs. On all other parts it is of moderate length, flat and free from curl and wave. Feathering on the upper portion of the ears is long and silky. On the legs long and fine. The feet are well feathered between the toes. The tail has a fringe of moderately long hair decreasing in length as it approaches the tip.

Colour:

They are a rich chestnut without a trace of black. 

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 its degree. 

Note:

All male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended in to the scrotum.

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