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Cairdeas
Irish Red & White Setters

A Well-Balanced Setter;
A Partner in the Field and a Friend at Home.

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Irish Red and White Setters who do it all…

Conformation and AKC sporting events

My Dogs are registered with AKC as well as UKC and IABCA where we compete in conformation.

We also compete and practice various AKC Dog Sports.

Hunters

My Dogs are all introduced to hunt training in a positive and friendly way. We do not train force fetch or use negative aversive methods, rather we focus on positivity and using the instincts the dog already has.

Home Companions

My Dogs all live inside my home and sleep in our house. I do not keep a formal kennel, instead keeping all of our dogs as part of our family pack. Our dogs are always family members first.

Dogs Bred with Purpose

American Kennel Club

Irish Red And White Setter Breed Standard (2019)

General Appearance

The Irish Red & White Setter is bred primarily for the field. The standard
as set out hereunder must be interpreted chiefly from this point of view and all Judges at Bench
Shows must be encouraged to judge the exhibits chiefly from the working standpoint. The
appearance is strong and powerful, well balanced and proportioned without lumber; athletic
rather than racy with an aristocratic, keen and intelligent attitude.

Size, Proportion, & Substance

Dogs are 24½ to 26 inches tall; bitches are 22½ to 24 inches
tall. The length of body from point of shoulder to point of buttock is equal or longer than height
to top of withers, up to a ratio of 10 L – 9 H. Bone is moderate in proportion to size.

Head

Expression – The gentle expression displays a kindly, friendly attitude. The eyes are dark
hazel or dark brown; round or nearly round, with slight prominence and tightly fitted eyelids.
The ears are set level with the eyes, well back, lying close to the head. Skull – The skull is broad,
in proportion to the body and rounded without showing an occipital protuberance. Stop – The
stop is distinct, but not exaggerated. Muzzle – The muzzle is clean and square, of equal length to
skull, with parallel planes. Bite – A scissors bite is ideal; a level bite is acceptable.

Neck, Topline, & Body

Neck – The neck is moderately long, very muscular, but not too thick,
slightly arched, free from all tendency to throatiness. Topline – The topline of the dog, from the
withers to the croup should be level, not sloping. The croup should be well rounded and sloping
slightly downward to the tailset. Body – The body is strong & muscular with a deep chest and
well sprung ribs. The back is very muscular and powerful. Tail – The tail is of moderate length,
not reaching below the hock, strong at the root, tapering to fine point; no appearance of ropiness
and carried level with or below the back.

Forequarters

Angulation – shoulder blade well laid back with upper arm equal in length and
forming a nearly right angle with the shoulder blade. Tips of shoulder blades meeting fairly
close, lie flat and are smooth with contours of body. Elbow – The elbows are free, turning neither
in nor out. Legs – The forelegs are straight and sinewy, well boned, with strong pasterns. Feet –
The feet are close-knit with plenty of feathering between toes.

Hindquarters

The hindquarters are wide and powerful. Legs – The legs are of strong bone, well
muscled and sinewy. The thighs, from hip to hock, are long and muscular. The stifle is well bent.
The hock is well let down and turns neither in nor out, hocks are of moderate length and strong.
Feet – The feet are close-knit with plenty of feathering between toes.

Coat

Long silky fine hair called “Feathering” is present on the back of the fore and hind legs
and on the outer ear flap, also a reasonable amount is on the flank extending onto the chest and
throat forming a fringe. All feathering is straight, flat and not overly profuse. The tail is well
feathered. On the head, front of legs and other parts of the body the hair is short, flat and free
from curl but a slight wave is permissible.

Color

The base color is white with solid red patches (clear islands of red color); both colors
show the maximum of life and bloom. Flecking but not roaning is permitted around the face and
feet and up the foreleg as far as the elbow and up the hind leg as far as the hock. Roaning,
flecking and mottling on any other part of the body is objectionable.

Gait

When moving at the trot, the gait is long striding, very lively, graceful and efficient. The
head is held high, and the hindquarters drive smoothly and with great power. The forelegs reach
well ahead and remain low. Seen from front or rear, the forelegs and hind legs below the hock
joint move perpendicularly to the ground with no crossing or weaving.

Grooming

The trimming of an Irish Red and White Setter should be kept to a minimum,
maintaining a neat natural appearance and not to be shaved with clippers. Light trimming with
thinning shears is allowed. Under the ears, tail, pasterns and hocks may be trimmed for neatness.
Feet may be cleared of hair including the bottom and around the edges leaving hair between the
toes. No other trimming is allowed including the whiskers which shall remain intact.

Temperament

They display a kindly, friendly attitude, behind which is discernible
determination, courage and high spirit.

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing standard is considered a fault and the seriousness of
the fault is in exact proportion to its degree.