FEDERATION CYNOLOGIQUE INTERNATIONALE

SECRETARIAT GENERAL: 13, Place Albert I  -  B 6530 THUIN (Belg.)

FCI-Standard N0 330 / 05.03.1998 I GB

IRISH RED AND WHITE SETTER

ORIGIN: Ireland.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 06.06.1989.

UTILIZATION: The Red and White Setter is a very friendly, dependable and easily trained gundog.  His good and kind nature makes him a most acceptable companion and friend in the homes and the fields.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I.: Group 7 Section 2 Pointing Dogs. British and Irish Pointers

and Setters. With working trial.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : The Irish Setter probably came to its owns at the end of the 17th century. It is not well known outside of Ireland that there are two breeds of Irish Setters, but it is fairly certain, that the Red and White Setter is the older of the two, and that judicious selective breeding evolved the solid red color. When Irish Setters came to the show benches, just past the middle of the 19th century, there was a good deal of confusion about their proper color. By the end of the 19th century, the Red Setter had virtually eclipsed the Red and White, which became so rare, that they were thought to be extinct. During the 1920, s  efforts were made to revive the breed.

By 1944, the breed had re-established itself well enough to have a club of its own, and today it can be seen in healthy numbers at Irish shows. To shooting men it has been considered slightly superior to the Red Setter because of its calmer temperament, and because it can be more easily seen in the autumn countryside. The Irish Red and White Setter is bred primarily for the field. All judges must be encouraged to judge the exhibits chiefly from the working standpoint.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Strong and powerful, well balanced and proportioned without lumber; athletic rather than racy.

BEHAVIOR I TEMPERAMENT : Aristocratic, keen and intelligent. Displays a kindly, friendly attitude, behind which should be discernible determination, courage and high spirit.

HEAD : Broad in proportion to the body.

CRANIAL REGION:

Skull : Domed without showing occipital protuberance, as in the Irish Red Setter.

Stop:  Good stop.

FACIAL REGION:

Muzzle : Clean and square.

Jaws/Teeth : Jaws of equal or nearly equal length; regular teeth; scissor bite ideal; level bite acceptable.

Eyes : Dark hazel or dark brown; round, with slight prominence and without haw.

Ears : Set level with the eyes, and well back, lying close to the head.

NECK : Moderately long, very muscular, but not too thick, slightly arched, free from all tendency to throatiness.

BODY: Strong and muscular.

Back: To be very muscular and powerful.

Chest : Deep, with well sprung ribs.

TAIL : Moderate length, not reaching below hock, strong at root, tapering to fine point; no appearance of ropiness and carried level with or below the back.

LIMBS : Legs well muscled and sinewy; strong bone.

FOREQUARTERS : Forelegs straight and sinewy, well boned.

Shoulders : Well laid back.

Elbows : Free, turning neither in nor out.

Pastern : Strong.

HINDQUARTERS : Wide and powerful; hind legs from hip to hock

long and muscular, from hock to heel of moderate length and strong.

Stifle : Well bent.

Hock:   Well let down, turning neither in nor out.

FEET:  Close-knit with plenty of feathering between toes.

GAIT/MOVEMENT : When moving at the trot long striding, very lively, graceful and efficient.  Head held high, hindquarters drive smoothly and with great power.  Forelegs reach well ahead and remain low. Seen from front or rear forelegs and hind legs below the hock joint moving perpendicularly to the ground; no crossing or weaving of legs, front or back.

COAT

HAIR : Long, silky, fine hair called (feathering) on the back of the fore- and hind legs and on the outer ear flap, also a reasonable amount on the flank extending on to the chest and throat forming a fringe. All feathering straight, flat and not over profuse. The tail should be well feathered. On the head, front of legs and other parts of the body the hair should be short, flat and free from curl but slight wave is permissible.

COLOR : Base color white with solid red patches (clear islands of red color), both colors should show the maximum of life and bloom; flecking but not roaning permitted around the face and feet and up the foreleg as far as the elbow and up the hindleg as far as the hock; roaning flecking and mottling on any other part of the body is most objectionable and is to be heavily penalized.

SIZE : Desirable height at withers

Dogs    24 1/2 - 26 ins (62-66 cm).

Bitches 22 1/2 - 24 ins (57-61 cm).

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.

N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.