AKC recognizes less-familiar breed of Irish setter

If you go to a dog show this year, chances are you might see an Irish red and white setter, the newest member of the sporting group. The centuries-old hunting breed became eligible to compete in American Kennel Club events Jan. 1.

Debbie Cournoyer, corresponding secretary of the Irish Red and White Setter Association, the breed's parent club, reports there are about 600 of these sporting dogs registered in the foundation stock studbook in the United States. She believes there might also be a few more specimens scattered across the country whose owners haven't registered their dogs and just keep them as pets or use the canines to hunt.

Ms. Cournoyer, a resident of West Kingston, R.I., owns five of these setters and hopes to have a few champions by the end of the year, now that the breed can be exhibited at AKC-licensed events. The experienced handler is a longtime Gordon setter exhibitor, and acquired her first Irish red and white setter in 2000.

"They are unique and very pretty, " Ms. Cournoyer says. "These dogs are highly intelligent and creative. They like to solve problems — real or imagined."

To an untrained eye, the R&W might first appear to be a mixed breed. Unlike its cousins, the Irish, Gordon and English setters, the R&W doesn't have a racy outline and is not excessively trimmed. The breed standard advises judges to evaluate these dogs primarily from a working standpoint.

The R&W was developed by Irish sportsmen in the late 17th century and most likely is the progenitor of the more popular Irish setter, known in Ireland and much of Europe simply as the "red setter."

By the late 19th century, the red setter had eclipsed its bi-colored ancestor in popularity, and the Irish red and white almost became extinct.

While the energetic and aristocratic Irish setter has always been a beloved family pet in this country, Ms. Cournoyer attributes the breed's surge in popularity in the early 1960s to the movie "Big Red," a heartwarming tale set in Canada about the adventures of a heroic Irish setter.

Meanwhile, the red and white languished in obscurity.

In the mid-1970s, a handful of the dog fanciers in Ireland and this country became concerned about the breed's demise and began well-planned breeding programs. Many sportsmen prized these dogs for their versatility and keen hunting ability and breeding stock was soon exported to many parts of the world.

Today, the Irish red and white setter can be found throughout the British Isles, as well as in Belgium, Italy, Scandinavia and Canada. Ms. Cournoyer reports that there is also great interest in the breed in several South American countries, including Brazil and Argentina.

One of the highlights of Ms. Cournoyer's involvement with this intelligent breed has been attending two international conferences and specialty shows where she met fellow hobbyists from all over the world. Ms. Cournoyer traveled to Belgium in 2004 and to Ireland in 2006.

Unlike the Gordon setter that tries constantly to please its owner, the R&W has an independent streak, says Ms. Cournoyer.

"They can accomplish a task by themselves, while the Gordon seeks direction and wants to please," she observes. She adds that an Irish red and white setter will work well with its owner once the pair develops a solid relationship.

"There has to be some camaraderie," she says.

Ms. Cournoyer hopes that the red and white will become more widely accepted now that it's officially recognized by the AKC.

"Their sheer beauty will absolutely get your attention," she says. "Your eye is drawn to them."

Ms. Cournoyer was attracted to the noble hunting breed by its shimmering white coat, which she describes as "pearlescent," and the rich mahogany-colored markings or large spots that the breed standard refers to as "islands."

Another physical trait that caught her eye is the dog's silky flowing hair, known as feathers, that appear on the legs, tail and ears.

"The feathers are the icing on the cake," she concludes.

Swansea resident Brian J. Lowney has been writing about pets for more than a decade. He is a past president of the Wampanoag Kennel Club, an active dog show judge and shares his home with two shelter-adopted cats. All of Brian's columns are available online in our new pet section. Visit http://pets.SouthCoastToday.com.