Setters?

[schnzrluv]

Hi! In the near future I would like to get another dog. I think that setters are stunning dogs (of course I think all dogs are cute!) and was wondering if I could get some info on them. I plan on getting the dog from a rescue/shelter (there are tons in my area) so I don't need specifics on field bred v.s show bred. So far it seems like they have lots of energy, are great with kids, and average shedders. Is this all correct? Any information that anyone could add would be so greatly appreciated, the more I can learn about these breeds the better to help me decide if it's the right one for me.

Thanks a bunch!
p.s. when refering to "setters" I mean all 3 breeds; English, Irish and Gordon.

[britishbandit]

Well, here's some I know about them, hope it helps.
Setters are energetic, smart, affectionate and full of energy. Can be difficult to train, so train early with firm handling to prevent bad habits. Range from 55-75lbs. Prone to bloat, skin allergies, hypothyroidism and inflammation of the ears, epilepsy, some cases elbow and hip displasia. They do require a lot of exercise, and aren't fully happy without it. They are average shedders, and need to be brushed daily for good condition of the coat.

[Novel]

Being a sporting dog they usually have high energy. They also can be a little headstrong and usually have quite the prey drive, meaning, if it runs, they will chase it.
I think just about every dog could be "great with kids" if raised to be, so I'm not really able to comment there.
I think their coat would give you less shedding than, say a lab, but more than say a German Shorthair or Weimaraner. Depending on how you keep them groomed, there would be a certain amount of brushing and detangling required, and if they have a longer coat (show) you may need to have them "groomed" every other month or learn to do it yourself, if you want the coat to be easier to manage on a daily basis.
I've always adored Setters, but found them to be less of a companion dog than I wanted... but, I am on the way end of the spectrum. Weimaraners literally have to be with you every second of every day, and that's fine by me.

[Cassiepeia]

I've only had experience with Irish Setters.

I agree with what everyone has said so far. Although as far as grooming is concerned, they only really need to be brushed two or three times a week to keep them looking good. This is of course unless you're exercising them in the country side or somewhere they can pick up burrs, ticks etc.. Then a good brush each day just so you can check there's nothing caught in their coat is probably best. We had our female groomed/clipped once every two months. She was my step father's dog really and he didn't like grooming her (he's not really a dog person).

They're extremely active dogs and need lots of exercise. We use to take our female IS for long runs in the country side and afterwards she still wasn't tired. LOL They also LOVE swimming, so if you're not big on long walks...as long as you have access to a lake or river you'll be able to give them the exercise they need. They'll swim for hours. LOL

They're very good with other animals and people, although you have to socialise them well with the animals because as Novel mentioned...they do have a high prey drive. Our male wasn't well socialised with certain animals (ie: poultry) and although he wouldn't dream of killing them he would, instead, try to flush them out (which is what the breed is bred to do).

In my experience they are very effectionate and 'Red-Dog' our female was glued to my step father, to the point of escaping our yard frequently and walking into our small town to be with him at his shop (where she would keep an eye on him and lay in the door way so he couldn't leave without her knowing LOL ). Bundy on the other hand was a little less 'needy' (I guess that's the word) but still a lovely affectionate boy who was everyone's best friend.

I'm not sure what else I could tell you about them. Except that they're amazing animals that I miss having around very much.

EDIT: Ok...just because you like Setters and I like showing my pups off. These are my 2 Irish Setters. Both now deceased. On the left is Bundy...the right is Red-Dog (and a friends Kitten).

Cass.

[schnzrluv]

Thanks! The biggest downside would be their energy. We are building our new home on 5 acres, that were a part of my parents 80 so there are lots of fun places to walk and jog (I love long walks in the country!).The problem is I will be working 2-3 days a week 8 hrs. a day. Perhaps a setter breed would be unhappy all day long with just Chloe to hang out with on the days I am working . I am hoping to get a young or adult dog, so maybe they wouldn't be unhappy? After some research, I am wondering if a breed from this group is just not right for me. Perhaps I will move on to a group with breeds that are not so high in the energy department.

Cass, your dogs were BEAUTIFUL! I'm sorry they are gone.

[Novel]

A Sporting Group dog will be high energy, and I'm glad that you acknowledge that time and exercise may be a factor. The problem with young adults and puppies are that they need exercise throughout the day, or they chew a hole in your wall! An older dog may be content to sleep half the day away, and exercise when you come home, but when they are younger, the old adage really holds true, "a tired dog is a happy dog".
Our three Weimaraners are between the ages of 10 weeks and 2 and a half years. We go for at least three long walks/runs a day of about 45 minutes each time. Jazz, the 10 week old, trots along next to me, and we go slow. The other goofballs, which includes a crazy Boxer, run the entire time we are outside. They must cover ten times the distance I cover. We do this rain/snow/shine. They still come home and be a little rowdy, but that's when the toys are enough. Yesterday it poured all day, but if we don't take our runs, they start bouncing off the walls. Now Topper, the two and a half year old is just now starting to mellow, and he's probably mellowing a little earlier than the avg. Weim. He runs the whole time, but likes to curl up and sleep for a good part of the day. The one and a half year old Weim and Boxer both chew and play for the majority of the time that they are inside.
A Weimie owner I know in Oklahoma goes out before work and after work for an hour with her year old dog, and the weekend contains two trips to the dog park. This keeps his enthusiasm just about in check, but he also has lots of kongs and toys to play with all day. Even so, after 6 hours, he is boinging to get out of his crate and play!
They were bred to be high energy, so they would have enough endurance to hunt all day long. So, it's really not acceptable to me to breed that out of them, yet you may find breeders that have higher and lower energy spectrum dogs.
If you really feel that you may not have as much time as a dog like this may require, there are still tons of other breeds to look at.
I know you want a dog that will be good with the kids, and a low shedder. What other things would you like? I'm thinking perhaps a Standard Poodle (intelligent, almost no shedding, med. to large size, and energy but not as much energy as a sporting dog). I don't know why that comes to mind, and obviously there are 100+ other breeds to consider also.