Meet the Setters Trivia Quiz

Answer: English Setter, Gordon Setter, Irish Setter and Irish Red & White Setter

Up until 2008, only 3 setter breeds were recognized by the AKC. These were the Irish Setter, the English Setter, and the Gordon Setter. Now the Irish Red and White Setter has been added to the setter family.

Answer: Yes

There are 5 AKC recognized coat colors for the English Setter. They are orange belton, blue belton (white with black markings), tricolor (blue belton with tan on muzzle, over the eyes and on the legs), lemon belton & liver belton.
The most common color is the orange belton. The Tri is starting to be really popular, though. I do love those Tri's!

Answer: Irish Setter standard

Yes, right in the AKC standard for the Irish Setter, it states that artists have termed the Irish Setter the most beautiful of all dogs.

The love of my life is the Irish Setter. Named the most beautiful of all dogs, they are also an intelligent and mischievous breed. You need a good sense of humor to have Irish Setters. And, if you've never seen an Irish Setter in a full flying trot, you haven't lived. Ok, I'm a little biased.

Answer: Yes

Yes, they can. All the setters are a slow maturing breed, both in body and mind. A young setter will learn quickly but get easily bored by repetition. That's where your sense of humor comes in handy. Anyone who has seen a setter improvise at an obedience trial will understand. Most breeders recommend that formal obedience training not start until the setter is at least 18 months old.

At that time, their bones are mature enough to handle the stress of any obedience jumping.

Answer: They set on point.

All setters are pointers, but the setter points by setting on point. If you've ever seen a setter on point, you will see them bring their body and head down in a line. Almost a slight crouch. My own Irish setter will point almost anything that flies. I'll come into the kitchen to find a setter pointing a fly. I try not to laugh.

Answer: Irish Red and White Setter for the Irish Setter

The Irish Red & White Setter is thought to have played a role in developing the taller Irish Setter. But since no records were kept, we really don't know what other breeds were also involved. I believe the starting breed was the Irish Red & White Setter; however, I also believe that a red Gordon must have been incorporated into the genetic mix. First because a smaller dog doesn't produce a larger dog. And secondly the Irish Setter has a fault listed for no black allowed. Red Gordon Setters aren't allowed to be shown, but they might have been used to give more size and body to the development of the Irish Setter.

Answer: Yes

Yes, the main difference is their size. The majority of field bred setters are slighter in build than the show bred setters. But both field and show setters make excellent companions and pets.

Answer: No

Black and Tan Gordon Setters can produce an all red Gordon Setter puppy. The red color is a fault and a red Gordon Setter is a not allowed to be shown in conformation, but it can compete in other show events such as obedience. A red Gordon Setter has the same wonderful temperament as the Black and Tan Gordon Setters and will make a wonderful pet.

Answer: False

The show bred setters are highly motivated to hunt. We call that being birdy. A person who has a show bred setter might show the setter to their AKC conformation championship and then go on to obtain their Junior Hunter and Master Hunter degrees.

Answer: False

Generally, the boys of all the setters seem to be perpetually stuck in puppy mode. I've had one boy who finally had his brains delivered by UPS at age 9. Not that they are stupid. They are just boys. The girls usually have all their brains by 2 years old. But those boys can remain puppies for a long, long time.