Conformation
Conformation shows are what most people think of when the words
"Dog Show" are mentioned. In these shows each Irish Setter
is compared, by a qualified judge, to the ideal written description
or "standard" of the breed. No Irish Setter is perfect
and each dog will have either major or minor imperfections called
"faults." Irish Setters with major faults should not be
shown, nor bred, but can participate in other activities such
as obedience, or agility. Those with minor faults can be shown.
The judge will examine each dog for its strengths and weaknesses
and select the dog that most fits the standard.
Obedience Trials
This is another way to compete with your Irish Setter. Rather than
judge a dog on its looks in obedience trials, the dog is judged
on his performance in completing various exercises. There are various
levels of competition, each increasingly harder than the rest.
Obedience work can be very rewarding for both the dog and the trainer.
Both the skills of the dog and the trainer are put to the test when
working in obedience.
Another satisfying aspect of obedience work is the practical everyday
applications of the exercises learned. An obedience trained Irish
Setter is a joy to work with, and to own.
Hunting or Field Trials
Irish Setters were originally developed in order to help the hunter
locate wild birds. The word "setter" originates from the
way the dog was trained to "set" when he approached birds
in the bush. Before the use of guns, hunters used nets to entangle
the birds. The setter was taught to "set" and creep up
on the birds, indicating by his movements the location of the birds.
The hunter then threw the net over both the dog and birds.
Pheasant and quail are among the most popular birds sought by the
hunter and his Irish Setter, though the setter can be trained on
other birds as well. Due to the shift of interest in breeders of
Irish Setters in the late 1890's and early part of this century,
from hunting stock to show stock, we don't see as many Irish Setters
working in the field or competing in Field Trials. This has begun
to change as we see show breeders begin to show more interest in
the working abilities of their dogs.
Agility
The sport of dog agility originated in England as entertainment
during horse jumping competition. The popularity of agility, which
is fun, has grown by leaps and bounds!
Agility requires close teamwork between a dog and it's handler.
In order to successfully complete each course the dog and handler
must work as a tightly knit team. Judging is based upon both speed
and the ability of the dog to complete the obstacles properly.
There are various organizations in the world which offer Agility
Trials. All have similar requirements and courses. Training and
competition, at the same time, within several of these organizations
is commonly seen.
Courses are dependent on the level which handler and dog work. Obstacles
such as A-frames, dog walks, see-saw's, weave poles, jumps and tunnels
are typically found at Agility Trials.
Therapy Dogs
While there are various programs available to the interested Irish
Setter owner, all basically are programs in which animals help people
by visiting them. A more formal term often heard is "Animal
Assisted Therapy." Visiting people in hospitals, nursing homes,
schools, and rehabilitation centers is both a rewarding and therapeutic
process.
Visiting with animals helps to relieve both depression and loneliness.
There are health benefits in just touching a pet. Studies even show
that stroking an animal reduces blood pressure. A visiting Irish
Setter can entertain, provide a welcome distraction from pain, and
in general improve the quality of life of the people visited. An
Irish Setter will pay little attention to a person's age, or physical
disabilities, but will accept them, without judgement as they are.
Generally most dogs and their owners will either be tested or have
a short training program to go through, in order to assure only
those dogs most temperamentally suitable for therapy work, are choosen.
There are many organizations, as well smaller groups, such as veterinarians
who provide these needed services.
