Origins: The Irish setter was originally bred as a gun dog in the 1800's in Ireland. It was bred to help bird hunters; it is both a pointer and retriever. A pointer finds game, and a retriever picks up and retrieves the game for the hunter. The original Irish setters had a red and white coat.

Anatomy: The Irish setter is from 25 to 27 inches (64-69 cm) tall at the shoulders and weighs from 60 to 70 pounds (27-32 kg). It has a long, silky coat that ranges in color from chestnut to mahogany; the coat is very long on the ears, belly, tail, and legs. The skull is slightly domed; the eyes are large, almond-shaped, and dark.