Stats:
shoes eaten = 1
daily praise from strangers on how beautiful he is = 5 minimum
weight : skinny boi (45 lbs)

Ronan at rest

We are the proud owners of a gorgeous 9 month old, 63 lb. male Irish Setter named Pilot.

My pride is tempered by the fact that he is physically unmanageable and beginning to cause injuries.

Here's what we do 'right':

-Plenty of outdoor exercise including long walks

-Susan Garrett's "Homeschool the dog curriculum" completed -

-Daily short training sessions (multiple per day)

-Mental stimulation (hiding kibble in blankets, brain games, kongs and food puzzles, sniff walks, etc)

• Crate trained, sleeps all night there and walks in on command for scheduled naps (big win)
• 'capturing calm' - e.g. we gently praise and treat him in the very rare occasion when he shows a second of calm around us

Here's our problem - "he is insane". I heard the vet tech say it behind a closed door to the vet which was demoralizing, but frankly we agree. He cannot chill.

Our friends and family have dogs around his age and he is, not even close, the worst behaved - which is super discouraging because we put in 20x the effort into our dog.

He can't be left alone for more that .000000001 seconds before he tries to swallow something, jump on someone, destroy a plant, hump something etc and needs my intervention. I'm exhausted and the only alternate to constant vigilance is putting him in a crate all day.

This isn't new either, he's been like this since 8 weeks

I'm looking for some encouragement from people who had an unmanageable adolescent who turned into a cool dog.

I'd love to hear that all our hard consistent work won't be a total waste.

Anyone out there?

Hello all, we are about to get an Irish Red and White Setter, and both parents are field line. Just wondering if anyone on this group has one or if there’s a separate place for IRWS owners. The puppy reflections on this group have really made me quite apprehensive about what’s ahead and just wondering if IRWS experiences have been broadly similar! Thank you.

We have tried several but none seem to fit very well. If they fit the shoulders they are too tight in girth, or if they fit around the chest they won't tighten enough at the shoulders. Any suggestions? Both of ours like to pull on the lead so a well fitted harness is our best option.

Hi setter owners,

I am an experienced dog owner searching for a second dog. I have an 8 year old shetland sheepdog. I am set on a setter as my next dog, and I really want to adopt/rehome. I live in England and have finally found a male that seems great. He is 8 years old. Does an 8 year old setter have energy and the ability to get out? I know that it will not have the energy of an adolescent but I am curious how many years of lengthy activities he would have left. Thanks!

She knows what she did.

5 year old setter has gotten reactive toward male dogs in the last year. In the car, on walks, in the house when he sees a male walk by the house. Females he’s perfectly calm.

He is intact.

This morning wife opens the garage door and he darts out and attacks a dog walking by with his owner. This is a male that the owners had been working with for years on his own reactivity and my dumbass dog just attacked it.

Thoughts on neutering? I’ve been holding out to leave him intact for no other reason than preference and advice I’ve gotten on this forum.

Hi there - just got this field setter as he was revohomed about 4 months ago. He is 2.5. It seems some of his hair on his neck has been falling out, has anyone found this?

Took our little guy (11mo) out this weekend for some outdoor fun . He was in his element ! Bluejays galore and all you can sniff grass spots . We are still working on making friends as he gets too loud and excited whenever he sees another dog 🙃 he thinks he’s telling them let’s play - meanwhile the other dogs are startled by his ….. loud persistence . I guess that’s a bit of an IS thing , too vocal for their own good . Hoping to work more on this with him and definitely his recall- dreaming of one day being able to do off leash hikes but we aren’t there yet … and for now that’s okay ❤️

Georg taking the first point on two black grouse 😀

I’m looking for a breeder around or in eastern North Carolina. Need one from hunting lines as the dog will be an active bird dog. Looking to get one sometime around next spring just looking into breeders for now. TIA

Tactical setters ready to take on the neighborhood. Hide your socks and toilet paper rolls

He's a natural.

Starting the weekend off with a setter gathering. It’s the best kind of chaotic