The Irish Setter has been a presidential dog four times. They first saw the inside of the White House as President Franklin D. Roosevelt's pair of Setters Jack and Jill. Immediately following his term, Harry Truman brought his Setter "Mike" to office with him, and then again, many years later, Richard Nixon took office and brought along his "King Timahoe".
Cesar Millan, the infamous "Dog Whisperer" well known for his unorthodox approach to training that utilizes evolutionary psychology, owned an Irish Setter as his very first pet! This animal went by the name of Saluki.
The Republic of Ireland's national bus company, "Bus Eireann" uses the iconic image of a dashing Irish Setter for their company logo.
The Irish Setter's people-loving and obedient nature make them naturally suitable for work as therapy dogs. In general, they are sent to places such as hospitals, nursing homes, and even prisons as a means of relieving suffering from depression and isolation, as well as lowering stress and blood pressure.
Pace University in New York calls their sports teams the "Setters" and uses an illustration of the dog rendered in gold and blue on all their logos and clothing.
Because of the breed's height in conjunction with their hearty build, protective coat, and keen sense of smell, the Irish Setter was one of the only hunting dogs suitable for hunting in wetland areas such as ponds, shallow lakes, and swamps.
The solid red variety of Irish Setter first came into popularity in the early 1800s. The Earl of a Northern Ireland town by the name of Enniskillen owned a large pack of solid red Irish Setters that were very popular with people in the town, who were eager to adopt the puppies born of the pack.
The popular 1970s hit song "Shannon" by Henry Gross, long thought to be about a girlfriend who met a tragic end, was actually written about an Irish Setter who had belonged to Beach Boy Carl Wilson.
The Irish Setter is considered a "late bloomer" in that they mature at a much slower rate than other dogs. Whereas one year is the usual "age of maturity" for most breeds, the Irish Setter will not reach a level of adult maturity, either physically or in temperament, until the age of two.
The Irish Setter has a strangely convoluted lineage. The first specimen is thought to come from a mixture of several different breeds including the English Setter, the Spaniel, Pointer, and Gordon Setter.
Of the three Setters (English, Irish, and Gordon), the Irish Setter is considered to be the most trainable and suitable for interaction with children and other pets.
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