>am worried the Irish read and white setter is rare as it won't be for a few years once I have decided on a breed.

There are a few Irish Red and White litters born each year, so as long as you start making enquiries a few months before you want to bring a puppy home they shouldn't be too difficult to source.

Your post just made me remember, must be about 40 years age we had a xbreed 'Toffee', started going to class, there was an Irish Setter 'Rusty' who did the demos of exercises we were learning,

Perfect heelwork, about turns, halt and sit etc until he got too close to the table in the corner with the tea & biccys......... owner would then be walking round the hall........blissfully unaware that he was on his own.......Rusty would be sitting in the queue waiting for his biscuit

Ooh I'd love a gordon setter! I've net a few on walks and they seem to have all the charm and energy of the reds but with maturity too. Lovely lovely dogs.

Don't tell the poodles!

I'm meeting a breeder of Gordon and Irish setters today to talk about the breed and meet them in person.

So I'll see if the go on my list later when I meet the setters. After talking to sone breeders yesterday the Pointer is off my list. I also want to say no more recommendations. As iv got the Dalmatian still on my list but other than setters I'm looking at the Eurasier?

Does anyone know anything about the Eurasier? I like everything iv read and the breeders of spoke to so far I've liked everything I have heard about including the downsides as well as the good.

> If your heart is with the Dal then I wouod now be seeking out a breeder or breeders to go and meet their dogs in their homes.<br />Going through all these breeds you'll end up in dizzy circles.<br />Sounds like you've researched the breed and would like to own one. Next step finding some good breeders.

Couldn't agree with you more.....

I would have considered them before I had the Elkhounds, (if they had been in the country then), as I went from a long coated Belgian Shepherd Groenendael.  More grooming tyhan the Elkhounds, buty nto much difference to the Groenendael.

More grooming than the Elkies and I do not like the ones that have a Chow type temperament.  Samoyeds and Kees have a very similar temperament to ours.  I have heard that they are more prone to separation anxiety than a self reliant/confident spitz breed.

About barking I hear they are not barkers, but Samoyeds decidedly have a horrid high pitched bark, do I think training is the main thing.

My breed are required to Bark when hunting, so some can become barkers, but I have owned up to 6 in a suburban house and require that barking is minimal and train accordingly.

As a result I have great watchdogs, who know how to shut up.  Coated breed, but a coat that sheds dirt and doesn't tangle.

Did you miss my mention of the English Setter With their ticked coats, and easy going nature they should appeal as you like Dals.

Hope you enjoyed your meet - having owned three of the setter breeds - my heart now lies with the Gordon being the most biddable in my eyes - they do like their voices but this can be trained - I've just not done it! 

The coat does either attract burrs/hedgegrow and mud at this time of year - but a warm hose down after a walk.  Best advice for looking after the coat - wash mud off and never brush a dirty coat!

They need daily gallops - they love to run but I have not had one Gordon who doesn't have a reasonably reliable recall - the English on the other hand !  They were the most independant on walks - always wanting to see what was going on in the field next to the one you are in! and often he would hear the recall take a look and off he'd run opposite direction!

They are affectionate and don't let anyone tell you they aren't smart - they are!  Three got to Silver good citizen and two to Gold.  Have done agility too with them.

They love company - human and canine.

Good luck in narrowing down your choices!

Well the meet went well ..... That is for the Gordon the Gordon settled down a lot quicker once I went in then the Irish and from learning about both and walking both I preferred the Gordon. Then her daughter owned a Eurasier I couldn't believe my luck, I fell in love with them too.

So my list of breeds are the Dalmatian, Gordon setter and the Eurasier now just have to wait for crufts and then I can pick which one after being at crufts. Right now I'll be surprised if I can even pick there all amazing

A Keeshond exhibitor also has Euraisers so I've met them when she's benched them with us - hers are so loving and gentle and I've never heard a peep out of either of them. They are bigger than the Kees and a bit more sturdy like the Sam so sounds like an ideal for your long walks. They can of course be gobby but as already mentioned, that can be nipped in the bud from an early age through positive reinforcement training and you can end up with a brilliant alert dog (no need for a doorbell in my house!) but they will back off as soon as you say the word

Yes, they do require regular brushing but spitz coats aren't as high maintenance than a lot would think. Double coated dogs don't need bathing a lot (general rule of thumb is every 6 months/when they're changing coat) and should never be shaved or trimmed so no need to be paying the groomers a fortune Just good combs and brushes and a grooming routine will prevent matting - they also don't shed as much as you'd expect as most the coat comes out when you groom. I find short haired breeds shed MUCH more than my spitz but the boys shed less than the girls. Grooming them is also a good way of bonding and I find it very relaxing and therapeutic

Thank you so much for your reply. If been talking with a lot of Eurasier people and are finding there very gentle, affectionate and loving, stubborn but fairly easy to train, don't bark very much a few have said there's only barks if there's something to bark at, entertainment levels match me, there aloof but without being protective like a GSD for example and are happy only when with there people. I'm really starting to lean towards the Eurasier.

> I've net a few on walks and they seem to have all the charm and energy of the reds but with maturity too.

Maturity is not a word I'd use for the two I used to groom!

No setter EVER grows up it’s one of the things I love about them !

After further research and talking to owners rather than breeders iv decided the Eurasier is not for me. The Gordon is still on my list and I'm looking into English setters ( I don't know why but iv only just seen the recommendation) .

I have also been spending time with Gordon setter owners near to me and I'm really starting to fall for the gundog group as one of the Gordon owners also owned an  Italian spinion and there lovely. Because of this I have had a really long think as it's very, very important to me that I get it right and have decided that the Dalmatian is definitely not for me. I think what if learned is that I'm a gundog person. I also saw that the Welsh Springer was recommended I like Welsh springers but I read years ago that spaniels can suffer from rage syndrome so even though I like them if always said no. If anyone can tell me which gundogs energy level are similar to the Gordon setter I would be very greatful and then I can add the ones I like to the list. But with energy levels I know the Weimaraner is to high energy for me.

I also met a vizla and a German shorthaired pointer but apparently they would be to high energy for me as there energy is the same as the Weimaraner

Rage syndrome, if it really does exists, has really only been seen in cocker spaniels so I would imagine that you are pretty safe with Welsh sprinters.

Other dogs to consider would be the golden retriever, labradors and Hungarian Vizlas

Thanks Jodi I thought is was a spaniel thing. So I'll look into them but I'm also starting to think maybe I should give the Labrador a chance. I have decided which I forgot to mention have taken the reserved with people trait of my list so could look at labs and goldens.

I also found this article about gundogs  ( it is mainly based on working types but it was still interesting) http://totallygundogs.com/choosing-a-gundog-puppy