Irish Setter vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison

Irish Setter vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed ComparisonIrish Setter is originated from Ireland but Braque Saint-Germain is originated from France. Irish Setter may grow 9 cm / 4 inches higher than Braque Saint-Germain. Both Irish Setter and Braque Saint-Germain are having almost same weight. Both Irish Setter and Braque Saint-Germain has same life span. Irish Setter may have more litter size than Braque Saint-Germain. Irish Setter requires Moderate maintenance. But Braque Saint-Germain requires Low maintenance

History

irish setter - historyThe Irish Setter is a gun dog, originating in Ireland and recognized by his beautiful red or mahogany coat.

Descending from the Setter group, the Irish Setter, also known as the Red Setter, has a solid pedigree. It was in the 1800s that they were brought to the United States.

The Irish Setter wasn't always what it looks like today and in fact the solid red color was created because of selective breeding practices. The Irish Setter has long medium length floppy ears, brown eyes and he is deep chested.

braque saint germain - historyThe Braque Saint-Germain, also known as the St. Germain Pointing Dog, is a French creation. The French pointing dogs and the English pointing dogs were mixed to develop the Braque Saint-Germain. He is a versatile hunting dog that was both a pointer and a gun dog. They are medium to large in size and went from being bred by royalty in the 1830’s to a popular everyday hunting dog. The ancestry of the breed can be traced back many additional centuries.

As popular as the Braque Saint-Germain was as a hunter, he gained his notoriety in the show ring. The first time a Braque Saint-Germain entered the ring in 1863 it was an acclaimed breed and upstaged all other pointing breeds. The French Braque Saint-Germain club was opened in 1913 and recognized by the Federation Cynoloqique International (FCI) and in 2006 was recognized by the North American United Kennel Club. Their popularity has risen and fallen since World War II. It has flirted with extinction more than once. Today’s Braque Saint-Germain is a highly talented hunting dog with a standard appearance that still does well in the ring.

The English Pointer was a cross between the hound dogs, British gundog, Spanish Pointer and herding breeds. This made the English Pointer a very versatile breed before it was crossed with the Braque Francais Gascogne. The Braque Francais Gascogne itself is believed to have developed from the Chien d-Oysel and Italian and Spanish pointing dogs. The English Pointer was specialized in pointing and the French Braque Francais Gascogne was a very versatile dog. In the Braque Saint-Germain the dog world has a versatile, excellent pointing dog.

In the 1800’s the French Crown was gifted with two English Pointers that were great at hunting. Some considered the English Pointers to be better than any of their Braque Francais. The female of these two pointers was bred many times but the male died without breeding. The female’s first litter was with a brown German Spaniel and were of low quality. Her second litter however was with an outstanding bird dog and produced 7 excellent puppies. Because of this these two dogs were bred several more times. The owner of the adult dogs moved to Saint-Germain, where their appearance attracted many hunters. The breed flourished here and was named the Braque Saint-Germain.

Soon corrupt individuals sold non-purebreds as Braque Saint-Germains and handlers showed these dogs under the Saint-Germain name. There are always dangers when a popular breed’s beginnings comes from only two dogs. In 1913 the new breed club fought over the standard and ended up producing two types. The first type was a sturdy dog with long ears and a round chest. He was larger and slower than his cousin. The second type was a smaller dog with a finer skeleton and short, high set ears. He was a galloper to his cousin’s trot.

The breed found itself facing near extinction in 1914 and during all of World War I. Dogs were not bred and many were not properly cared for. The breed became quite rare. Then as it began to recover, the Second World War intervened and devasted the breed again. By the end of the war, they were once again very rare and on the edge of extinction. It took a dedicated effort from local breeders to bring the breed back. By the 1950’s the two types of Braque Saint-Germain dogs were molded into only one breed. There remained a conflict between those that bred show dogs and those that bred hunting dogs.

Slowly the breed grew in number and in the late 1990’s there were over 100 puppies registered into the club every year. More than 100 were entered into the clubs in 2009. There have also been a few English Pointer crosses allowed to breed with the Braque Saint-Germains in order to grow and improve the gene pool. Still the breed is exceedingly rare outside of France. Through it all the breed has been able to maintain its place in confirmation and still be a versatile hunting dog.

Description

irish setter puppy - descriptionThe Irish Setter is a large dog, beautiful and elegant looking, standing at 61 to 71cm in height and weighing anything from 25 to 34kg, males and females.

The coat is a rich red color and is short to medium length but feathers in places such as the tail, the chest and abdomen, the legs and the tail. The head is long and lean, the ears are long and silky and the tail long and feathery.

Temperament:

The Irish Setter is a playful, friendly, sweet, mischievous, high energy dog who makes a superb family pet, getting on well with children in the home.

It was noticed that in about 1845, Setters in Ireland were mostly red, red and white or even a mustardy-lemon type of color, but there was preference for the solid red coloring. The breed standard for the modern Irish Setter was drawn up in Dublin by the Irish Red Setter Club and approved in 1886.

The dog was essentially bred for hunting game birds, using their excellent sense of smell to locate the bird. He is an alert, intelligent dog and will learn easily. Training and socialization will make him obedient and relaxed.

He isn't an assertive kind of breed and therefore isn't going to make the best of watchdogs. They've got such amicable, kind temperaments that they make popular therapy dogs.

braque saint germain puppy - descriptionThe Braque Saint-Germain is very much a pointer and yet is a very attractive dog. They have a medium build, drop ears and a long, level tail tapered at the end. They are really distinctive looking with an athletic, lean, muscled look. The skull is round and the muzzle is the same length as the skull. Their nose is pink , their lips cover their lower jaw and their eyes are golden, round and large. The ears are set high on the head and look like they are slightly detached. The neck is long, muscular and arched, while they have deep chest. They are well proportioned, good looking dogs with a friendly facial expression. Their coat is true to the pointing dog group as it is short, smooth and white with orange markings. Dogs of any other color might be great hunting dogs but are not show dogs and should not be bred

Characteristics

irish setter dog - characteristicsIrish Setters are going to make you a wonderful pet. He has a friendly, confident disposition that makes them ideal pets for families with children who have been taught how to respect- and be kind to animals.

He is a big dog, but with training and socialization he becomes well behaved and obedient. Social and outgoing, this is a dog which just loves the companionship of their human family and will require a good deal of exercise too.

Keep him well exercised, feed him good food that promotes health, give him a nice warm, dry place to sleep and he’ll fit perfectly well into your family and make a splendid pet.

braque saint germain dog - characteristicsThe Braque Saint-Germain is a working dog and a show dog. They are energetic, competitive and driven. They are generally affectionate, loyal and love to cuddle with their people. They need human companionship companionship and can have severe separation anxiety when left by themselves. They love being a member of the family with children, but they are likely to knock very young children down unintentionally.

The Braque Saint-Germain is a loyal, gentle breed and some might even be shy. They are not guard dogs. They are much too friendly toward strangers. Even though they were bred to point and track small game, they can be socialized to be safe living with smaller pets such as cats. They are intelligent, fast learners who love to learn. They also love to work and work long hours without fatigue. They will love to be a jogging or cycling partner.

They do best with large yards, rural areas or in hunting packs. They are not small apartment, city dwellers. They do get along with strangers and other animals. They will warn of strangers, but they are not aggressive.

Health Problems

irish setter puppies - health problemsIrish Setters are quite a healthy breed but they are also prone to getting some of the common dog illnesses such as hip dysplasia, cancer, bloat and canine leukocyte adhesion deficiency.

Canine leukocyte adhesion deficiency:

Known as CLAD, this is a disease of the immune system found in Irish Setters. True, it is a rare disease and affected animals show signs of skin lesions, bone disorders, anorexia and generalized lymphadenopathy.

Bloat:

Irish Setters can develop bloat, a life-threatening condition where the stomach distends with gas and can twist. This is known as gastric torsion and you’ll see your dog’s restlessness. He may even ‘hide away’ somewhere, lying down and drooling, while trying to vomit. This is an illness which requires immediate veterinary intervention.

braque saint germain puppies - health problemsThe breed has very few health issues even with all the cross breeding followed by inbreeding. Due to the small gene pool there might be some genetically inherited problems. Due to the size of the gene pool, they might suffer from “founder’s effect” where if one dog has a certain condition, their descendants could also. Not enough research has been done to know if this is the case with the Braque Saint-Germain of not.

Some of the potential health issues that the3 Braque Saint-Germain might face include:

  • Dysplasia of the hip and elbow.
  • Cleft Palate or Lip.
  • Ear Infections.
  • PRA or Progressive Retinal Atrophy
  • Demodex Mange/Demodectic mange
  • Epilepsy
  • Deafness
  • Aortic Stenosis
  • Acral Mutilation Syndrome

Caring The Pet

Exercise:

irish setter dogs - caringIrish Setters are lean and muscular and an active breed. They love nothing more than to run off in wide open spaces, and if you live in the city and have a large garden, he will need to be taken on long walks. If he is a country dog, he may well run off and be gone for an hour or two before he returns home.

They are dogs which are used to having a job to do such as hunting, so he won't do well if he is put into a small back yard and left to his own device. He is a social dog and wants to be with his human family, relying on them to include him in all their activities.

Diet:

Your Irish Setters is a lean, muscular, active dog, and to keep him that way he will require a nutritious diet. If you feed him commercially manufactured kibble, make sure it is the very best quality one. It is a good idea to mix in protein such as cooked chicken, brown rice and vegetables. Some raw meat added in from time to time can be very beneficial to him too.

With your beautiful Irish Setter, it is best to avoid feeding your dog processed foods altogether. A good diet is essential for good health. Never leave your dog without a constant supply of cool, fresh water.

Grooming:

The Red Setter’s coat is fairly long on the body but short and smooth on the head. The coat will need to be brushed at least twice a week to prevent matting.

Trim his nails as needed, and find out how to keep his teeth healthy too with vet approved canine dog toothpaste- and brush.

Also check his long, floppy ears because it is so easy for ear infections to develop with these long-eared dogs.

Feeding

braque saint germain dogs - caringThis is a working dog that can run and track for miles. She needs good nutrition. Feed about 3 cups per day in one or two meals. Two meals are preferred.

Health issues

As previously mentioned this breed might be susceptible to many genetic diseases or disorders but there have not been any studies to show this.

Exercise and games

The Braque Saint Germain does not need a high amount of exercise as their energy level is medium. They still need daily exercise. They do best with a fenced off leash area to run. They love frisbee and chasing balls.

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Sporting dog
Origin:
Ireland
France
Height Male:
61 - 71 cm
24 - 28 inches
56 - 62 cm
22 - 25 inches
Height Female:
61 - 71 cm
24 - 28 inches
55 - 60 cm
21 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 34 kg
55 - 75 pounds
20 - 35 kg
44 - 78 pounds
Weight Female:
25 - 34 kg
55 - 75 pounds
16 - 28 kg
35 - 62 pounds
Life Span:
11 - 15 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
7 - 12
4 - 8
Size:
Large dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Red Setter
Saint-Germain Pointer, French Pointer (Saint-Germain), Saint-Germain Pointing Dog, French Pointing Dog (Saint-Germain) Braque d’Auvergne Pointer, Auvergne Pointer, Braque du Auvergne, Auvergnese Pointer, Auvergne Pointing Dog, Auvergnian Pointer, Auvergnese Pointing Dog, Auvergnian Pointing Dog Bleu de Auvergne, Bleu d’Auvergne
Colors Available:
Red
Dull white with orange (fawn) markings
Coat:
Medium Length, silky and feathery
short not fine
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Cheerful, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Playful, Sweet
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

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