Dr Roger Mugford comments on the bbc

[neil selman]

On discussing the intelligence of dogs on the bbc this morning (9th August) Dr Roger Mugford when pressed on which breed was the thickest, replied the Irish Setter was mentioned, is this right? what do other Irish Setter owners think.

[Hilary Crosswell]

Who cares what other people say about our lovely Irish Setters, my boys are not stupid, not for a minute, they know exactly which of my buttons to push for love, devotion, forgiveness etc etc etc! When God gave out beauty guess where it went, yes, straight to the Irish Setter both in looks and brains!

[Susan L.]

Sometimes I think let the others think they are stupid, or unruly and hyper. It is better for our breed to remain unpopular!
We saw what happened to setters years ago when here in the states they were one of the top 20 dog breeds. They did become unhealthy and high strung when over breed due to demand. I was thinking reading this post that perhaps he did the breed a favor. The less demand for them might be okay. It could be our little secret what lovely dogs they are. I know mine is smart enough to have somehow managed to get me hiking two miles a day and be out in the hottest of weather and the coldest as well. My own kids couldn't have done that.

[lyn hathaway]

well my layla is not thick and shes only a pet.yes she can "work the field"when we are out, she walks as though shes in the showring and she knows how to get whatever she wants from us by being vocal and not just yapping.she does these things excellent even though she has the disabilty of been blind to contend with.
ive had 3 pet setters in the last 33 years and ive not found any of them to be unintelligent

[Lauwers Willem & Aleksandra]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzCDwShsjk0&feature=related

[Susan Morriss]

Thank you for finding this Alek, not only do I want to hug the Irish but also the handler. Just prooves that patience, training, confidence and love brings rewards...
Wash your mouth out Roger Mugford...

[lyn hathaway]

well said susan

[Viv Blackshaw]

Gosh!!! Well done.

The only problem is when the Irish becomes a teenager she might think that the game has become boring .

[sue morgan]

I grew up with Irish and have owned and loved them most of my life.......THICK....they are NOT!!!!!! daft yes, but always on the right side ,this enables them to train you in their ways, When out walking mine, people remark often Ohhhh I thought that breed were always mad and scatty....yours are well behaved are nt they...
I used to take My Fionnbharr (WICKENBERRY RED RUM) to Afghan Racing at a race track in Cheshire, one day Fin decided he wasnt going to run all around that track chasing the hare so he jumped the rails galloped across the middle snatched the hare out of the holder, shook it and brought it back to Mum with a big grin on his face............now although extremely embarassing I think that prooves he was pretty clever..........Especially as all the Afghans carried on running

[Patricia Meehan Lerch]

I have heard it said that Irish setters are intelligent but stubborn...in other words they consider what is expected of them and then do what they want. I wouldn't say they were thick. I've had six setters over 40 years and all have been intelligent. I taught one to ring the doorbell in one try and she did it then each time she wanted to come in the house. Unfortunately, she did not have a lot of patience and would ring and ring and ring...

[Jelena Kreitmayer]

LOL
mine would always observe an action (dog or human) and see how it's applied and replicate it. Everything from opening doors using doorknobs ( the doors are still gauged from my old setter), to throwing a ball with the head movement, all through the pointing birds...
Quick to learn,very inquisitive and very selective with what to obey- always look for a gain in the whole equation :)

[Angela Roberts]

Gennadi, Have you owned both show and working strains of IRS? I'm just interested as you are so against the show type I would be surprised if you had owned one to know if it's thick or not.

[Gennadi]

I had and have both show and working bred dogs, but plz note my show bred dog works in fields and got CACT, he's smart enough, but not enough like my working bred dog.
One more show bred dog I had last year was so stupid, that made me to give him back to breeder. He was allmost zero in fields and blonde in life.
Allmost all show bred dogs I know were stupid and created for fun only. Among these circle there are some smart dogs and usualy these dogs work well in fields.