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.

[Gennadi]

Did I own you anything?
Anyway I've got some videos of my dogs at YouTube, go over there and find "Gennadi1959"

[Lauwers Willem & Aleksandra]

Well you now just did proof I'm right. If you at least understand it.

[Gennadi]

If you don't work with your dogs in fields, I don't even say hunting? you'll never be right.
I guess your dogs are for fun only and can't use their brain for the stuff they been bred for, they are probably stupid.

[Angela Roberts]

I wouldn't say mine are Intelligent or Stupid and they don't need to be either. Intelligent, stupid, dumb, blonde, whatever. I love mine just the way they are. Don't want to hunt or go hunting with them (not that I'm against it and wouldn't mind going to watch one day) but one thing is for sure they stay with me until the day they meet their maker, I would never dream of sending one back to it's breeder. For me they are for life.

[Margaret Sierakowski Dalriach IRWS]

Like children, they are with you for life, however stupid or intelligent.
On the other hand, if one is running a business, where one has to be successful to keep going, one wouldnt keep paying an employee who is too stupid to do the job properly

[Catherine Carter]

I think before this conversation deteriorates any further some people might be well advised to read about the concept of intelligence in dogs. There are some very good books about it and one I have already mentioned earlier on.....there are different forms of intelligence and instinctive intelligence is only one of them!

[Lauwers Willem & Aleksandra]

Indeed our dogs are in first place for fun. Isn't this like it should be? Besides they are also real family-members with their own personality. Whether they are intelligent or stupid isn't important. Would you sell your kid if it would be stupid? NO. But as Gennadi already stated in earlier comments he would sell a dog if he's according to him stupid (translated doesn't show the right hunting-skills). This says enough about the mentality from certain people towards their dogs.
Our dogs like most showdogs live inside the house being part of our daily life. As where the majority of the pure workingdogs live outside in kennels all year round seeing only the outside of their kennel when it's time to work in the field or when hunting-season starts. Even not mentioning here many of their training-methods. And these people want to convince us how wonderful their dogs are???
And Yes Gennadi I know how it's going in the world of huntingdogs. Even when probably you again will come up with different ideas.
Maybe we shouldn't be wondering which one is the most intelligent, but which one is the happiest. But guess a happy dog is for some less important.

[Cheryl Gorey]

Hey Everyone
Interesting discussion - let's keep it respectful!

We just heard about the survey in Australia earlier this week. Interestingly enough, Irish Setters weren't mentioned at all in the news story over here!!

The most stupid according to the survey - Afghan Hounds, Boxers and Beagles with Border Collies and German Shepherd dogs being the most intelligent with intelligence assessed of 2 year old child.

I personally, don't hunt with my Irish as I am too far away from any area that I can do any competition. I have always competed in obedience and my dogs have achieved great scores and won top awards against other breeds - ie: Border Collies, German Shepherds, etc. I also show my dogs too! Irish Setters are very intelligent and sometimes people don't understand that when our dogs are naughty it is because their minds are not stimulated enough and this causes their naughty behaviour.

This has also been researched with very intelligent children. They need to have more mental stimulation than less intelligent children otherwise they get bored and become naughty just like the behaviours we sometimes see in Irish!!! Unfortunately, it is most often the owners who create their "stupid" dogs because they don't understand and/or provide the right environment for the breed.
cheers

[Teresa]

You just said it all...

[Katerina Hulikova]

Hi,
somebody once said: the dog is a mirror reflection of its owner...
:-)

[steve3dreams]

Im not going to be defensive on this one, well ill try not to be.
Im on my 6th generation Irish Setter, all of them except one i have bought abroad. My first one when i was 22 and living in Stuttgart germany, he lived to 16 went thru quarenteen here in the UK and was DEF not THICK.
The 2 i have now are Spanish born and bred, very BIG and sooo instinctive with lots of hunting traits still bred in them as well as being of show looking quality. Also NOT THICK.
Now the only Irish i bought in England was sired from Rachel Shaw's Crufts 97 winner Casper Intrepid.
No instinct No Brains just sheer BEAUTY. he had undershot jaw and a slight arched back, this didnt bother me, what bothered me was he died at 5 from torsion.
So for me in the future i will always go abroad for my irish.
In my expirience and this is my opinion the show ring in the UK has killed the brains from the Irish.
Steve3dreams
Norwood Green Halifax

[Catherine Carter]

Hi Steve, interesting to hear your view point. One thing, Rachel's winner at Crufts in 95 was Starchelle Chicago Bear not Caspians Intrepid. Which one was the sire of your dog?