Clowns of the Dogworld - true or false??

[Lois McCullough]

Our ISs are often referred to as the 'Clowns of the Dogworld' they're definitely attention seekers as we have found out in the training and agility classes Micawber has been attending. Last week he was left in the sit position before being called through the gate, Micawber being Micawber got bored so laid down instead, the trainer came over to wake him and asked if he'd enjoyed his 'power nap'. On Saturday he was at agility for the first time, on lead he competed the jumps, see-saw, weave poles, bridge etc. At the end of the class the trainer had some of them off-lead Micawber again completed the jumps, see-saw, weave poles and he went up the bridge got to the top and sat bolt upright looking around at everyone almost saying 'Well didn't I do well applause please' He certainly makes a lot of people laugh including the trainer who believes he is very intelligent. 

[Chantal McIlveen-Wright]

Lovely story Lois and I definitly agree that they are real clown!!!  I also agree with your trainer, they are very intelligent.

[Lois McCullough]

Laughter is so good for us Chantal I cannot believe you get it in the same way with any other breed or maybe as an IS 'custodian' I'm just a little biased.

[eva ciechonska]

Oh yey Louis.......the boys especially!!  Don't you just love them when they laugh at you.......

[Howard Glansfield]

Not always!!!! But ,yes, mostly!

[Val Martin]

I hate the term 'Clowns of the Dogworld' to me the term 'clown'  means acting stupidly and Irish are far from stupid. 

I think they have a unique sense of humour which I have not seen in other breeds and they love to make us laugh with their antics which to me is a very endearing quality and also a intelligent one!

I would not term any dog as 'stupid' misunderstood yes but never stupid. 

 Now.... some dog owners....well thats another story!!

[Sue and Cash]

I agree they sure are clown like.  I don't find that a bad thing but rather a good one.  I think of them as full of life and they do find fun in almost any situation.  I love the breed so much I often wonder why EVERYONE doesn't own one.  Then I realize what a downfall that would be to the breed and like to think of them as my little secret.  I remember Cash slept through many of his puppy classes.  And while so many of the other pups just had accidents on the floor in there, Cash would always whimper and cry at the door and I would disrupt the class because he had to go outside to do his business.  Even at 12 weeks old he didn't even consider peeing on the floor in the classroom like the others did.  They are smart clowns!

[Melinda Auld]

I'm scared of clowns.  They wear masks and they do stupid things to each other.

 

Irish Setters wear their hearts on their sleeve.  They are truly hilarious at times.  I remember once at a show craft class, the trainer was trying to get Fionn to stand up from a sit.  She kept walking towards him, and he just kept leaning backwards, but not standing.  He was eventually on a 45 deg angle to the ground, a la Buster Keaton.  Everyone was in stitches.  Then, slowly but ever so sure, he just toppled backwards.  That did it.  We all fell about laughing.

 

Clowns?  No.  Funny, silly, sweet and a true joy in our lives?  Absolutely!!

[Teresa]

I'm not fond of clowns either, so I have to agree with you Melinda! They are smart and sensitive in a way that no other breed I met is. They'll do anything that works to get a good laugh out of us, everytime they think we need it (always!) - and they always know what will work at that time.

 

Romã wakes me up every single day, with a very high pitched yawn at my ear, while she covers me in kisses - every other dog would get kicked to the floor everyday, without me even opening my eyes - and the second time they'd be banned of my room forever. For almost two years now, I wake up and think: "Why? Why does this little monster..." I have never managed to get any further - she just makes me laugh and puts me in a good mood!

Pitanga is more discrete, but has a very good sense of humor too!

 

They are a true joy in our lives, and our best kept secret! I agree with Sue - hope they don't become a fashion that will ruin our precious dogs!

[Ilona & Gina]

Yes they are clowns. That's why I love them so much!

[Sherry Miller]

I have always thought Irish Setters were entertainers.....sometimes funny, sometimes sweet and sometimes just out right over the top joyous spirits.  Sure they can clown but they charm almost more than they clown.  I guess we can be thankful not everyone wants an Irish Setter due to all sorts of terrible rumors of their behaviors in the past.......I have heard them all and then let my Irish speak for themselves and their breed.....Molly gets to add the rescue tag to the Irish Setter so if I believed all the rumors and stories I would be experiencing a terribly stupid clown of a dog with behavior issues that I would have to hire professionals to help us deal with....ohhh boyyy ......quite the opposite here....a very intelligent , loving and well behaved young female Irish Setter lives in our home.....ooops! allows us to live with her....best thing we have done in years was to be picked to be her forever family and the joy and love she shares with us daily is more than what we have given to her.  Sure it took a few months of training here ( as does any puppy or untrained dog ) but those two months were just part of her learning what a house was all about and what was expected of her in that house....she runs our home beautifully and anyone who meets Miss Molly is always amazed that an Irish Setter can be so well behaved,loving, and  smart and when we add the rescue story to it we amaze them!!  :)  I believe it just takes the right people to be owned by an Irish Setter to bring out all that the Irish Setter can and should be! After all every entertainer needs an audience to applaud their endeavors.