What does your Irish do?

[rob winemaker]

Ok, I have a confession. I know this will make me feel better.
I am a dog racist. Whew. Do you know that saying," If it's not an Irish Setter, it's just a dog". It's true. I do apologize to you other breed owners but I can't help myself. Is there a dog with more personality. Doubtful I say. We all know the mischief they can get into but what are some of the sweet, cute things they do that make you just love them so much.

Keba makes these little grunty snorty sounds when you rub behind his ears or even when he's getting ready to go out as I put a lead on. It's almost like a cat purring. Sometimes in the house in the evening we can't find Rooker and then we find him sleeping in the strangest places like under the plant stand or the furthest corner. Plus I love it when they are on the floor together trying to eat the others head while moaning and grunting. Well makes up for the times when it's please stop.... or don't.... or no......

Please tell me I'm not alone in my affliction. What does your Irish do.?
(please note that by no means am I excluding the other Setter owners here. Let's have some funn!!)

[Christine Pullen]

OH yes the leaning!!! I have a leaner....onto everything...we have to shout a warning to people we meet when we are out!! Surprising how people think they are quite light until they lean!! Trouble is sometimes he leans on children which is not quite so funny but he adores them...I have also had a talker and that's what i miss so much since he's been gone...he would do it when i was getting their food ready and it was almost like "hurry up!!!" Harry stuffs his head between your knees to be rubbed which is very akward if you are trying to get somewhere! The puppy is like a kangeroo and likes to put his paws round your waist to be cuddled....mad the lot of them...or is it us lol!! I've had dogs all my life, never had any like these red boys but my family look at me as if i'm crazy if I say that......!!

[rob winemaker]

I had a head stuffer too Christine.

A kangeroo?? Maybe that's what Fran's was saying when he goes a roo roo roo. I see a roo!

[Catherine Carter]

Well, mine talk a lot but most surprisingly they do it sitting on the sofa with only their bottom on the sofa and their front paws on the floor! When they do this, I think they really are part of the conversation! You just want to hand them a cup of tea or coffee! And they talk and then wait for your reply! It is really funny, they just copy us! :-)

[Christine Pullen]

oh I had forgotten the sofa perching Catherine lol!!

[rob winemaker]

Indeed Catherine, I had a sofa sitter as well and we could never agree on what to watch on TV.

[rob winemaker]

Very good Pippa. We do have a problem here now as well because all the geese are moving through as the weather warms.

And nothing like first coming home after being gone and feeling like the most missed person in the world.

[Fran Griffin]

Wow that reminds me of Lotte and Nalle.  Lotte opened doors, gates, jumped 5 bar gates, she even put her nose under the water in the bowl and blew bubbles, she would then look up to see if anyone was laughing and if they were, she would do it again and again.

Nalle used to get the washing out of the washing machine. put it in the basket, I would carry it out and then he picked the washing up and gave it to me to hang out.

Barkley opens doors and closes them.

Daisy opens doors and leaves them open for me or Barkley to close.

Barkley finds the missing socks.  Barkley also looses socks and once managed to loose a pink slipper which took me two days to find !

[rob winemaker]

Sort the laundry Georgina? I bet that turned out well, LOL.

[Sue Paterson]

Ah yes the bird watching! Callum is a real bird fancier...he spends hours outside being teased by the pigeons that come to the bird table...just out of reach the other side of the fence. And just this lunchtime Finn, Steo and Callum stood up the garden, looking back towards the house, gazing upwards, and I just knew there were birds lined up on the chimney. Couldn't get to the camera in time though before they hurtled off giving chase as the birds flew away.

[Jo Fisher]

Once, whilst walking Rory in Greenwich Park, he froze.  He spotted a small flock of pigeons and literally stalked up to them, set for what seemed like an age; watching in fascination 'til, with typical setter energy, he bounded into the middle whilst they flew up around him.  Having 'been there, done that' he completely lost interest and never did it again!

[Trish Haill]

Bess always stalks where she knows pheasants might be. She seems to forget the fact that I can't trust her of lead, so I'm clodhopping along behind destroying any element of surprise she might otherwise have had! :0)

[Jo Fisher]

Sadly, my setter departed 10 years ago, but he had a great trick when our (very bossy) Jack Russell got too much on his nerves. Rory would go to the back door as if he wanted to be let out in the garden.  Not wishing to miss anything, our JR would rush to the door too and go charging out as soon as it was opened.  At this point, Rory would turn about face and flop in the hall, with his tongue hanging out, 'grinning' from ear to ear at his bewildered little friend who was then trying to get back through the closed kitchen door.  Priceless!