During those years we learnt to appreciate the work of the American breeders who focused on a balanced and elegant conformation, lively movement, nice temperaments and good health. Across the Atlantic, we found lots of sound and balanced but stylish Irish Setters, with nice coat, good bone, nice front and rear angulation and large movement with good reach and drive. Irish Setter is a breed which is meant to move. We also found lovely and soft temperaments combined with the typical happy and rollicking Irish personalities. And we do appreciate the attention given to the health of the Irish Setters in breeding programs. We do not hunt birds ourselves but rather enjoy observing them. However it is good to see how birdy the bloodlines of this pointing breed remain, even if most Irish are today bred to become companion dogs. At the annual Irish Setter National Show in Oklahoma City in May 2011, birds took the liberty of landing right in the show rings. Every single Irish that we saw reacted to the birds. This did not make the handlers' job too easy. In a Finnish dog show 2015, one of our young Irish kept pointing a hair ball, brought by the wind right into the show ring from a neighbouring Afghan show site.
