Irish Setter care on Cape Ann

Vetstreet's breed profile is frank about it: these dogs take a long time to mature, owners should expect puppy-like vigor until at least three years old, and some setters still have a puppy mentality at five. The AKC calls the breed happy, affectionate, eager to please and full of energy, and advises consistent training with sessions kept fun and interesting so the dog does not get bored. It responds best to positive, reward-based methods and poorly to heavy-handed or harsh corrections.

That makes the second and third years the ones to plan for. A grown-looking 60- or 70-pound setter that still jumps up on guests and forgets its recall is normal for the breed, and short, consistent practice keeps the manners growing with the dog. Our guide to adolescent dogs explains the stage in general. At Dogtown an Academy day at $89 adds a training session to the play, and private training sessions start from $94.

A setter that has crashed through the brush brings half of it home in the feathering. The AKC's article on burrs says they tangle most in long or dense coats, that their teeth make small cuts that can irritate the skin and become infected, and that the rear, armpits, tail, ear flaps and the spaces between the toes are the trouble spots. Its advice is to keep the dog well brushed, especially after a walk in wooded areas, and to keep scissors away from the skin.

Ticks are the other passenger. From April to November on Cape Ann, comb the ears, chest fringe, armpits, belly and legs to the skin after a walk at Ravenswood Park or on Dogtown Common, and follow our tick-check how-to. Vetstreet also advises keeping the long, hanging ears clean and dry to help prevent bacterial or yeast infections, which matters after a swim or a wet walk through the woods.

The AKC says that, like other large, deep-chested breeds, Irish Setters can experience bloat, a sudden and life-threatening swelling of the abdomen, and that several small meals and no vigorous exercise around mealtimes may help reduce the risk. Vetstreet adds that bloat needs immediate veterinary care, that surgery is necessary in many cases, and that a dog that has bloated can bloat again. On a daycare day, feed breakfast early enough that your setter is not running hard on a full stomach.

The AKC recommends hip and thyroid evaluations and a DNA test for the Irish Setter form of progressive retinal atrophy for breeding dogs, and Vetstreet's list of possible problems also includes hypothyroidism, hip dysplasia, epilepsy and bone cancer. Ask the breeder for results, and keep your setter lean, which Vetstreet calls one of the easiest ways to extend its life. The AKC suggests regular ear checks and frequent tooth brushing; teeth brushing at Dogtown is a $10 add-on to any groom.