Irish Setter vs Bichon Frise - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Contrary to the myths and many of the tales of the history of the Bichon Frise, the breed was originally developed in Spain. Later specific trait development occurred in France to give us the lap dog Bichon Frise that we know today. The original Spanish dog – the Bichon – was a water – sailing dog. It was descended from the poodle breeds crossed with either the water spaniels or the Barbet. These early dogs were friendly and happy and because of this, sailors carried them with them on their ships and even bartered them for supplies. Prior to the 14th century the Spanish probably brought them to the Canary Islands. Later in the 14th century they we discovered again by Italian sailors who returned them to Europe where they lived in the courts of the nobility. During the Renaissance and after the French fell in love with the breed while the Spanish continue to enjoy their presence.

In the late 19th century in France the breed fell out of popularity and became street dogs and circus and fair dogs. They also worked with organ grinders and assisted the blind. In the early 20th century, the Societe Centrale Canine, the National Kennel Club of France, adopted the breed’s official standard – while they were still known as both the Bichon and the Tenerife. The popularity of the breed at this time is heavily attributed to “The Adventures of TinTIn” , by Herge, which featured a small, white, fluffy fox terrier. Then the president of the Federation Cynoloqique Internationale presented a new name for the breed based on its characteristics. The name Bichon Frise kept the Bichon heritage and added “curly” the meaning of Frise. Under this name the breed was admitted to the Societe Centrale Canine stud book in October of 1934.

The Bichon Frise came to the United States for the first time in 19554 and was admitted to the American Kennel Club Stud Book in 1972. They entered the non-sporting group of the AKC in 1973. By 2001 the Bichon Frise, J.R., won the Westminster Dog Show. In 1976, the Bichon Frise came to Australia, imported by Harry and Margaret Begg who oversaw the growth of the breed there. Today there are 4 separate breeds believed to be descended from the original Bichon/Tenerife breeds – the Bichon Frise, the Bichon Bolognaise, the Maltese and the Havanese.

The Irish Setter is a gun dog, originating in Ireland and recognized by his beautiful red or mahogany coat.

Descending from the Setter group, the Irish Setter, also known as the Red Setter, has a solid pedigree. It was in the 1800s that they were brought to the United States.

The Irish Setter wasn't always what it looks like today and in fact the solid red color was created because of selective breeding practices. The Irish Setter has long medium length floppy ears, brown eyes and he is deep chested.

The modern Bichon Frise is a white, small dog with a round skull and muzzle. The nose should be black and the eyes round and dark. Depending on the size of the dog, the legs and head are proportionate to the body, while the tail should be curly and long. Both the tail and the ears must not be docked. Their coat is as hypoallergenic as a dog gets. It is white, dense and for most Bichon Frise, it is curly. They should have black lips as well.

The Irish Setter is a large dog, beautiful and elegant looking, standing at 61 to 71cm in height and weighing anything from 25 to 34kg, males and females.

The coat is a rich red color and is short to medium length but feathers in places such as the tail, the chest and abdomen, the legs and the tail. The head is long and lean, the ears are long and silky and the tail long and feathery.

Temperament:

The Irish Setter is a playful, friendly, sweet, mischievous, high energy dog who makes a superb family pet, getting on well with children in the home.

It was noticed that in about 1845, Setters in Ireland were mostly red, red and white or even a mustardy-lemon type of color, but there was preference for the solid red coloring. The breed standard for the modern Irish Setter was drawn up in Dublin by the Irish Red Setter Club and approved in 1886.

The dog was essentially bred for hunting game birds, using their excellent sense of smell to locate the bird. He is an alert, intelligent dog and will learn easily. Training and socialization will make him obedient and relaxed.

He isn't an assertive kind of breed and therefore isn't going to make the best of watchdogs. They've got such amicable, kind temperaments that they make popular therapy dogs.

The Bichon Frise, according to the American Kennel Club is a cheerful and merry dog. They are gentle, playful, sensitive and affectionate. These dogs love people, are very social and like other dogs as well. They love to play with children and they are intelligent and affectionate. They were developed in their latter stages by the French to be “lap dogs” or companion animals. They are not territorial by nature but can become so if confined and encouraged. Start obedience training early and be consistent throughout their lives. They take to training easily if positive techniques are used. They do however, have a reputation for not taking well to housetraining. Be persistent

Irish Setters are going to make you a wonderful pet. He has a friendly, confident disposition that makes them ideal pets for families with children who have been taught how to respect- and be kind to animals.

He is a big dog, but with training and socialization he becomes well behaved and obedient. Social and outgoing, this is a dog which just loves the companionship of their human family and will require a good deal of exercise too.

Keep him well exercised, feed him good food that promotes health, give him a nice warm, dry place to sleep and he’ll fit perfectly well into your family and make a splendid pet.

The coat of the Bichon Frise can easily become matted if not brushed or combed every day. Severe matting can lead to a hematoma in their ears. They are also very prone to ear infections so paying a lot of attention to their ears is imperative. They are will chew and scratch themselves if not groomed well and this can cause skin infections and conditions. They might have allergies to fleas, pollen, chemicals, and dust. The patella (knee cap) can be loose, diabetes, cataracts and heart disease also affect the Bichon Frise. In the United Kingdom the number one cause of death for the breed is old age -13 plus years, with 21% dying of cancer. In North America cancer is the number one killer as it is for most dogs. The Bichon might also be afflicted with hematologic disorders such as AIHA (Autoimmune hemolytic anemia) and ITP (Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia) which while less common than cancer will kill the dog much earlier in life than cancer. The other condition that the Bichon Frise is prone to are liver shunts. If found early they can be surgically corrected but most are not, and liver failure is eventually the cause of death.

Irish Setters are quite a healthy breed but they are also prone to getting some of the common dog illnesses such as hip dysplasia, cancer, bloat and canine leukocyte adhesion deficiency.

Canine leukocyte adhesion deficiency:

Known as CLAD, this is a disease of the immune system found in Irish Setters. True, it is a rare disease and affected animals show signs of skin lesions, bone disorders, anorexia and generalized lymphadenopathy.

Bloat:

Irish Setters can develop bloat, a life-threatening condition where the stomach distends with gas and can twist. This is known as gastric torsion and you’ll see your dog’s restlessness. He may even ‘hide away’ somewhere, lying down and drooling, while trying to vomit. This is an illness which requires immediate veterinary intervention.

Feeding

Being a small dog, the Bichon Frise is susceptible to obesity and that condition will be terminal in the end for this breed. So make sure you do not overfeed your Bichon Frise. The same is true with the use of treats. The Bichon loves treats and loves the association with treats of having pleased you. They should be fed small meals – about ¼ cup of good high quality dry food twice a day.

Health issues

As previously mentioned the Bichon Frise is susceptible to:

Hematomas and infections of the ear if not groomed well and consistently.

Cancer is number one killer.

Hematological Issues are deadlier than cancer.

Liver shunts are a very serious concern.

Exercise and games

Though the Bichon Frise is not an overly active dog, they do love to play. They are characterized by short bursts of activity followed by long periods of rest. They can be worn out just by running around the house. You must play with them everyday as well as take them on a walk each day. Bichons are fast and agile and do well in agility trials. They also like to compete in rally and obedience trials. Most of all they love to and need to play with their people every day.

Exercise:

Irish Setters are lean and muscular and an active breed. They love nothing more than to run off in wide open spaces, and if you live in the city and have a large garden, he will need to be taken on long walks. If he is a country dog, he may well run off and be gone for an hour or two before he returns home.

They are dogs which are used to having a job to do such as hunting, so he won't do well if he is put into a small back yard and left to his own device. He is a social dog and wants to be with his human family, relying on them to include him in all their activities.

Diet:

Your Irish Setters is a lean, muscular, active dog, and to keep him that way he will require a nutritious diet. If you feed him commercially manufactured kibble, make sure it is the very best quality one. It is a good idea to mix in protein such as cooked chicken, brown rice and vegetables. Some raw meat added in from time to time can be very beneficial to him too.

With your beautiful Irish Setter, it is best to avoid feeding your dog processed foods altogether. A good diet is essential for good health. Never leave your dog without a constant supply of cool, fresh water.

Grooming:

The Red Setter’s coat is fairly long on the body but short and smooth on the head. The coat will need to be brushed at least twice a week to prevent matting.

Trim his nails as needed, and find out how to keep his teeth healthy too with vet approved canine dog toothpaste- and brush.

Also check his long, floppy ears because it is so easy for ear infections to develop with these long-eared dogs.