Irish Setter vs Bantam Bulldog - Breed Comparison

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 origin of the Bantam Bulldog goes back to the 1800s, and in fact there is evidence of miniature bull dogs in 1899, In 1902 the smaller bulldog breed was facing extinction, so that it became necessary to import French bulldogs to England to help restore the bantam bulldog breed.

It was only in 2002 that the United Canine Association recognized the English bantam bulldog.

They’re the same as the ordinary bulldog except they are lighter and shorter, although there are slightly larger ones which are as tall as a regular bulldog.

The Bantam bulldogge is related to the English and French bulldogs so that the standards for the bantam breed has similarities to both types.

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.

Short, Stout and Compact Build

The breed has its origins with the English bulldog, but it was in 2011 that the ‘English’ was abandoned and the name of the dog changed to Bantam Bulldogge. Short to medium in height, and with his large, square head and broad, short muzzle, the dog is short, strong, stout and compact. He had wide apart eyes, short, half-pricked, half-floppy ears and the front legs are also strong and set wide apart.

Forms Strong Bonds with his Family

He is fit and active with a playful, jovial personality. The Bantam Bulldog is completely at ease with his human family and welcomes visitors to the home. He forms strong bonds with everyone in the family and loves the presence of children in the home too. As with most other dog breeds, he does well with training and socialization – it just makes him a better dog all round. He doesn’t have a problem with accepting other pets in the home.

Coat

The coat of the Bantam is short, dense and straight with the skin being tight to the body but looser around the head and neck. Both head and face have moderate wrinkles. The coat is available in all colors and is low maintenance. A good brush twice a week won’t only remove loose hairs and keep his short coat glossy, the mere act of brushing him strengthens the bond between you as well.

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 Bantam Bulldog is full of personality and is active, friendly and social. He is an adaptable pet and will happily live with his human family in an apartment or in a home with a garden. Patient and tolerant, he responds well to the voice of his owner and simple commands are no problem with him as he is quick to learn and to please.

He is never going to be much of a guard dog for you, but he will be a happy, contented, loyal and devoted companion who just wants to be as close to you as he can.

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.

A happy dog is a healthy dog, but the happy Bantam Bulldog will be prone to certain ailments that are common to his breed

Hip Dysplasia

This breed of dog is prone to have hip dysplasia. Because of their genetic make-up, the soft tissues surrounding the joint develop abnormally and the disease can affect one- or both hips.

Digestion Problems

Bulldogs can also be prone to digestion issues which amounts to flatulence. This problem however, can be reduced significantly by giving your pet the best diet. Speak to your vet about appropriate foods for dogs with a sensitive stomach. With a sensitive stomach, you want to avoid dog foods with toxic colorants, artificial preservatives and artificial flavors.

Breathing Problems

Be aware of breathing problems with your bantam bulldog because flat-faced dog breeds such as this can battle with upper airway problems. Symptoms of an obstructed upper airway can include noisy breathing, panting, snoring, rapid breathing and coughing.

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.

Feeding

Your Bantam Bulldog needs a lot of protein in his diet. In fact, the Association of American Feed Control Officials have suggested that the dog needs at least 22% of maintenance protein for puppies and 18% of protein for adult dogs. Speak to your vet about wet- and dry dog foods and which foods will suit this particular pet of yours. Always ensure cool, fresh water is within your pet’s reach.

Exercise

The exercise needs of the Bantam Bulldog are minimal. He is never going to turn down a game of ball with the kids but you don’t have to take him on long walks or runs. He is a social pet, so even though you don’t have to be putting him through an exercise program every day, he doesn’t want to be left alone hour after hour, day after day.