Been there, done that...

The Irish Red and White Setter Club of Ireland has announced that they are pursuing a program of outcrossing to Irish red setters to improve their breed, due to concerns about their gene pool. Interestingly, the club has made a specific notation in their program rules that any FDSB Irish red setter (or any Irish red setter that has FDSB blood) would not be eligible. So, the Irish Red and White Setter Club is planning to outcross their gene pool to another breed, but they are prohibiting any outcrossing to the single breed that has been most successful in outcrossing to improve their breed? Ummmm... the logic of that philosophy somehow escapes me. Also, it makes one wonder... how do these folks intend to ensure that there hasn't been some outcrossing occuring in either the Irish red setter population, or the Irish Red and White population? Wait, of course there has been no outcrossing in these two populations; the FDSB Irish red setter population is the only canine gene pool that has ever outcrossed, right?

In the meantime, if any of those folks would like some advice on how to run a successful outcrossing program, feel free to contact us. We're the National Red Setter Field Trial Club. We've done that, and we brought a breed back from extinction. We've also got the best Irish red setters on the face of the earth, and that includes Ireland.

From the Irish Red & White Setter Club website...

INTERNATIONAL OUTCROSS PROGRAMME FOR IRISH RED SETTERS & IRISH RED & WHITE SETTERS

It is envisaged that any Irish Red Setter or Irish Red & White Setter from an FCI Country and a National Kennel Club which the IKC approves of could be used in this programme. The reason the club suggests that this programme be confined to FCI countries or such National Kennel Club is that agreement in regards to an Outcross Programme would have to be a binding document. As this is an International Outcross Programme the Irish Red & White Setter Club recommends that this would be run with the co-operation of the Irish Red Setter Club and the National Kennel Club of that Country, the Irish Kennel Club and the Irish Red & White Setter Club.

A formal agreement between the two participating Kennel Clubs.

Rules & Regulations for an International Outcross Programme.

• All Irish Red Setters and Irish Red & White Setters, which are proposed to be included in this Outcross Programme would have to be approved by the Outcross Committee.
• All Irish Red Setters included in this programme would have to have the appropriate health certificates in regards to Canine Leucocyte Adhesion Deficiency, CLAD and a Hip Dysplasia certificate.
• All Irish Red & White Setters would require the same certificates plus a certificate in regards to being von Willebrands free.
• In regards to testing Irish Red & White Setters for von Willebrands disease, CLAD & Hip Dysplasia the Irish Kennel Club will recommend a Veterinary Surgeon approved by them to carry out this procedure.
• The details of all the dogs’ pedigrees, health certificates and all other relevant documents must be presented to the committee four months prior to any mating. Any deviation on this matter must have the approval of the committee.
• The Irish Red & White Setter Club is aware that some ‘Irish Red Setters FDSB’ were imported fromAmerica and were mated with Irish Red Setters in Europe . This American Red Setter breeding is not recognised by the American Kennel Club as Irish Red Setters or by the Irish Kennel Club and the Irish Red Setter Club is totally opposed to having dogs with such breeding being introduced to the Irish Red Setter gene pool. We are aware that these dogs were crossed with English Setters in the past. Under no circumstances can any dog with such pedigrees be used in any part of the Outcross Programme.
• The Irish Red & White Setter Club proposes that all dogs participating in the Outcross Programme would be micro-chipped for identification. It is also proposed that any resulting pups may be DNA tested at the request of the Outcross Committee. This would have to be part of any signed agreement entered into by all participants in the Outcross Programme.