Terminology

Here are some definitions for the terms used in the section on Irish Setter breed standards. Although this site is responsive, this page will not look good on small screen devices.

Action Movement	The way a dog walks, trots or runs.
Apple Head	A very dome rounded skull.
Arched	Reference to well- developed neck muscles particularly those responsible for the arch or crest on top
Blaze	A white stripe running up the centre of the face.
Course	Lacking refinement.
Domed	Evenly rounded in skull, convex instead of flat.
Drive	A powerful thrusting of the hindquarters denoting sound locomotion.
Ewe-neck	Concave neck upside-down neck A neck in which the top line is concave rather than convex.
Expression	The general appearance of all features of the head when viewed from the front.
Flews	The thick hanging lips of the dog.
Gay Tail	The tail carried very high or over the dogs back. A term sometimes used when a tail is carried higher than the carriage approved in the breed standard.
Feathering	Longer fringe of hair on ears, legs, tail or body.
Hare Foot	An elongated foot like that of a hare.
Hock	The tarsus or collection of bones of the hind leg forming the joint between the second thigh and the metatarsus.
Hock – Straight	The opposite of ‘well bent’.
Hock – Well Bent	Hock joints exhibiting the correct amount of rear angulation for a given breed.
Racy	Giving the impression of speed, without loss of substance.
Refined	Elegance.
Range	To cover a wide area of ground.
Scapular	Shoulder blade.
Second Thigh	That part of the hindquarters from stifle to the hock joint.
Sinewy	Used to describe lean, hard condition free of muscle or fat.
Snipey	A pointed week muzzle.
Spring of Rib	A reference to the shape of ribs after their emergence from the thoracic vertebrae.
Stifle	The joint of the hind leg between the thigh and the second thigh. The dogs knee.
Throatiness	An excess of loose skin in the throat area.
Upper Arm	The humorous or bone of the foreleg.
Withers	The highest point of the body immediately behind the neck.