Preserving the Irish Setter
Honoring the Past. Securing the Future.
250,000
Irish Setters in the 1970s
4,500
Estimated Irish Setters in the U.S. today
Within a single lifetime, the Irish Setter has experienced an estimated population decline of approximately 98 percent.
More significant than total numbers is the effective breeding population — the number of genetically diverse, unrelated dogs meaningfully contributing to the gene pool
— which remains critically limited.
In population genetics, an effective breeding population under 150 is considered critically vulnerable to inbreeding depression; under 500 presents measurable
long-term sustainability risk.
Preservation breeding is a generational responsibility.
*Population estimates derived from historical registration data and current breed census reporting. Effective breeding population references established population-genetics thresholds.
Meet Lovely
You are-and always will be-our why
Before There Was Rocky Mountain Irish Setters...There Was Lovely ❤️
Tyler and I both grew up with Irish Setters.
But Lovely… she was different.
She and Tyler shared a bond unlike anything I've ever witnessed. She was his dog, and he was her human. They understood each other without words. She was his adventure buddy, his shadow, and his very best friend.
When people ask why we started breeding Irish Setters, the answer is simple.
Because of Lovely.
Our dream was never just to raise puppies.
Our dream was to produce more Lovelys—dogs with that same loyal heart, gentle spirit, adventurous soul, intelligence, and unconditional love.
We believed that if more families could experience a dog like her, the world would be a little better… one puppy at a time.
That became the mission behind Rocky Mountain Irish Setters.
Every puppy we've raised, every family we've met, every mile Tyler has flown across the country delivering puppies… it all traces back to one incredible Irish Setter.
We lost Lovely three years ago, and honestly, the world has never been quite the same.
Not a day goes by that we don't think about her.
But her legacy lives on in every wagging tail, every goofy grin, every child who gains a best friend, every adventure, and every family whose life has been changed by one of our puppies.
In a way…
Lovely is still making the world a better place.
Thank you, Lovely, for starting something so much bigger than we ever imagined.
Because of you, Rocky Mountain Irish Setters exists.
You are—and always will be—our why. ❤️🍀
Our Story
Rocky Mountain Irish Setters was born out of both admiration and concern.
In the 1970s, Irish Setters were among the most popular dog breeds in the United States. Today, their numbers have declined dramatically, making this remarkable breed increasingly rare.
We fell in love with the Irish Setter's affectionate nature, breathtaking mahogany-red coat, intelligence, athleticism, and joyful spirit. As we learned more about the breed and its declining population, we realized that preserving the Irish Setter for future generations had become more important than ever.
Rocky Mountain Irish Setters was built with that purpose in mind—to help protect and strengthen the future of the breed through thoughtful breeding, comprehensive health testing, careful temperament selection, and responsible placement.
We are a small, family-based preservation program located in Utah. Our dogs are beloved family members first, whether they live with us, in one of our carefully selected guardian homes, or with one of our trusted partner breeders. Every litter is thoughtfully planned, and every puppy is raised in a structured, nurturing family environment designed to build confidence, resilience, and adaptability.
Our goal is simple: to produce healthy, well-socialized Irish Setters that honor the breed's history while becoming exceptional companions for generations of families to come.
Who We Are
We're the Layton Family,
A passionate family of preservation breeders and dedicated Irish Setter stewards based in the Rocky Mountains of Utah.
