Hell yes, the breed is getting very popular. Anytime a breed gets noticed then out comes the show people, crossing this line and that line for conformation. There are two regulars at the dog park I go to and they have really have no drive per se; although one did go thru a screen door once to get to a squirril. Other than that, none. My pup would be chasing seagulls up and down the beach while the GSPs are playing with sticks.

Same with setters and pointers. I saw a show pointer the other day, big blocky dog; looked like a small pony. Show English setters look obscene. Tall, big headed, with feathering almost touching the ground.

The Irish setter here has basically gone by the way-side. They were once excellent hunters but show breeding has made them useless in the field. Thank God for die-hard breeders who kept the hunting lines but they are few and far between.