“You think you know someone…” Imagine believing you finally brought home the exact breed you always dreamed of, only to find out later that things are not what they seemed.
That is exactly what happened to Annalise, a Minnesota dog mom, after adopting Rinka, a gorgeous Irish Setter. As a longtime fan of this majestic breed, Anna could not wait to watch her “giant” pup shoot up in size.
A year rolled by, though, and Rinka was still… petite. That is when doubts began to creep in.
A Growth Mystery
In a TikTok clip, Anna explains that for Rinka’s first year she did not know her dog’s true lineage. Expecting a big setter who might reach nearly 30 inches at the shoulder, she kept waiting for that rapid growth spurt.
It never came.
Rinka matured into a lean, athletic dog with endless stamina and plenty of pep. She ticked nearly every Irish Setter box except one. The reason soon became clear.
Rinka was a field Irish Setter, not a show Irish Setter.
“When we brought you home and didn’t know you were a field Irish setter for the first year and thought we had somehow forever stunted your growth,” the video text reads.
Once Anna learned this key detail, everything made sense. Rinka’s build and height were perfectly typical for a field-bred setter.
“I genuinely believed that I had done something wrong because she wasn’t like all of the giant Irish Setters I saw everywhere,” Annalise wrote in the video description.
The post quickly took off, drawing in owners who had gone through similar surprises with their own pups.
Some replies were downright hilarious.
“That’s how I found out my Aussie was a mini Aussie. I was so confused like why aren’t you growing, nope you’re just the tiny version,” one commenter wrote.
“Hahaha this happened to me with a cocker spaniel. What I actually got was a cocker spaniel cross sausage dog. So he looks like a cocker spaniel with really short legs and a longish body,” another added.
Small Frame, Big Life
Title aside, Rinka turned out to be everything Anna hoped for and more. She is friendly, lively, and endlessly cheerful. She loves outings, adores play sessions with her German Shepherd sister, and is the perfect everyday companion.
The trio hits the trails often, taking in the scenery together. Rinka never seems to run out of steam. Her field-bred energy suits Anna’s lifestyle perfectly, turning each day into a fresh adventure for this copper-coated beauty.
With fans now following along, there is no doubt we will be seeing plenty more of Rinka. If the first chapter is any indication, this little setter with the big spirit is only getting started.