Irish Setter Breed information & Pictures

Irish Setter Breed Description

Life Expectancy
12-15 years

Learning Rate
High

Litter Size
7 to 8

Size
Extra Large

Weight
Dogs: 65-75 pounds
Bitches: 55-65 pounds

Height
Dogs: 26-28 inches
Bitches: 24-26 inches

Country of Origin
Ireland, 19th century

Groups
AKC Sporting Dogs
FCI Group VII.: Pointing Dogs
TKC Gundog

Other Names
Red Setter, Madra Rua

The Irish Setter is an aristocratic bird dog, with a rich, lustrous red coat and an expressive face. It is a little lighter and speedier than the other setters. It is friendly and amusing, it makes an excellent family dog.

The Irish Setter is a very good gundog and watchdog. It enjoys human companionship and is good with children. Sometimes known as “Big Red or the Red Setter”, it has boundless energy and full of high spirits.

Temperament

The Irish Setter is an energetic, intelligent, affectionate, high-spirited dog. It is responsive yet sensitive, it may be boisterous at times. This breed is very lovable and impulsive, it is extremely swift and full of energy. It gets along well with other animals.

This breed can be giddy and high strung. It needs an experienced master, you can reach the best results with consistent, loving and well-balanced training. It needs plenty of exercise, if possible running free. Lack of exercise can make it restless and difficult to train. This breed is easy to housebreak. The Irish Setter tends to pick up bad habits quickly, it is important to train for good house manners. Firm obedience training at an early age is a must. It has an excellent sense of smell and is hardy over any terrain and in any climate.

The Irish Setter’s talents include hunting, tracking, retrieving, pointing, watchdogging, agility and competitive obedience. This breed is used for all types of hunting, even works well on wetlands.

Colors

It comes in rich shades of chestnut to mahogany, sometimes with splashes of white on the chest and feet, black is not allowed.

Coat

Soft, flat, medium-length coat. Short and fine on head, fronts of legs and tips of ears; moderately long, free and as straight as possible on rest of the body, good feathering. Daily brushing and combing is all that is required to keep it in excellent condition. Bathe and dry shampoo only when necessary. This breed is an average shedder.

Health Issues

Be aware that due to their size they have an increased chance of bloat, leading to a twisted stomach, feed two or three small meals a day, instead of one large one. It is particularly prone to epilepsy and severe skin allergies. It is also prone to eye problems and elbow & hip dysplasia, PRA, autoimmune disease and hypothyroidism. To minimize the risk of your Setter developing any hereditary health issues, you should buy a dog from a reputable breeder.

Living Environment

Irish Setters are not recommended for apartment life and do best with a large yard. This dog is best suited to country life, as it has a high activity requirement and needs a lot of exercise.