Family-friendly: 5/5 Exercise needs: 5/5 Easy to train: 4/5 Tolerates being alone: 2/5 Likes other pets: 5/5 Energy level: 5/5 Grooming needs: 3/5 Shedding: 4/5

Irish Setter

This large, muscular, elegant gundog's outstanding attribute is the rich, chestnut to mahogany coloured coat. Irish Setters come with a silky, flat coat with feathering at the legs, ears and on the tail. Balanced and elegant, the breed strides out with their head held high.

Lifespan

12-15 years

Weight

30.5kg for males and 26kg for females

Height

Adult males measure 65cm and females measure 61cm

Colours

Chestnut and mahogany

Size

Large

Kennel Club group

Gundog

The need-to-know

Dog suitable for owners with some experience
Extra training required
Generally healthy breed
Enjoys vigorous walks
Enjoys more than two hours of walking a day

Large dog
Some drool
Requires grooming every other day
Quiet dog
Welcomes everyone happily

Generally friendly with other dogs
Gets along with other pets with training
Great family dog
Needs a large garden
Can live in semi-rural areas

Can be left occasionally with training

Generally healthy breed

The Irish Setter dog can suffer from:
- Hip dysplasia
- Gastric dilatation volvulus
- Canine leucocyte adhesion deficiency which is an inherited disorder where the immune system does not work properly.
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy which is an inherited disorder where part of the eye degenerates and wastes away which can result in blindness.
atopy.
- Osteosarcomas¹ which are a serious type of bone cancer.
- Epilepsy² which is a condition where abnormal brain function can lead to seizures which damage the brain.
- Entropion³ which is a painful eye condition where the eyelids roll inwards.

Priority Kennel Club health schemes and testing:
- Hip dysplasia screening scheme
- Eye screening scheme
- DNA testing for canine leucocyte adhesion deficiency and progressive retinal atrophy which tests whether or not a dog has the potential to be affected by these conditions.

¹M. Szewczyk et al, 'What do we know about canine osteosarcoma treatment? – review', Sept 2014, Veterinary Research Communications
² F. Gruenenfelder et al, 'Research Communication Seizures and Sleep Disorders', May 2009, Handbook of Veterinary Practice
³I. Broek, 'Pedigree analysis and optimisation of the breeding program in the Irish Setter', June 2017, BSc Thesis Animal Breeding and Genetics

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Personality

The well-bred, well-socialised and well-trained Irish Setter is extraordinarily sweet and makes an affectionate, loyal family pet. Early exposure to cats and careful supervision is essential if they are to share a home with them - and they may not be safe with strange cats or any small furry animals.

Being terribly friendly, this is not a good guard dog, though he will announce the presence of a visitor. The Irish Setter remains playful throughout his life - one of his more endearing traits. They are often thought of as being a bit ditzy and brainless - or even highly strung - but this is generally because people buy them for their glamour and underestimate how much exercise and input this working dog needs to stay healthy and happy.

Vet Rating

Family-friendly:	5/5
Exercise needs:	5/5
Easy to train:	4/5
Tolerates being alone:	2/5
Likes other pets:	5/5
Energy level:	5/5
Grooming needs:	3/5
Shedding:	4/5

History and Origins

The setter group are dogs who hunt game birds silently and largely by scent, then when they locate them, ‘set’ (crouch or lie down) rather than flush or chase.

The Irish Setter is the oldest of the setter group, preceding both the Gordon and English Setters. It is believed the breed developed from old spaniels and indeed the breed was originally called the Red Spaniel. While the breed was developed as a setter for netting birds, it later became a more general gundog and could be trained as a pointer as well. Their eye-catching colour led them effortlessly into the show ring where the breed was further glamourised by adding influences from breeds such as the Borzoi. Despite that, they remained an efficient and energetic hunting dog - a perfect mix of beauty and brains.

Ideal Owner

You’ll need a sense of humour, and a calm, reassuring nature – the Irish Setter is known as the silliest of the Setters but they’re also immensely sensitive and need an owner who can instil confidence. Gundog experience would be best but general dog experience will suffice if you’re familiar with providing sensible, reward-based training, enrichment games and lots of exercise.

Exercise Needs

The Irish Setter was bred to work all day every day and is very active so needs a lot of dog exercise – two-plus hours daily for an adult. This needs to include free-running and the opportunity to sniff and explore. Not a dog for couch potatoes.

Space Requirements

This is a large, country dog and so really needs both indoor and outdoor space - as well as access to the countryside.

Nutrition and Feeding

Large breed dogs, as well as having large appetites, benefit from a different balance of nutrients including minerals and vitamins compared to smaller-breed dogs. Irish Setters need to have a balanced diet including the main nutrient groups and a constant supply of fresh water. They are prone to bloating and stomach problems; smaller, more frequent meals can help minimise this risk.

Grooming Irish Setters

The Irish Setter dog's crowning glory is, of course, the coat. Daily brushing is essential to keep the feathers from tangling. Occasionally, the owner will need to trim between the pads and behind the ears to prevent mats. A professional groomer may be needed for extensive trimming once in a while. One essential dog grooming chore that cannot be ignored is careful and regular cleaning of the ears. As they are drop ears, very little air circulation is able to get inside the ear and thus it is a breeding ground for bacteria, making ear infections common.

Training Irish Setters

This is a dog who loves working with their owner and with positive reward-based training can be extremely obedient. Irish Setters are however still hunters at heart and are easily distracted so recall can be an issue if they get distracted by scents, sights - or something to chase. Pet gun dog classes or scentwork classes can be invaluable to help give them an outlet for their hardwired behaviours.

Suitability for Family Life

The Irish Setter can make the perfect family dog as they love everyone of all ages. They may be too bouncy for very small children but for an active family, they are hard to beat.

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with each other and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.

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Did You Know?

The Irish Setter is also often called the Red Setter (or Madra rua – which means red dog in Gaelic) because of his stunning coat. It is said that the same gene that makes the Irish Setter red is the same one that is found in Irish and Scottish people to give so many of them ginger hair and freckles!
Two Irish Setters have found their way into the White House – one called Mike owned by Harry Truman, and the other called King Timahoe owned by Richard Nixon. Despite having such a royal name, King Timahoe disgraced himself by shredding a carpet in the Oval Office!