Irish Setter: Your Complete Guide
Irish setters are playful, affectionate, and loving companions that can make a welcome addition to your family. These dogs love to protect their human companions, spend time with the family, and even go to work with specific tasks. Learning complex commands and being enthusiastic about training are also things that Irish setters are known for. Irish setters are affectionate dogs and love to spend time with their companions.
These traits make the Irish setter a desirable breed for most people looking to adopt. However, before you adopt an Irish setter, it’s important to know everything you can about this breed.
Fortunately, that’s where we come on. We cover everything you need to know about the Irish setter breed. This includes what they look like, who they make sense for as a pet owner, and even the health concerns you might have to worry about. Read on to learn everything you need to know.
Quick Look at the Irish Setter
Below is a quick glance at the Irish setter breed in terms of their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.
| Weight/Height | 50-70 pounds, 25-27 inches |
| Coat Type | Straight, medium-length, smooth |
| Grooming Needs |  |
| Shedding | |
| Temperament | Alert, protective, smart, loyal, affectionate |
| Good With Kids |  |
| Good With Other Animals |  |
| Intelligence | |
| Easy to Train | |
| Energy Level | |
| Barking Habits |  |
| Lifespan | 12-15 years |
What Is the History of Irish Setters?
Irish setters have a rich history dating back to the 18th century, with some of their ancestors around for far longer. In fact, it’s believed that Irish setters are related to spaniels, pointers, and other setter breeds. If you couldn’t tell by the name, these dogs also hail from Ireland, where the breed standard was developed in the 1800s.
While the Irish setter became popular during this period, they didn’t become common family or work dogs until the 19th and 20th centuries. During these periods, Irish setters were used for hunting and sport, and they also became lovable family companions. As time went on, different variations of the Irish setter were born. For example, the red Irish setter first came around during the 19th century, and some mixed versions came about in the 20th century. Irish setters were also bred for their natural athleticism and ability to be trained for agility.
What Do Irish Setters Look Like?
Irish setters are sporting dogs, and they look like it. At first glance, you’ll notice long muscular legs and their signature chestnut coat. Upon further examination, you’ll notice their floppy ears, medium-length straight hair, and above-average height.
However, their face is close to golden retrievers, labradors, and even German shepherds. They have a long rectangular snout with a little black nose sitting at the top. Their head tends to be rounded at the forehead, and their eyes are usually brown, almost matching their coats.
When it comes to the color of their coat, the Irish setter doesn’t have a ton of options. Many dogs have patches or shades of every color, but the Irish setter can only be brown, mahogany, fawn, and some shades of red. While this limits the number of colors they can have, it gives them a distinct appearance that you can remember based only on their color.
What Size Is an Irish Setter?
The Irish setter isn’t a big dog, but they’re not small, either. They’re about average in height and weight, especially for medium-sized dogs. Expect them to weigh 50-70 pounds and stand at 25-27 inches at the shoulder. There might be a slight size difference between male and female Irish setters. Females tend to be a few inches shorter and a few pounds lighter than males.
What Is an Irish Setter’s Coat Type and Length?
Irish setters have a unique coat that’s not shared with many other dog breeds. It’s a chestnut coat that looks wiry or curly, but it’s actually straight hair that looks scraggly at longer lengths. That said, the ideal hair length for the Irish setter is medium length.
What Is an Irish Setter’s Temperament?
Irish setters are known for being playful, gentle, and loyal dogs. They get along well with children and tend to have protective tendencies when the family is in danger or if they feel threatened. You’ll also find that most Irish setters are affectionate and spirited. This means that they love to be around people, and they’ll even jump up on you to lick you or snuggle with you to show their affection. Aggression is minimal, but they can get too excited as puppies, so keep this in mind.
Are Irish Setters Good With Kids?
Irish setters are excellent with kids. They’re good with kids for two reasons: high energy and a kind temperament. You’ll find that if you have young children, your Irish setter will have no problem keeping up with them. They can play with them until they fall asleep, help you keep them busy, and much more.
Additionally, Irish setters aren’t aggressive dogs, so you shouldn’t have to watch them too often while they play with your child. Ultimately, the risk of your child getting hurt is minimal. While that’s the case, you should still keep an eye on your child and your Irish setter as they play to reduce the risk of any problems.
Are Irish Setters Good With Other Animals?
Irish setters are good with other animals. You’ll find that they can interact well with dogs and most animals that you’ll commonly have as part of your family. While Irish setters are good with other dogs, you should be cautious when introducing them to some smaller breeds. They do have a prey drive, so it’s possible for them to get jumpy or aggressive around some smaller animals and cats. Fortunately, you can generally fix this type of behavior with socialization and training.
Are Irish Setters Aggressive?
Irish setters are not aggressive dogs. They don’t like to be aggressive, but they will be defensive if they feel threatened. Irish setters are also loyal dogs, so if they see that you or your family are in danger, they can become aggressive. That said, aggression isn’t something you should have to worry about with an Irish setter.
Plus, these dogs adapt to their family well and form strong bonds. Still, every dog is different, so keep an eye on them for signs of aggression. If you notice any aggressive tendencies, focus on socialization and training to prevent any problems.
Do Irish Setters Bark?
Irish setters do bark, but not as much as other breeds. Plus, they tend to only bark when they’re alerting their owner to something or feel uncomfortable. Otherwise, don’t expect Irish setters to bark too often. Irish setters may also bark when they’re being trained due to their stubbornness, so keep this in mind as well.
The volume of their bark is similar to that of a retriever, spaniel, and labrador, so it’s not too loud. However, it can be too loud for shared housing, so check with your landlord and make sure your setter is properly trained to prevent excessive barking.
Are Irish Setters Affectionate?
Irish setters became popular because of their loyalty and affection! These dogs love to be around their human companions, and they have no problem cuddling up with you. While they might be standoffish with strangers or other animals at first, you’ll find that they open up quickly compared to most breeds.
Are Irish Setters Intelligent?
Irish setters are known for their intelligence and desire to learn. These dogs are about as smart as golden retrievers, labradors, and even German shepherds, so they’re in good company when it comes to their intelligence. Irish setters are smart enough for agility training, work in dog shows, and, of course, general commands. Their mental capacity is large enough to handle dozens of commands, so you don’t have to worry about teaching them too much.
While Irish setters are smart, they’re not always easy to train or work with due to their stubbornness. This can make them seem less intelligent, but that’s not the case. Irish setters are also curious and will investigate your home and backyard to see what they can find. For this reason, dog-proofing your home is essential.
Are Irish Setters Energetic?
Irish setters are energetic dogs. You’ll find that they have near-limitless sources of energy, and you need to play with them, walk them, or run with them to slowly deplete their energy. In fact, Irish setters will have even more energy when they’re puppies, so make sure you’re prepared if you adopt them from a young age. For this reason, many families with small children tend to like Irish setters because they tire each other out.
When it comes to their exercise needs, expect to give them 1-2 hours daily. They are sporting dogs, so training them for agility and playing games like fetch are great ways for them to use up some of that endless energy.
Are Irish Setters Easy to Train?
Irish setters are not the easiest dogs to train. You’ll find that these dogs can be stubborn and impatient when learning new commands. For this reason, you need to be patient when you train them and be ready to commit to long-term training and guidance. Fortunately, you can start with a basic obedience training course to set the foundation for their training. While it may take time for them to learn the basics due to their stubbornness, they’re easy to train once that foundation and trust are built.
Furthermore, training Irish setters can be very rewarding because they’re sporting dogs. This means that you can train them for agility activities and even have them compete in events. They also have a high mental capacity to learn complex commands, walk off a leash, and much more. Therefore, training them is all about slowly getting them comfortable with you.
Are Irish Setters Good Watchdogs?
Irish setters can be good watchdogs due to a handful of their personality traits. Since they’re alert and loyal, they will let you know when something seems wrong. In fact, they’ll bark to let you know of any dangers or strangers approaching your home. Irish setters also have a strong sense of smell, so they may know something is wrong before you even see it.
While Irish setters make good watchdogs, this isn’t the best reason to adopt them due to their high energy levels and affinities with agility and other skills. That said, an Irish setter being a good watchdog is a nice perk.
Are Irish Setters Good Service Dogs?
Irish setters can be good service dogs, but it’s not a common breed you’ll see helping people with physical disabilities. While their size makes them a good candidate, their temperament is what makes them a less-than-ideal option. The biggest issue is that they have a lot of energy, which means they need a lot of exercise. If they’re hanging around and not doing too much each day, this can result in them becoming bored, obese, or otherwise unhealthy.
Another reason Irish setters don’t make the best service dogs is due to their stubbornness during training. While this is something that can be worked on with proper training, it makes Irish setters more difficult and time-consuming to train in the long run for service dog work. It’s also important to note that many of these traits also make them a poor choice for psychiatric service dog work as well.
While Irish setters aren’t the best service dogs, that doesn’t mean they’re not good in other areas. They make great therapy dogs in large spaces and also great emotional support animals (ESA) with the right training. That said, if you live in housing that’s not normally pet-friendly, you should consider having them go through an ESA training program.
How to Care for an Irish Setter?
Property caring for an Irish setter is essential if you want them to live a long and healthy life. You need to groom them, feed them a healthy diet, and ensure that they get the necessary amount of exercise. That said, Irish setters are one of the easier breeds to care for, even if you’re a first-time pet owner. Just make sure you groom them a few times per year and take them to the vet annually.
Do You Need to Groom an Irish Setter?
Yes, you need to groom an Irish setter. You should brush their coat at least three times per week with a soft bristle brush. Due to their medium-length coat, you should also bathe an Irish setter monthly or take them to a professional for a bath every 4-6 weeks. A professional groomer should also trim their coat a few times per year to ensure that it doesn’t get too long. This can be done every 3-6 months.
Most Irish setters will wear their nails down due to exercise, but you might have to trim them yourself if they’re not looking short enough; they shouldn’t be slipping in the house or making excessive noise.
Do Irish Setters Shed?
Irish setters will shed, but not any worse than most dog breeds. They will shed all year long, but expect them to shed even more during the spring and fall months. To mitigate the issue, you can use a bristle brush to remove some of their hair. Proper grooming and haircuts will also help with Irish setter shedding.
What Health Problems Do Irish Setters Have?
Irish setters are a healthy breed, but that doesn’t mean they’re free from any health problems. For example, they’re at risk for hip dysplasia, which is a condition that impacts many medium and large dogs. This condition develops at birth and is the result of a malformed hip joint.
Another condition that impacts Irish setters is autoimmune thyroiditis. This condition causes their immune system to attack their thyroid, which will lead to changes in weight, fatigue, and even an increased risk of thyroid and other cancers.
Retinal atrophy is also possible in Irish setters, along with hearing loss and heart disease, especially as they grow older. Elbow and patellar luxation are also possible but not as common as some other Irish setter health issues.
It’s also important to note that Irish setters also have a predisposition to bone cancer and even bloating. However, you can’t always predict these conditions, even by testing their genes. Ultimately, you’ll have to monitor your Irish setter as they age and take them to the vet if you notice any problems. The good news is that when you spot most of the conditions that impact these dogs early, you shouldn’t have to worry about too many long-term problems.
How Long Do Irish Setters Live?
Expect Irish setters to be part of your family for the long haul. Irish setters have an above-average lifespan of around 12-15 years. In fact, with proper nutrition and attention to health problems as they appear, expect the Irish setter to live even longer than this average!
What Should an Irish Setter Eat?
Irish setters need to eat a diet that’s high in healthy fats, protein, and carbohydrates. These dogs also develop slowly, so you need to be aware of the food they need in different stages of development.
Make sure they’re eating food formulated for medium-sized puppies during their puppy years and switch over to adult dog food for medium-sized dogs after they’re about one year old. You can also feed them meals you cook yourself, but we don’t recommend doing so because their dietary needs can be hard to keep up with.
It’s also important to note that some Irish setters bloat after eating. Therefore, it’s better to give them a few small meals throughout the day instead of one or two large meals.
Is an Irish Setter the Right Dog for Me?
Irish setters are great companions, but they’re not the best fit for everyone. Due to their high energy levels, they’re best suited for people who have a backyard and time to spend with them. These dogs are also affectionate, so you should aim to have someone around frequently to avoid separation anxiety and other mental health problems. Families with children are a great fit for Irish setters due to their high energy levels. Plus, children love to play with sporting dogs because they’re great at fetch, frisbee, and some other similar games.
Irish setters can also be a good choice for first-time pet owners. They’re easy to train, loyal, and not one of the harder breeds to care for. Just make sure you have the time and space to care for them, and you shouldn’t have any issues with an Irish setter.