Irish Red Setter

Appearance: Graceful dog with long coat

One look into the beautiful eyes of a Setter is enough to melt the heart of many an animal lover. The Irish Setter is undoubtedly one of the most elegant hunting dogs. This is due not only to its long, silky coat in warm chestnut red and its dark eyes, but also to its graceful build.

The long, narrow head sits on a muscular neck, with the soft, pendant ears as well as the well-defined brow ridges and pronounced stop further enhancing the elegant appearance. The limbs are sinewy, the tail is moderately long and set rather low. Legs and belly are more heavily feathered.

Size and weight: How big and how heavy does an Irish Red Setter get?

An Irish Red Setter weighs around 30 kg and is well proportioned. The height at the withers can be up to 67 cm.

Temperament: What is the character of an Irish Red Setter like?

At home, an Irish Setter is usually an unobtrusive, rather reserved, friendly, and compliant dog.

But as soon as he steps outside, the Setter feels the call of nature: behind the elegant exterior lies an excellent hunter who wants to pursue his hunting passion on a regular basis. When this dog picks up the scent of a hare at the edge of the woods, he will unfortunately often forget his good training and, given the chance, will run off and away.

Cuddles after work

Towards strangers he tends to be alert but generally quite open. He also usually gets on well with other dogs. After a job well done, the Irish Red Setter loves affection and can turn into a real cuddle bug.

Nevertheless, this handsome companion always retains a certain degree of independence, anyone who respects this and can meet the dog’s needs will find in this intelligent, independent four-legged friend a companion for life.

Keeping and training: Is the Irish Setter suitable for beginners?

Due to its strong hunting drive, an Irish Setter is not suitable for beginners and accordingly its training is not entirely straightforward. In addition, the sensitive dog has, alongside its hunting instinct, a mind of its own, which does not make obedience training any easier.

The be-all and end-all of training an Irish Setter is consistency combined with the right level of empathy. If you provide the dog with clear leadership, he will gladly follow it.

Meeting its needs properly

Especially with hunting dogs like this one, it is important to remember that only a well-exercised dog can be a well-behaved one. Appropriate activity therefore also plays a crucial role in training. In addition, shared activities strengthen the bond, which in turn makes training easier.

It is advisable to attend a dog training school with this four-legged friend that has experience with Setters – unless you are already planning a gundog training programme with this dog that is ideally suited to it.

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Activity: How much exercise does an Irish Setter need?

You can probably guess it already: the Irish Setter’s favourite activity is hunting! However, it is certainly possible to keep him happy without hunting. In any case, this dog needs plenty of exercise outdoors and that in all weathers.

As a fully grown dog, he makes an excellent companion when jogging or on dog-appropriate rides on a bicycle. Plan for at least two hours per day to properly exercise with your dog.

Training body and mind

You should not only challenge his love of running but also the clever mind of this scent worker. Dog sports such as mantrailing or more generally scent-based search games, both indoors and outdoors are ideal for this.

He is also well suited to retrieving. Agility or flyball are also options – there are plenty of ways to keep your Setter mentally and physically stimulated.

Making time for rest

Puzzle toys are a great way to provide your Setter with variety indoors. Simply try out what you and your companion enjoy most together!

After working or playing, the Irish Red Setter appreciates shared relaxation time with his main caregiver, naturally including plenty of cuddles.

Nutrition: Grain-free food for the Irish Setter

Whether you choose dry or wet food, opt for high-quality dog food with healthy ingredients. Grains should ideally not be included at all, as Irish Red Setters are considered sensitive to gluten.

If you plan a change of food, it is best to proceed slowly by mixing a little more of the new food into the familiar one each day. It also makes sense to accustom your dog to several varieties of the same quality so that he enjoys variety while avoiding problems if, for example, a manufacturer changes a recipe.

Avoiding obesity

After meals, always allow your dog a rest period, for example in the form of a short digestive nap, as there is otherwise a risk of life-threatening gastric torsion.

Setters in particular that get too little exercise tend towards being overweight. Keep an eye on your companion’s waistline and take action if you notice him putting on excess fat. Always provide your Setter with fresh drinking water freely available.

Grooming: How much does an Irish Setter shed?

Groom the silky Setter coat regularly to maintain its beauty. Brush your companion’s coat daily has no undercoat and therefore hardly sheds, this routine is not particularly time-consuming.

Check ears for inflammation

Regular ear care is also important, as the Irish Red Setter’s pendant ears are quite prone to inflammation or parasite infestations due to the warm, moist environment. Clean the ears as needed with a special ear cleaner from a specialist retailer.

Trim claws when necessary

Check your dog’s claws regularly: older dogs in particular, or those that rarely walk on paved paths, do not wear their claws down sufficiently, which poses an increased risk of injury.

If you are unsure, have a vet show you how to trim claws properly. Afterwards, you can if needed shorten them yourself using a dog nail clipper to the appropriate length.

Preventing tartar

Many dog owners have accustomed their pets to daily tooth brushing– an effective way to prevent tartar and the many related secondary conditions well into old age.

If this is an option for you, it is best to get the meet the puppies used early on to the daily care routine using special dog toothpaste and a dog toothbrush.

Health: What illnesses can occur?

These chestnut-coloured hunters may have a predisposition to hip dysplasia. Prevent this by only looking for puppies from reputable breeders. They breed exclusively from dogs with sound hip joints, thereby minimising the risk of such malformations.

Also make sure your Irish Red Setter does not carry excess weight, as this promotes joint problems.

In some lines, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) also occurs. In this condition, the retina deteriorates, eventually leading to complete blindness. However, there is a genetic test for Irish Red Setters that can rule out genetically caused PRA. Here too, expertise and commitment from breeders are essential.

What is the life expectancy of an Irish Setter?

Healthy Irish Red Setters can reach an age of 12 to 14 years.

History: Gundog from the 19th century

Like the other Setters; the Gordon Setter, the Irish Red and White Setter and the English Setter– the Irish Red Setter belongs to the pointing dogs. These are characterised by the fact that they indicate game by freezing on point when they have scented it, allowing the hunter to prepare for the shot.

How the Irish Red Setter got its name

In addition, Setters do not only stand still but may even sit down to indicate game – hence the name “Setter”. Irish Red Setters have always been particularly popular for hunting snipe and ducks.

The breed developed at the beginning of the 19th century in Ireland, where native Setters were likely crossed with French Spaniels and British Pointers.

Red and red-and-white Setters

At the start of breeding, red and red-and-white Setters were still a single emerging breed: in 1874, both variants were first shown at an exhibition in Dublin, and two years later the Ulster Irish Red Setter Club still grouped both colour varieties under the term “Irish Setter”.

From 1882 onwards, however, only red Setters were recognised, which was laid down in 1886 in the first breed standard of the Irish Red Setter Club. Today, alongside the pure working lines, which are suitable only for very ambitious owners or hunters, there are also show lines that require slightly less exercise and often have more coat – although these lines too demand plenty of enjoyment in working together with the dog.

Preliminary considerations: Is an Irish Red Setter right for me?

Many people fall in love with these beautiful dogs, but only a few can offer the energetic hunter suitable living conditions. He is suited to experienced dog ownerswho are either sporty or active as hunters in the countryside.

Is the Irish Setter a family dog?

If these requirements are met, the sensitive dogs can also be kept in a family. However, they are better suited to slightly older children who already understand the basic rules of interacting with a pet. With them, the Setter usually gets on wonderfully. Children can find in him a marvellous four-legged friend.

Of course, before welcoming a Setter into your home, it is important to clarify that there are no allergies in the family and that everyone agrees to the associated time commitment .

Rural surroundings preferred

This nature lover is not a dog for a city flat. He needs plenty of greenery around him and ideally a securely fenced garden where he can freely sniff to his heart’s content without the risk of him taking off in pursuit of the neighbour’s cat.

An Irish Red Setter does not like being alone, bear this in mind before letting such a dog move in with you. He needs close family contact and, in the event of illness or holidays, suitable care. If you go on a walking holiday, you can ideally take your Irish Red Setter with you and enjoy adventures together.

Costs involved

Before a dog moves in, do not underestimate not only the time required but also the costs that come with a new family member. In addition to the purchase price, there are expenses for basic equipment, high-quality food, as well as veterinary check-ups, dog liability insurance several times and dog tax.

Getting one: Where can I find my Irish Red Setter?

You should only buy this noble dog from breeders who are affiliated with a club and adhere to its guidelines. Do not let people who breed without a club persuade you to buy a dog. Their arguments are often dubious: “papers are just a waste of money” or “they manage perfectly well without a club”, club membership is, however, the minimum requirement when buying a puppy.

Reputable breeders can also provide, among other things, written health resultsregarding the hip examinations of the parent dogs , which minimises the risk of hip dysplasia in the puppies. A potential breeder should welcome you into their home, where you can meet the puppies and their parents without obligation. The parent dogs should give a balanced and friendly impression.

Questions for the breeder

Naturally, the breeder will be happy to be your point of contact for questions about character and type – a good breeder will, however, also ask you a few probing questions about your expectations and previous experience with dogs. This is a positive sign, as it shows that the welfare of their puppies is close to their heart.

A puppy leaves its mother no earlier than eight weeks of age, having been dewormed several times and vaccinated, and can then move in with you. In its luggage, the microchipped four-legged friend will always have a vaccination record as well as often some portions of its favourite food, and sometimes also its favourite soft toy or a cuddly blanket to make the farewell from the old home easier.

A Setter from a rescue organisation

If you would like to give a fully grown Irish Red Setter a new home, it is also worth looking online. The likelihood that a local animal welfare organisation has a purebred Irish Red Setter available for adoption is relatively low.

Nevertheless, an enquiry or visit may be successful: perhaps a charming Setter crossbreed will steal your heart? Otherwise, there are organisations with names such as “Setter in Need” that specialise in rehoming these demanding gundogs. Contact them to find out whether one of the dogs “second-hand” might be a good match for you!

Conclusion: Passionate hunter full of drive

For active people and passionate hunters alike, the Irish Red Setter is a true dream dog. Outdoors, he shows his energetic and eager side, while at home he is friendly and affectionate. Anyone who appreciates a willing-to-learn, intelligent companion and can provide sufficient stimulation for this curious four-legged friend is sure to take great pleasure in this breed.

Irish Red Setter fact file

Special characteristics:	The Irish Red Setter is a gundog often used for hunting waterfowl. If sufficiently exercised, it is also suitable as a family dog.
Character:	energetic, independent, sensitive, playful
Height at withers:	Male: 58–67 cm Female: 55–62 cm
Weight:	Male: 27–32 kg Female: 24–29 kg
Coat:	long, silky coat in chestnut brown
Coat care:	high maintenance
Exercise:	needs plenty of activity and exercise
Suitable for beginners:	no
Barking:	barks little
Life expectancy:	12–14 years
Typical illnesses:	hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
FCI group:	7. Pointing Dogs
Need for exercise:	high
Origin:	Ireland