Irish Setter Dog Breed

Yes! The Irish Setter is a tolerant, affectionate breed. When they’re not running through countryside, these dogs love nothing more than playing in the garden and snuggling with their family.

A young Irish Setter who isn’t getting their exercise needs met could become too boisterous for very young children. They’re a big dog and could accidentally knock over a small child.

They need between one and two hours exercise every day. This needs to be taken into consideration, especially if you have young children who may not be able to keep up!
 
Being a Gundog, soft toys will be fair game to an Irish Setter. So, be sure to keep any precious teddies out of their reach.

Absolutely! The Irish Setter is incredibly affectionate. And this can be hilariously hazardous – they don’t realise their own size when they try to climb up on the sofa for a snuggle!

They love physical interaction and actively seek out gentle strokes and scratches. As an affectionate dog, they struggle in homes where they need to be left alone for extended periods of time.

The perfect home for an Irish Setter will provide them with all the love and attention they need and deserve.

Yes! They’re a playful and energetic breed who love to have fun. And they’ve got staggering amounts of stamina!

Being a Gundog, they love to use their nose to find toys or food. This is a great game that children can get involved in too. It involves hiding items around the house and garden for their canine friend – and watching their joyous reaction when they find them! These dogs are natural retrievers, so they also adore games of fetch.

It won’t surprise you to know that this lively breed don’t need to skip exercise or play sessions due to poor weather. Come rain or shine, they’re ready to get stuck in!

If you don’t have enough spare time in your life to meet an Irish Setter’s needs, they might not be the perfect match for you.

Irish Setters are a vocal breed, but that doesn’t mean they’re constantly barking! In fact, they have wide range of vocalisations that also include yodelling and moaning. Let’s just say they’re a ‘talkative’ breed, which just adds to their wonderful character!

These dogs will certainly let you know if someone knocks on your door, or if they spot/ hear a stranger near your home. Despite this, they’re likely to welcome them into your home with nothing but love. They simply can’t help themselves!

They often greet familiar friends with a yodelling ‘hello’. You can also expect a good moan if you’re late with their mealtimes!

These dogs will usually only bark if their needs aren’t being met. If you’re looking for a quiet breed, you might want to consider another option.

The Irish Setter is a breed that has a reliable, tolerant, nature. But, like other breeds, they can develop behavioural issues if their needs aren’t met.

These include:

• Running off on walks and chasing wildlife if appropriate training is not given. 
• Nuisance barking if they feel bored or frustrated. 
• Destructive behaviour when left home alone without slow and steady training and/or if left too long.  

The key to keeping your Irish Setter happy is to meet their exercise needs, find time for play sessions, and provide them with mental stimulation. And, of course, give them lots of affection!

The Irish Setter is a tall breed which is likely to take up a lot of room in your home, so be prepared to free up plenty of space on the sofa!

They’re also prone to run around – inside and outside – so you’ll need a spacious home that allows for this.

This breed thrives in rural settings where they have access to open countryside to run and chase sniffs.

As long as they’ve been socialised well, these dogs can live with other canine companions, and even cats. But, when it comes to felines and other small pets, it’s better if they’re introduced as a young puppy. Don’t forget they are hunting dogs at heart.

They make great family dogs in homes with children who can cope with their size and exuberance. Younger children might find them trickier!

If you’re considering this breed, give some thought to how much exercise and playtime sessions they need. As a people-loving dog, they also need a home where time spent alone will be kept to a minimum.

The Irish Setter needs 90 minutes to 2 hours of exercise a day.  Ideally, this should be divided into two separate walks. These dogs were first bred to cover large open spaces searching for birds, so they have huge amounts of stamina!

Recall and off-lead control training is essential at an early age – ensuring your dog can enjoy this essential outlet for natural behaviour. If you’re struggling with recall training, you might want to consider hiring fully enclosed exercise paddocks. They also love to paddle and swim!

As well as providing your Irish Setter with physical exercise, they also need plenty of mental stimulation. This can be achieved by playing scent games with them, such as hiding toys in long grass for them to find and bring back to you.

Enrichment items such as kongs, snuffles mats and puzzle feeders can make mealtimes more mentally stimulating.

As you can see, this breed is not one for someone who doesn’t have enough time to dedicated to them. They need a human who is all in!

The Irish setter is very bright and eager to please. They’re motivated by both toys and food.

This breed bonds closely with their family, so punishment-based training methods are damaging to their relationship. Kind, fair, and effective training methods are always the best approach.

Socialisation and habituation training is essential for all breeds, and the Irish Setter is no exception.  Building positive associations with everyday sights and sounds provides a solid foundation for all training.

Adolescence can be a challenging time for dogs. But hang in there, because once their hormones settle down you will reap the benefits of all your hard work!

Focus on to teaching your Setter to come when called. They’re prone to going ‘deaf’ whilst they are chasing sniffs in the countryside.

Home alone training should be slow and steady. This avoids separation related issues such as destructiveness and barking.

The Irish Setter’s famous beautiful red coat comes at a price – they shed a lot! Without regular grooming, your floors and carpets will be sprinkled with soft red hairs, along with your clothes and furniture.

They’re a double coated, which means they have a thick undercoat and a soft silky topcoat. You’ll need a slicker brush, a pin brush, a comb, and a pair of scissors. The slicker brush will help remove the dead undercoat.

It's important to pay close attention to the feather on their tail and legs as these can get matted very quickly. Also, comb their ear hair regularly as knots can form and become painful.

Their long floppy ears should be checked often for infections.

Regular grooming sessions are also an opportunity to check for lumps, cuts, twigs and unwanted parasites. Knots can be painful, so keep a close eye on your four-legged friend’s hair.

Like all pedigree breeds, Irish Setters are prone to certain health conditions. If you’re looking to buy a puppy from a breeder, it’s important to ask them what health checks they do on their breeding dogs.

Things to look out for are:

• Hypothyroidism (thyroid issues) 
• Von Willebrand Disease (blood clotting disorder) 
• Epilepsy 
• Canine Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency CLAD (abnormal white blood cells) 
• Hip Dysplasia (poorly formed hip joints) 
• Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) 
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (eye issue) 

Because of their deep chests, Irish Setters are also highly prone to getting bloat. This is a life-threatening medical emergency. The stomach can twist within the body and cause pain, and even death, if not treated immediately. Never exercise an Irish Setter less than an hour before and after feeding.

Regular health checks, a quality diet and healthy lifestyle will keep your Setter in tip top condition.