With gorgeous strawberry locks and shiny coats, Irish setters have become well-known for their appearance. But with all the fur, many potential owners wonder: do Irish setter dogs shed? Like any other long-coated breed, Irish setters shed a LOT, and this gundog does it throughout the year.
Generally, they shed the most during winter and summer, blowing their coat to adapt to the climate. Hence, grooming this red-haired canine is tedious, requiring daily brushing and regular trims.
Read on to learn more about an Irish setter’s coat, when it’s expected to shed, and when you should be concerned.
What is the Coat of an Irish Setter Like?
An Irish setter’s coat consists of two layers: the top coat and the undercoat. The former comprises the breed’s signature luscious and silky red, mahogany, or chestnut hair. And as gorgeous as it looks, it makes the gundog’s coat vulnerable to knotting and matting.
With all that, the top coat alone needs tedious grooming, including daily brushing! You’ll need a reliable brush to keep your setter’s luscious fur clean while removing all the tangles and debris. And this is especially crucial for the breed, considering they adore being outside and playing often.
Meanwhile, the second layer, the undercoat, protects the dog from extreme weather. It keeps the cold and heats away from its skin, maintaining your pet’s ideal body temperature. And for this, you’ll need a different grooming tool — a de-shedding brush. It’ll help you reach the undercoat, conveniently pulling out dead hair.
Brushing aside, you can help maintain the breed’s coat by spreading its natural oils all over its skin. And this prevents dry skin, often the culprit behind excessive shedding in setters!
Overall, combining the red setter’s wavy, long, soft top coat and coarse undercoat can take some effort to groom.
Do Irish Setter Dogs Shed?
Irish setter dogs are average but frequent shedders, losing hair throughout the year. But like any double-coated breed, these gundogs shed more during seasonal changes. And for setters, they lose fur the most during winter and summer, blowing their coats!
Given its fur (predominantly red) hue and length (medium to long), shedding is more noticeable in an Irish dog than in other breeds with short, finer, and lighter-colored hair.
Plus, since red setters are sizeable breeds with a more expansive surface area than smaller breeds, they’ll naturally lose more fur! And this isn’t to say that more giant dog breeds have a higher rate of shedding. It’s just that this red-haired beauty has more hair to go around.
Therefore, this dog is NOT for you if you want a low-shedding and maintenance pet. And although its shedding is manageable, grooming takes some effort, especially if you wish to decrease the amount of dander floating around your space.
When Do Irish Setter Dogs Shed the Most?
Although Irish setters shed year-round, they lose hair the most during winter and summer. The former is when they shed their undercoat to grow new and thicker fur, keeping them warm. Meanwhile, the latter is when his breed loses its winter coat to prepare for the hotter months ahead.
Generally, these hunting dogs are moderate shedders due to their extended locks and sizeable bodies, leaving you to find hair left often. And though they don’t shed as much as other dogs, seasonal shedding can still be a pain to deal with as they do it HEAVILY. Expect your setter to drop fur 10x more during winter and summer, regardless of age.
Even when you’re still raising a young pup, it’ll shed a lot and only worsen as its adult fur begins to grow.
When Should You Be Concerned with an Irish Setter Dog’s Shedding?
As normal shedding is for Irish setters, heavy hair loss isn’t and isn’t prevalent in the breed. So, if you notice your red-haired furry friend is losing more hair than expected, it’s time to raise your concerns.
Here are dangerous symptoms to watch out for alongside excess shedding, indicating your setter may have underlying medical issues:
- Skin irritation
- Redness of the skin
- The sudden appearance of rashes, scabs, or bumps
- Excess itching
- Out-of-habit face rubbing
- Balding spots
- Thinning coats
- Sores
- Excessive licking
If you spot any of these signs in your setter, especially if they’ve been around for over a week, it’s time to bring your dog to the vet to rule out medical conditions. Only these professionals can tell if one of those contributes to the canine’s abnormal shedding.
Informing your vet will help you set the best course of action for your Irish dog, setting it back on the path of healthy fur! Doing this fast is crucial as these conditions can be uncomfortable for your pet and can worsen FAST.
There are many reasons why an Irish setter may shed more than usual, and here are some of them:
❎ You’re Feeding Your Setter an Unbalanced Diet
A poor or unbalanced diet is the primary cause of excessive shedding in Irish setters.
So, as tempting as it is to settle for the cheapest kibble at the store, don’t risk your dog’s health for it! After all, even if these dry dog food formulas meet the minimum quality requirements, many still need more nutrients.
So, carefully consider what you’re feeding your Irish dog and ensure it uses quality protein. And ensure it includes a high content of healthy fats like Omega-3 for a healthier coat.
Balanced diet aside, avoid putting your setter on risky diets, such as the ‘gluten-free diet.’ These unusual diets are among the leading cause of health issues in hunting dogs, often causing excess hair loss and shedding! After all, only a handful of breeds don’t need gluten in their diet.
❎ Using the Improper Dog Shampoo
If you believe your red setter has a balanced and nutritious diet and don’t think it’s the food causing your dog’s shedding, grooming might be the issue. When bathing dogs, never use shampoos meant for humans, as these often contain dangerous chemicals to these animals.
The chemicals used are harsh on a setter’s skin and coat. So, carefully browse appropriate dog shampoos. Ideally, shampoos meant for animal use should only use natural or mild ingredients.
Shampoo aside, rinsing is also crucial in preventing excess shedding. Overdoing it can ruin and irritate your red-haired gundog’s skin, causing more hair to fall off than usual.
❎ Excess Stress
Do Irish setter dogs shed due to mental health issues? Yes, and extreme stress can cause excessive shedding in Irish setters, and this often routes from unmet exercise needs.
After all, these hunting dogs have tons of energy to spare, requiring at least an hour of activity every day. And when your setter fails to satisfy this need, it can develop destructive habits alongside suffering from extreme stress!
Exercise aside, a change in your canine’s routine may also cause excess shedding due to stress. Or if you bring a new pet pr person to your home, increasing the large dog’s anxiety levels.
If you’ve tried removing or reducing your hunting dog’s stress, it still doesn’t help — bring it to the vet. They can develop the best treatment course for your setter, effectively decreasing fur loss.
But note that visiting the vet alone can be an incredibly stressful move for many setters. And since we’re discussing excess shedding contributed by extreme stress, carefully plan how you’ll bring your dog to the vet. After all, you might make your pet’s shedding worse!
❎ Hormonal Imbalances
Hormonal imbalances may also cause excess shedding in Irish setters. And this is prevalent among female setters that recently gave birth or got spayed. But it can also happen amongst their male counterparts who got neutered.
Aside from that, recent surgeries or age also disrupt the harmonic balance of an Irish dog’s hormones.
❎ Skin Parasites (Fleas and Ticks)
If you notice your setter scratching while shedding a lot, it might have skin parasites. These pests can leave your gundog itchy and uncomfortable, whether it’s fleas, mange mites, or ticks.
Also, they can cause more severe health conditions, ranging from simple skin inflammation to problematic skin infections! And extreme flea or tick cases can cause anemia even in these large dogs! When untreated, it can be fatal for these gentle giants.
But as alarming skin parasites are, avoid using products without your vet’s advice. You may hurt your setter more, causing more shedding and potential health issues!
Since skin parasites can cling onto our clothes or come through the tiniest gaps, they can still find their way to your Irish indoor setter. And if this is the case, remember to talk to your vet regarding possible preventative strategies for your red-haired furry friend and other pets.
❎ Other Underlying Diseases
Excessive shedding on various body parts, clumps of hair loss, and skin discoloration can indicate many medical issues, such as the following:
- Bacterial or fungal infection
- Thyroid diseases
- Skin allergy
- Inflammatory bowel diseases
- Other skin-related illnesses
- Tumors
None of these are easy to determine, and it can be impossible to second-guess what might be causing your setter’s excess shedding. So, to rule out medical conditions and pinpoint the cause of your gundog’s excessive hair loss, bring it to the vet ASAP.
Only then you’ll be able to confirm what your pet is going through, halting or reducing its fur loss.
Tips for Reducing Shedding in Irish Setter Dogs
Do Irish setter dogs shed? Yes, and you can reduce your Irish setter dog’s shedding by following these foolproof tips:
✔️ Pick the Right Brush
Choosing the best brush for your setter is crucial in keeping its coat neat and maintained, reducing hair loss. And it’s essential to find one that can evenly distribute your gundog’s oils across its body. With this, you can guarantee a healthier coat and less shedding for your red-haired friend in no time.
Here are several brushes you ought to try with your Irish setter to combat excess shedding:
- Wire pin brush. It works best for setters with curly and wooly coats ranging from medium to extended length. And it works well for the topcoat, removing all tangles and mats.
- Slicker brush. If your red-haired gundog has mats and tangles, this brush makes it easier to go through them without hurting your pet.
- Bristle brush. It brushes well for all kinds of coats and works incredibly well for Irish dogs as it has widely-spaced and more extended bristles. And this can go through coarse fur without issues, perfect for the undercoat.
- Rubbery curry comb. It’s the best in distributing skin oils as it massages well into your canine’s skin. And it can also remove dead fur, reducing shedding and promoting better coat growth.
✔️ Use a De-shedding Tool for the Undercoat
When working on an Irish setter’s undercoat, a de-shedding tool is your best friend. It doesn’t matter if your gundog sheds seasonally or throughout the year, as this can help remove dead fur from your pet’s coat. And this decreases the tufts in your space.
Like brushes, de-shedding tools come in different designs, with some having shedding blades. Meanwhile, others have serrated teeth for finer brushing.
✔️ Provide a Healthy and Balanced Diet Packed with Protein and Healthy Fats
Irish setters who consume healthy and balanced meals will receive the nutrients their hair follicles need, reducing shedding and promoting better coat growth. And it also makes your hunting dog’s fur stronger and more resilient against thinning and breakage.
✔️ Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated is an excellent way to combat excess shedding in Irish dogs. So, your gundog needs a lot of water to stay hydrated and have a better skin condition.
It’s best to leave a fresh bowl of water somewhere your setter can reach, keeping itself hydrated. And it can quench its thirst whenever it needs, decreasing excess shedding and promoting better coat growth.
✔️ Invest in Supplements
If your setter’s regular meals aren’t enough to reduce your dog’s shedding, you may need to add a supplement or two to its diet. Some strive explicitly to minimize shedding, packed with healthy fats.
Most vets recommend supplements with omega-3 fatty acids that dogs can only get via their diets. And this can stimulate their hair follicles, reducing shedding and promoting healthier hair growth. Regardless of the supplements’ brand, the most popular sources of omega-3 fatty acids are:
- Plant-based
- Marine-based
The former contains ALA omega-3 fatty acids that need conversion before your Irish dog uses them. But since neither setters nor humans can convert ALA into DHA or EPA, it’s better to opt for supplements made with marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids.
You can find those from fish oil, algae, and seaweed, which already have existing EPA and DHA. With this, your pet will have no issue converting the essential fatty acids, allowing for better absorption. As a result, shedding reduces, and your red-haired furry friend can enjoy better coat growth.
But note that some supplements may use a mix of plant- and marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids. And these are a risker choice for setters, reducing the effect of a pure marine-based omega-3 acid supplement.
Note that no supplement can halt your canine’s shedding, but it can help reduce it.
✔️ Give Your Irish Dog Bathing and De-shedding Treatments Now and Then
When discussing ‘do Irish setter dogs shed a lot and how to combat it?’ bathing is a standard solution mentioned. And it does help reduce hair loss as it cleans your gundog’s coat and removes dead fur. With this, its coat will intertwine better with healthy hair, reducing shedding.
You can make the most of bath time using a de-shedding shampoo or condition packed with moisturizers and healthy fatty acids on your Irish setter. These can hydrate the hunting dog’s skin and fur, creating healthier and more resilient follicles while detangling dead hair.
Aside from that, those shampoos can loosen your setter’s excess undercoat, decreasing shedding.
✔️ Keep Fleas, Ticks, and Mites in Check
Besides annoying your dog, fleas can irritate your Irish setter’s skin, causing excess scratching and shedding. Not only will this leave your space filled with fur, but it can also risk your gundog getting injured!
But before using flea products on your pet, consult a vet first to see the best combination of treatments to combat your setter’s case. Whether it’s through flea tablets, shampoos, or other treatments, these should be enough to ease the itchiness and kill those pesky parasites.
When untreated, fleas, ticks, and mites can cause FAD, a common dermatologic disease for Irish setter dogs, especially those who spend most of their time indoors. And this can be problematic, considering it only takes a few bites from these pests to irritate the red-haired dog’s skin!
It can last for weeks, causing excess itching, scratching, and eventual shedding. And worst, it may even lead to acute hair loss, leaving your hunting dog with bald patches!
Therefore, you can see why getting flea treatments fast is necessary for your setter’s well-being. And once you notice patchy balding or sore scabs, bring your pet to the vet ASAP.
✔️ Ample Exercise
Although exercising won’t stop your Irish dog’s fur from falling off, it can promote healthier skin and hair follicles. Aside from that, adequate activities can decrease stress and anxiety levels in canines, linking to lower shedding levels. And this is especially the case if your pet becomes self-destructive, biting and scratching itself, causing immense fur loss.
Luckily, you won’t have difficulty getting your setter to move, as these energetic dogs love to be active! So, be proactive and let your gundog exercise for at least an hour daily, keeping its skin and hair follicles strong! And with this, you can expect less shedding and more growth.
✔️ Buy a Shedding Onesie
If you can find a shedding onesie big enough for your Irish setter, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t try it on your dog! After all, as funny as it looks, it’s one of the most efficient ways to combat shedding in setters. Shedding onesies are spandex bodysuits made for canines to help trap loose or dead fur.
They work incredibly well, trapping dead hair and dander inside, reducing shedding. And in time, you’ll notice less fur on your floors and furniture, all while keeping your setter comfortable. Most designs come with zippers for easy removal and wearing, making it easier on you and your hunting dog!
But note that a shedding onesie won’t deal with the issue. It will only contain it. Slipping the garment on and off your setter can become a hassle, making it unsuitable for owners who can’t bother to do this for their dogs. And this can be especially difficult if your Irish dog doesn’t like the bodysuit!
The shedding onesie method might be worth trying for younger Irish setters. And if you find one big enough for your adult gundog, it doesn’t hurt to try! You can use this on your pet when it sheds the most during seasonal changes, keeping it shedding contained.
✔️ Visit Your Vet
Finally, if you suspect a medical condition to be the cause behind your Irish setter’s shedding, bring it to the vet. From parasitic infections to excess stress, these are common causes of excessive shedding in the breed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are Irish setters famous for besides their coats?
A: Although primarily famous for their flashy red coats, Irish setters are also well-known for their energy! They’re sweet-tempered canines that need daily exercise, rollicking other pets. Aside from that, this breed is also famous for its grace and swiftness, which is impressive for its size!
Q: Do Irish setter dogs shed badly?
A: Setters shed a lot, occurring throughout the year. But these gundogs lose the most fur during winter and summer as they blow their coats off. It helps them adapt to extreme climates, preventing overheating or freezing! In exchange, however, you’ll need to tend to the breed’s grooming needs more.
Q: Does an Irish/red setter’s coat smell?
A: Due to their oily coat, setters tend to have a more noticeable body odor. But with regular bathing, you can combat the infamous ‘dog smell,’ keeping your Irish dog clean and smelling good.
Q: Is it all right to bathe my Irish dog monthly?
A: You can bathe your Irish setter once a month. But it’s not advisable as it can dry the breed’s skin, causing its hair to become brittle. And with brittleness comes fur loss, worsening your dog’s shedding!
Q: How often do I need to groom my Irish setter dog?
A: Daily brushing is vital for your setter’s coat, keeping it clean and tangle-free. Meanwhile, you can bathe your red-haired furry friend once every three months to reduce shedding and keep it smelling good. And it helps remove loose or dead hair.
Final Words
Do Irish setter dogs shed? This energetic breed sheds more than your average short-haired breed, as it has longer and thicker fur. And these red-haired canines lose a lot of hair throughout the year, often shedding the most during winter and summer. Regardless, it’s your responsibility as the owner to keep your setter’s shedding in check, so brush daily and groom responsibly!
