Are you considering having an Irish Setter but want to learn more about what’s good about this beautiful dog breed? The Irish Setter, sometimes called the “Red Setter,” is a special canine breed appreciated for its breathtaking looks, lively demeanor, and fantastic hunting prowess. This Irish-bred dog has won the hearts of dog lovers all across the globe with its eye-catching red coat and outgoing personality.
Irish hunters have historically utilized a variety of Setter dogs to pursue game and birds, including the Irish Setter. However, these happy, affectionate, lively dogs may also become wonderful family companions in the right circumstances. The Irish Setter is the 71st most common dog breed in the USA and was first recognized as a breed by the American Kennel Club in 1878.
This post examines the Irish Setter’s advantages, outlining some of the breed’s benefits and drawbacks. This book is meant to provide helpful insights and emphasize what makes Irish Setters unique, whether you are considering bringing an Irish Setter into your home or want to learn more about this fascinating breed. So let’s start this trip by learning everything there is to love about the Irish Setter! Now that the introduction is through let’s look more closely at what’s good about having an Irish Setter.
History and Origins of Irish Setter
The dog breed known as the Irish Setter, commonly referred to as the Red Setter, originated in Ireland. It is renowned for both its exquisite look and magnificent crimson coat. The Gordon Setter, Irish Red, and White Setter, and Irish Setter have histories that are interwoven with one another.
Although the Irish Setter’s precise ancestry is unknown, it is said to have sprung from several breeds, including pointers, spaniels, and early Scottish & Irish Setters. The breed was established in Ireland during the eighteenth century to hunt game birds, particularly grouse, and pheasant. Irish Setters were regarded for their keen enthusiasm and elegance in locating, pointing, and retrieving games.
Early Irish Setters had coats that were a combination of red and white. Still, by the 19th century, breeders started concentrating on creating a pure red coat color, which eventually became the breed’s defining characteristic. This focus on the red coat helped the contemporary Irish Setter become recognized as a separate breed.
In the middle of the 19th century, the breed became more well-liked, particularly in the United Kingdom, where it was improved and standardized. The Irish Setter Club of England was created in 1882, and selective breeding and rigorous trait selection helped to define the breed’s qualities and standards.
Irish Setter breed was initially brought to the United States in the late nineteenth century and immediately became well-known. The Irish Setter was recognized as a separate breed by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1874. Since then, the Irish Setter has flourished as a show dog and a cherished family member.
What’s Good About, Irish Setter?
A popular breed of dog recognized for its beauty, intellect, and pleasant disposition is the Irish Setter. Here are a few advantages of the Irish Setter breed.
👍Good Family Dogs
As the AKC said in the introduction, the Irish Setter dog breed is renowned for being a great family member. Irish Setters are “famously wonderful family dogs,” they continue, “sweet-tempered companions for the parents, and boisterous playmates & tennis ball fetchers for the kids.” They get a perfect five-star rating from the organization for being loving with the family, friends with small children, and good with other canines.
Therefore, with the proper socialization and training, the Irish Setter will blend in well if you have kids or other pets. But please remember that no family dog should ever be left alone with small children, no matter how nice they are.
👍Attractive Appearance
Irish Setters are most well associated with their gorgeous ruby-colored coats. This is the breed’s distinctive mark. Mahogany or chestnut in color, its coat’s feathering contributes to the breed’s quick aspect. Irish Setters are expected to have fine, straight, glossy coats that are longer on the chest, ears, tail, and rear of the legs. The coat must be as straight and wave- and curl-free as possible. You should be ready for the dog to get much attention if you choose an Irish Setter.
👍Goofy Personalities
The Irish Setter is the ideal breed to choose if you want a canine companion that can make you smile with its goofy antics. These canines seem classy, yet they have silly personalities. It should be no surprise that Irish Setters develop more slowly than other dog breeds, given their reputation as “big babies at heart.” Although they are sociable dogs that like meeting new people and pets, they eventually yearn for attention from family members & prefer their companionship.
👍Intelligent Dogs
Irish Setters are commonly characterized as being stupid or difficult to teach, although the AKC describes this as having a “devil-may-care” attitude toward training. In fact, according to the renowned book on canine Intelligence called The Intelligence Of Dogs, the Irish Setter is the 35th most common dog breed. Theoretically, they need to be able to comprehend new orders after between fifteen and twenty-five repetitions and comply with the initial order 70% of the time or more. The misconception that all Irish Setters are “bimbos” was debunked by one ex-Irish Setter.
👍Like Agility and Outdoor Activities
Irish Setters are an energetic dog breed that enjoys having access to the outdoors. It should come as no surprise they were using their Intelligence and sense of smell as they are a hunting dog breed originally intended to detect birds and other games. If you’re considering getting an Irish Setter, consider looking at agility activities that will challenge your dog’s instincts. The AKC recommends sports, including agility, obedience, tracking, & rallying.
👍Affectionate
Irish Setters love to show and receive attention from their loved ones. They are a kind dog breed that gets along well with other house pets. Despite being medium-sized dogs, they like relaxing in the evenings or cuddling on the couch (particularly after they are three or four years old). Since every dog is unique, some Irish Setters will naturally be more loving than others.
The sweetest canines I’ve ever encountered are Irish setters. Although they may be wild pups, once they reach the age of two or three, they become giant love bugs that can’t stand apart from their owners. I’ve had several various breeds of dogs over my life, but none have ever shown me the same degree of affection as my two Irish Setters.
👍Temperament
Irish Setter temperament is calm, good-natured, and clever, making them excellent family pets. It usually forms close ties with its family. It can make friends practically everywhere because of its friendly nature and carefree attitude. Children respond well to it because of its balanced temperament and kind attitude. However, sometimes the raucousness might overwhelm them.
Irish Setters get along with other animals nicely, particularly if they are socialized and trained early. This breed benefits greatly from its interactions with people. Separation anxiety is likely to occur if it doesn’t get enough attention and starts to become bored. It could growl towards outsiders. Because of its intellect, this breed is eager to learn, but because of its great activity, it cannot tolerate prolonged training sessions.
IT hates harsh discipline and may exhibit obstinacy. This dog often responds well to short training exercises and constructive criticism. As it may aid in training, ensure the Irish Setter works out sufficiently. This breed has a lot of energy. The Irish Setter can stroll every day and enjoys fetch games and runs. One of the things that makes it such a wonderful hunting dog is its high level of activity.
👍Trainability
Irish Setters are often enthusiastic learners. These rapid learners could easily pick up Advanced Training. Their lectures should be brief and varied since they become bored rapidly. Due to their sensitive nature, Irish Setters react best to encouragement and persistence. The boisterous and intelligent Irish Setter is a great fit for dog sports and agility. They love to demonstrate their abilities, and they like being outdoors and among others.
The long, silky coat of this breed is highly recognized. The skin and coat must be brushed daily to maintain their health. Long hair will easily mat and tangle. The longer portions, such as the ears, tail, & other feathered regions, need more care. There, burrs will swiftly assemble.
Brushing and combing will be considerably easier after being sprayed with water. Regular grooming tends to lessen the amount of loose hair in the house. This breed sheds on average. Trim and clip the coat every three to four months to prevent the skin from looking ragged. Use a dry shampoo to keep your Irish Setter’s coat clean and well-groomed between regular baths.
👍Exercise
For the Irish Setter to be controllable, constant supplementary exercise is needed. Regardless of the activity, this is a lovely breed for a lively person or family who enjoys outdoor time. Irish Setters adore chasing after a stick or ball for as long as the human is eager to keep tossing since they are natural retrievers. Your Irish Setter will need at least one daily walk to stay healthy. They should ideally be able to roam freely and run without being restrained.
They are natural scent-seeking dogs. Thus, they are likely to discover and follow a trail. Therefore, you must finish the fundamental recall, come, and stay training before letting your dog off the leash while you’re out and about—Irish Setters like swimming, which is a great form of exercise for your canine companion.
The Irish Setter breed also excels at self-exercising when given a large enclosed space to run about in. This breed will thrive even more with a playmate, an energetic companion dog up for romps, and daily playtime.
👍Conformation
The bird dog of this breed is energetic. The head is long & slim, and the distance between the ears is at least twice as wide as the length of the head. The skull is oval when seen from the front, and it is somewhat domed when viewed from the top. Body length is only a little longer than height. The muzzle has a pronounced stop and is relatively deep. The bite resembles the blades of scissors.
The nose has large open nostrils and is either black or brown. The almond-shaped, medium-sized eyes are either dark or medium brown in hue, spaced rather widely apart. The small, low-set triangular ears are low on the skull. The feet are relatively tiny and have arched toes on the front legs. The long tail is thicker from the base and tapers to a tip, nearly reaching the hock. On the head and the front of the legs, the coat is short & fine, and it is medium length on the rest of the body.
The feathering on the ears, rear of the legs, abdomen, and brisket that extends to the chest is significantly longer. Mahogany and a deep chestnut red are among the coat hues. No black is present, but there might be a little white on the chest, neck, toes, and sometimes a narrow, centered stripe on the top of the skull. Behind their ears and legs, young dogs sometimes exhibit a silvery-gray hue that typically goes away as the dog ages.
Irish Setter Traits and Characteristics
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📌Ensuring Enough Exercise
Irish Setters are energetic dogs, but those bred for the competition ring are happy to burn off their excess energy with regular long walks and the odd game of fetch. Hunting-bred Irish Setters are far more athletic & need more strenuous exercise. Irish Setters, particularly young or adolescent ones, get boisterous and bored when they don’t get enough activity, which they often exhibit by chewing up things.
📌Stubbornness
Irish Setters are the easiest to train, although they may still be obstinate and cunning. By being utterly consistent, you must demonstrate to them that you really mean what you say. It takes considerable training expertise to keep an Irish Setter’s attention during a training session since many of them are quickly distracted by interesting sounds, sights, & smells. Study up on Irish Setter Training.
📌Separation Anxiety
Irish Setters need a lot of company more than most other dogs do, and they are uncomfortable being left alone for longer than a few hours. They often chew or bark injuriously as a way of expressing their discontent. This breed is not appropriate for someone who works all day.
📌Grooming
It’s a significant duty to take care of your coat. Irish Setters need frequent brushing, combing, cutting, and trimming to maintain their smooth coats free of mats. Compared to Irish Setters from field lines, Irish Setters from show lines often have thicker coats that need more intensive maintenance.
📌Shedding
Irish Setters shed a lot, so expect to regularly vacuum and deal with dog hair on your clothes and furnishings.
Benefits of Having an Irish Setter
As we all know, Dogs are considered a man’s best friend. They have an unwavering devotion to their owners and would stop at nothing to make them happy. One of the best breeds to have in your house is the Irish Setter. Although amiable and fun, they know when to be serene and kind. What other qualities may be advantageous to you? Continue to read this section!
🐶Friendly and Lively Nature
Irish Setters are renowned for having outgoing, gregarious dispositions. They like being around people and are gregarious and loving. Their upbeat attitude might make your day better and bring you company.
🐶Active Lifestyle
An Irish Setter may be the ideal companion if you are active or like to be outside. Since they are vivacious, they need daily exercise to keep their bodies and minds active. An Irish Setter will eagerly join in and keep up with your energetic pursuits, including taking long walks, running, or playing fetch.
🐶Family Pet
Irish Setters are wonderful household pets. They are kind and patient when properly socialized and typically get along with kids and other animals. The whole family may enjoy and enjoy themselves because of their fun attitude.
🐶Intelligent and Trainable
Irish Setters are smart dogs that often take to training well. You may teach them a variety of instructions, obedience, and even entertaining tricks using positive reinforcement strategies, consistency, and patience. Training may stimulate the mind and ward against boredom and unhealthy habits.
🐶Gorgeous Appearance
The gorgeous, mahogany-colored coats and graceful look of Irish Setters are well recognized. Regular grooming is necessary to preserve the beauty of their long, silky, and wavy hair, but many owners find the grooming a special time to spend with their Setter.
🐶Versatility
Irish Setters are adaptable canines who thrive in a variety of pursuits. They often participate in canine sports like obedience, agility, and tracking. They quickly pick up new skills in many areas of performance and training because of their inherent athleticism and drive to please.
🐶Affectionate and Sensitive
Irish Setters are affectionate, sensitive dogs who like being pampered. They may be quite loving and develop close relationships with their human partners. They are perfect for those or families looking for a devoted and caring pet since their presence may provide emotional support and company.
🐶Hunting Habits
Irish Setters were originally used as gun dogs. Thus, they had a great sense of hunting. Even while not all Irish Setters are utilized for hunting nowadays, their instincts may be harnessed via pursuits like field trials or scent training, which can provide them with mental stimulation & a sense of purpose.
It’s crucial to remember that having a dog of any breed involves dedication, work, and time. Before adopting an Irish Setter into your house, be sure you can provide it with the right attention, instruction, and exercise to satisfy its unique demands.
Average Cost of An Irish Setter
The typical price of an Irish Setter cost may change based on a number of variables, including the breeder, region, family history, and level of the dog. A trustworthy breeder typically charges you between $800 & $2,000 for an Irish Setter puppy.
The initial cost of getting a dog is only one part of the costs associated with pet ownership; it’s vital to remember that. Continual expenses for things like feeding, grooming, training, veterinary care, and other supplies should also be taken into account.
Furthermore, putting the dog’s health and welfare ahead of cost is critical. Reputable breeders spend money on the right care and health tests for their dogs, which might raise the price. When searching for an Irish Setter, it is advised to do your homework and choose a reputable breeder that puts the breed’s health, standards, & temperament first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Irish Setters are wonderful family dogs, right?
Whether a household has adolescents, small children, or none, Irish Setters make terrific family dogs. One thing to keep in mind is that these dogs like company. They dislike being left alone for extended periods, to put it briefly. A household with two Irish Setters will find it simpler to depart for the day when family members do.
What Amount of Food Should An Irish Setter Consume Daily?
Like many dog breeds, your Irish Setter’s nutritional needs will vary widely depending on age, weight, and degree of activity. Because of this, owners should actively collaborate with their veterinarian to create a feeding schedule that meets their dog’s individual requirements. However, Irish Setters generally need around two to three cups of dry dog food daily. Two different meals of one to five cups each should be taken from this. While more active dogs may need more food to make up for the calories they burnt during the day, less active dogs can generally get by on 2 cups to meet their nutritional requirements.
Are Irish Setters friendly to children?
Irish Setters are very fantastic with children. They like taking part in running & field activities and are lively. A family’s Irish Setter will never need persuading to join throughout the fun!
What benefits do Irish Setters offer?
The Irish Setter is a passionate gundog with a striking red coat and a reputation for elegance and speed. They are well known for making wonderful family pets, amiable seniors’ companions, & noisy young children’s playmates & tennis club retrievers.
How old are Irish Setters on average?
An Irish Setter lives between 12 and 15 years. The lifespan of an Irish Setter might vary based on genetics and general health.
Final Words
Everything I’ve said above is the finest explanation of what an Irish setter should be like. The Irish Setter is a breed that embodies many admirable qualities. They are a popular option for many dog enthusiasts because of their stunning looks, cheerful attitude, trainability, friendly disposition, and adventurous spirit. The Irish Setter is a beloved part of the family because they are dedicated and caring pets that provide their owners pleasure and friendship. So, if you’ve decided to purchase one, I hope you enjoy playing with this lovely breed!
