Sporting group
Irish Setter
Rollicking, redheaded and endlessly friendly — a setter with a sense of fun.
Irish Setters are elegant, high-spirited bird dogs with a glossy mahogany coat and an outgoing personality. They are affectionate, playful family dogs that need lots of exercise and patient training.
- Height
- 25–27 in64–69 cm
- Weight
- 60–70 lb27–32 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–15 years
- Size
- Large
- Group
- Sporting
- Origin
- Ireland
Coat: Long, silky, flat coat with feathering. Colours: Mahogany, Rich chestnut red.
At a glance
Ratings describe typical dogs of the breed on a 1–5 scale. Individual dogs vary with lines, upbringing and training.
Temperament
Irish Setters are sociable, sweet-natured and exuberant. They love people and dogs and are rarely aggressive. Their playful, sometimes goofy nature makes them fun companions.
They mature slowly and can be boisterous and easily distracted well into adulthood. Their energy is high, so under-exercised Irish Setters become restless and mischievous.
Living with a Irish Setter
Exercise
Needs 90 minutes or more of vigorous exercise daily, with off-lead running in secure areas.
Grooming
Brush several times a week and trim ears, feet and feathering. Moderate shedding.
Training
Willing but easily distracted. Keep training fun and consistent; recall takes patience.
Kids & other pets
Excellent with children and other dogs, though adolescents can be boisterous.
Time alone
Struggles with long periods alone; may become destructive or vocal.
Home fit
Best suited to a house with secure outdoor space; apartment living is hard on this breed and its neighbours.
Is a Irish Setter right for you?
Take the Breed Fit quiz to see how a Irish Setter matches your home, schedule and tolerance for shedding, barking and exercise — or find out which breed matches your personality with Dogsona.
Health
With good breeding and care, a Irish Setter typically lives 12–15 years. These are the conditions most associated with the breed — not a prediction for any individual dog.
Gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat)
A deep-chested breed at elevated risk; learn the warning signs.
Hip dysplasia
Screened parents reduce the risk of joint disease.
Progressive retinal atrophy
Inherited forms (rcd1 and rcd4) have DNA tests.
Hypothyroidism
An underactive thyroid; managed with daily medication.
Canine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (CLAD)
An inherited immune disorder; DNA testing has nearly eliminated it.
Ask a breeder for
- Hip and elbow evaluation
- Eye examination
- Thyroid evaluation
- DNA tests: rcd1, rcd4 and CLAD
Sources: OFA CHIC breed requirements: Irish Setter; Irish Setter Club of America. This is general information, not veterinary advice — talk to your vet about your own dog.
Cost to own
After the first year, expect roughly $1,500–$3,000 a year for food, routine vet care, preventives, insurance and supplies (US estimate).
- Professional grooming every 6–8 weeks adds roughly $500–$900 a year.
- Food, medication and anaesthesia are dosed by weight, so every vet visit costs more for a big dog.
- Pet insurance for a puppy typically runs $30–$60 a month; premiums rise with age and breed risk.
History
The Irish Setter developed in 18th-century Ireland from red-and-white setters, selected for solid red colour. It was a working bird dog prized for speed and stamina.
The breed became a show-ring favourite in the 1800s and was recognised by the AKC in 1878. Its popularity peaked after the 1962 Disney film “Big Red”.
Did you know?
- President Richard Nixon had an Irish Setter named King Timahoe.
- Irish Setter puppies can take up to three years to mature.
- The breed was once used to point birds for hunters with nets.
Library guides for Irish Setter owners
Grooming
Brushing
Irish Setter coats mat without regular brushing.
Grooming
Bathing
How to bath a Irish Setter without drying out the coat.
Training
Come (Recall)
High chase drive makes a reliable recall essential.
Exercise & Play
Fetch
A fast way to meet a high exercise need.
Exercise & Play
Dog Road Work
Structured conditioning for high-stamina dogs.
Training
Place / Go to Mat
Teaching a settle helps dogs that struggle to switch off.
Similar breeds
Frequently asked questions
- Are Irish Setters good family dogs?
- Yes — they are friendly and affectionate, but need lots of exercise.
- Do Irish Setters shed?
- Moderately. Regular brushing keeps the coat healthy.
- When do Irish Setters calm down?
- Often not until two or three years old; they remain playful for life.