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Irish setter

The Irish setter was developed in Ireland in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries from setter, spaniel and pointer stock, originally red and white; the solid red dog became fashionable in the 1800s and nearly displaced the parti-coloured original entirely.

It is a tall, racy gundog with a long silky mahogany coat and generous feathering, and it is one of the most immediately recognisable dogs there is. The temperament is exuberant and famously slow to settle — Irish setters mature late, stay boisterous for years, and are affectionate to the point of being underfoot.

Origin
Ireland
Size
24–32 kg, 55–67 cm at the shoulder
Lifespan
12–15 years
Coat
Long, silky and flat, with heavy feathering
Temperament
Exuberant, affectionate, slow to mature, easily distracted
Exercise
At least 1.5 hours daily with room to run

Related: English setter · Gordon setter · Irish red and white setter · Irish terrier · Irish water spaniel

3 irish setter photos, newest first

Irish setter feed
  • Seamus, a irish setter

    Seamus

    Seamus stands on the clifftop at sunset and lets the wind do the rest.

    FrostyOtter · 5 days ago

  • Kasha II, a irish setter

    Kasha II

    Kasha II was promoted to train dispatcher handling one tiny late train; unfortunately, dozens of ping-pong balls escape at once.

    FrostyOtter · 1 week ago

  • Kasha II, a irish setter

    Kasha II

    Somewhere under all that is Kasha II.

    GentleFinch · 2 weeks ago

Living with a irish setter

The feathering needs brushing two or three times a week and trimming around the feet and ears.

They were bred to quarter ground far ahead of a hunter, so recall takes real work and secure space matters. Training is best done with patience: this is a bright dog with a short attention span rather than a stupid one, whatever the old jokes say.

Hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy and canine leukocyte adhesion deficiency all have screening or DNA tests. The breed is deep-chested and at risk of bloat, and epilepsy occurs in some lines.

General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual dogs vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.

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