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Irish Setter Dog Breed Information
When you get an Irish Setter home remember that you share your pet with the White House residents, these breed gained prominence under the reign of President Truman and President Nixon who were both proud owners of an Irish Setter. They have grown to prominence ever since then in the United States.
This is one of the most boisterous breed around that loves to run and play. Many proud owners would say that these happy go lucky dogs thrive on physical exercise. If you want to be the proud parent to this breed and do not like to exercise then it is advisable to not even consider bringing home an Irish Setter as they are not for the couch potatoes.
The most appealing feature of the Irish Setter is its deep mahogany color that catches light with every sprint or leap he takes. This unique dog helps the hunter to find birds, points towards it and even retrieves it.
The Irish Setter is an easy breed to train, these adorable Setters love to please their owner, which makes it easy to train them and their exuberance and abundant energy further helps in the trainign process.
In this following write up we will help you to understand the Irish Setter better, whether it is understanding the temperament or being ready for some of the common health issues that you can face in your Setter we aim to help you through it all.
HistoryLet us begin from the beginning and find out how did these majestic dogs come into existence. The Setter dog finds reference in history as early as 1570 under the literature Caius’s De Canibus Britannicus. It is widely assumed that the Irish Setter came into prominence in the early18th century. They were developed by inter-breeding the Setter, Irish Water Spaniel, English Setter, Pointer and the Gordon Setter.
In the beginning the Red Setter just had one coat i.e. white with red patches but in due course of time this breed has to come to be known for its deep oak red or mahogany coat. In fact the red and white Setter is a different breed all together now. The Irish Setter was bred to help the hunters in setting their game. They were given shorter legs that would help the dog to lie near the bird to allow the hunter to put a net over its prey. When this Setter finds its game it runs back and forth to the hunter and the prey to alert him.
Unique AspectsThe most unique feature of the Irish Setter is its zig zag pattern of running. This helps them to catch the scent of the bird or the game. Further helping the hunter to locate the prey unlike scent hounds who track the smell through the ground, the Irish Setter track the game through its scent in the wind.
The Irish Setter is a majestic looking breed that has abundance of energy and has a need to please people, they attach themselves easily with one person or the family and can develop separation anxiety at times. This is a very common problem in the Irish Setter, if he or she is bored or left alone then they can soon turn to destructive behavior to keep themselves busy. They like to stay near to its family.
This breed is recognized worldwide with its dark mahogany or red oak color and is one of those few breeds in the world that come just in one coat color setting them apart from other breeds.
Fun Trivia
The Irish Setter is an agile and handsome breed but they have not had a wide presence on the silver screen. Here is a list of movies and celebrities that you share your pet with.
Movie character
The most prolific character ever played by an Irish Setter was in a 1962 Disney movie called ‘Big Red’. Mad Men, the television series also features this dog as the fictional dog of Duck Phillips. They have also featured in the Stroh’s beer commercial.
Celebrity owners
The most famous Irish Setter in the Untied States of America was King Timahoe, who was the proud resident of the White House under the reign of President Richard Nixon. The other resident was Mike, President Truma’s pet. Alexander II of Russia also owned a Irish Setter. Henry Gross dedicated a song to his pet after its death in 1976. Mitt Romney also owns a Irish Setter called Seamus.
Vital Stats:
Dog Breed Group: Gun Dogs
Height: 27-33 Inches
Weight: 24-32 Kg
Life Span: 13 to 14 years
- Affectionate and loving
- Happy go lucky dos
- Excellent family pets
- Grooming needs attention
- Will need a lot of space to run
- Prone to health issues
Irish Setter Maintenance & Effort
GroomingGrooming your Irish Setter will take a lot of time and effort, the long and silky coat will need every day brushing to ensure that it remains soft and lustrous. It is very important to keep it free from tangles and matts. The breed is an average shedder and regular brushing will reduce the shedding to an extent.
You can use a wide tooth comb to remove any tangles or matts from the hair and it will help to maintain that lustrous coat. Regular brushing will also stimulate the follicles ensuring a healthy coat. The droopy ears can be a breeding ground for infections so ensure that you check them on regular basis and keep it clean. It is advisable to clean the ears once every week with a moistened cotton ball.
In addition to this you need to follow the regular grooming regime in your pet that is brushing the teeth of your Irish Setter, this should be done at least once on a weekly basis as this will help to remove tartar buildup and ensure a fresh breath at all times. This will also prevent various gum diseases in your pet.
The toe nails will also require clipping on regular basis so to prevent any problems further as dog nails have veins in them and if it gets chipped then it can be very painful for your pet. You should always start this grooming regime in your pet from an early age as this will ensure that he is not temperamental with someone touching his feet, mouth or ear at a later stage.
Irish Setter Hair & Coat
- No
- Red
- Smooth and feathered
-
Short Flowing
-
Sparse Dense
Irish Setter Health & Care
- Frequent
- No
Irish Setter are prone to various health issues when compared to other breeds. Just remember when getting a puppy home that almost all and every breed has a chance of developing genetic disorders and they can also get any of the common diseases. So this not a word of law these are just some of the unfortunate cases that you can encounter with your Setter at times.
One of the most common problems in your Irish is that of bloat, this is a common issue with all deep chested dogs. This commonly occurs in breeds where the stomach is not attached to the ribs; in this case the stomach distends and has a tendency to rotate. This can cut off the blood supply to various other parts of the body, which further shuts down the digestion process. Such a situation leads to bloating. It is advisable to not exercise your dog for at least an hour after they have food.
Irish Setters can even suffer from epilepsy, it can be triggered because of a variety of reasons.It can be due to metabolic disorders, various infectious diseases, which can affect the brain. This can range from mild to severe seizures though this can be easily treated with help of various medicines.
The other common ailment in your Irish Setter is of Progressive Retinal Atrophy, in this there is a loss of photoreceptors at the back of the eye. If not treated in time, it can lead to blindness in your pet. In this the retina of your pets is attacked and can lead to partial blindness, which at times can also lead to complete blindness. The first sign of the disease is night blindness in your pet.
Irish Setter Behavior
- Yes
- High
-
Snappy Patient
-
Prefer Adults Nanny
-
Aloof Best Buddy
-
Poor Excellent
-
Headstrong Obedient
-
Moody Always Ready
-
Mute Woofer
-
Intolerant Best Buddies
-
Intolerant Best Buddies
-
Carefree Doting
-
Couch Potato Energy Bundle
As we mentioned earlier as well, the Red Setter is a happy go lucky dog that just loves human company. So this breed will do well with almost everyone. This will include household pets, small animals and even strangers. So do not be surprised if he or she is wagging its tails for strangers as well. They are not the right breed for guarding activities.
This is an active breed and will need its share of regular walks and runs to channelize that energy if your pet is not given the required physical exercise then this abundance of energy can easily turn to destructive behavior. They will love to work so it is better to keep them busy with some work or the other.
Their subtle temperament makes them excellent therapy dog. They can work wonders with patients and students who are in need of emotional support. They are great with children and the unending energy reserves of both the kid and the dog helps to keep the pet busy.
EnvironmentThe Irish Setter is a loving family pet but it is not recommended to kept in an apartment. If your heart is set on the Setter then remember that he or she will need a leash free run to maintain its health and channelize its energy. If you cannot give it leash free exercise then ensure that it accompanies you for your jogs or cycle rides.
They are absolutely amazing with children and family. They can attach to the family very easily and will love to please you or just participate in a game of catch with you. This breed will not fare well if you leave them alone in a yard. He does not like being alone. If you leave him for a long time then he might respond by barking or by just digging your front yard.
Training & IntelligenceThe Irish Setter is an intelligent dog that is smart and an independent thinker This is a trainable dog the only thing that you will need is patience, the phrase patience is virtue is tested with this breed. This Setter will need a patient and gentle trainer and you can train him to do almost anything.
The best thing about an Irish Setter is that it loves to work and make its owners happy, this makes training comparatively easy for the owner. The best way to train him or her will be to make the training sessions funs and include lot praise and treats in it.
Training should start early with this pet, so start the day you get this Setter home. You might be surprised that even an eight week puppy can absorb a lot. This breed loves to run, so if you want to give him or her leash free exercises then remember that it has to be trained to respond to its name otherwise you can have an unplesant situation in your hands.
Irish Setter Breeding
- 6 to 9 puppies (approximately)
- No
The Irish Setter is a very easy breed to manage when it comes to breeding. You love them for their lustrous coat and those big floppy ears. There are not many complications involved with this energetic. The only tough part will be to part with the little balls of fur. An average male and female Setter attains sexual maturity anywhere between six to nine months of age though he or she may be still be too young for breeding. Ideally you should breed after two years of age.
The average litter size for your Irish Setter is between six to eight puppies per litter. If you are mating your dogs for the first time then you will need the help of a vet or someone who has an experience with this. You can meanwhile look forward to the company of the adorable puppies.
PuppiesThe Irish Setter puppy is a bundle of joy and are happy go lucky dogs right from when they are puppies and well into their adulthood. They love to please their owners and wants to be busy at all times, so it is easy to train him or her. When you bring home this little bundle of joy always remember that it will be super active dog. Be ready to run around this little pooch all day long. You should start with basic obedience training as soon as you get your puppy home.
It is very important to crate train your Irish Setter puppy to ensure ease later. This breed loves to explore and will probably like to chew everything that is in his or her vicinity so it is important to crate train him as this will help to keep all your belongings safe You also have to keep in mind that he or she should see the crate training as his home and not as a form of punishment.
Irish Setter Appearance
- No
- Saber
- Medium and almond
- V-shape
- Scissor
-
Atheletic Stuff Toy
-
Handsome Awe
The first thing that you will notice about your Irish Setter is the deep mahogany color or what many describe as an oak red. The breed has a medium length straight and silky hair over its body with featherings on the ears, chest, belly, tail and at the back of the legs.
They have a deep chest and a rather narrow body that is long and lean. They have a deep and square ended muzzle. The legs are straight with sinewy forelegs with long and muscular hind legs. The Irish Setter have small feet with arched toes with feathering between the toes.
The top of the skull and the top of the muzzle are parallel and of equal length. The eyes are almond shaped and set apart; these are hazel or dark brown in color.
The nose is always dark. The ears are set back and hang close to the head and are nearly long enough to reach the nose. The tail is long enough and is carried at level or above the line of the back.
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