Discovering the Irish Setter: A Guide to This Elegant Breed

Most people look up Irish Setters when they’re weighing up a breed for an active home: will this dog cope with family life, how much exercise is “enough”, and what health problems should you plan around.

The Irish Setter is a fast, bright bird dog in a spectacular red coat. It thrives on movement and company, and it can be a calm, affectionate housemate when its daily needs are met—but it’s rarely a good fit for a low-energy routine.

At a glance: Irish Setter basics

• Height (at the withers): Males 58–67 cm; females 55–62 cm¹
• Typical weight: Commonly around 25–34 kg (varies with build and lines)²
• Coat: Moderately long, fine and silky with feathering
• Colour: Rich chestnut/mahogany red; small white marks can occur²
• Temperament: Active, affectionate, people-oriented; generally sociable³
• Life expectancy: Often around 12–15 years (individual variation is normal)⁴

History and origin

The Irish Setter developed in Ireland as a gundog for finding gamebirds across open country. Early setters in Ireland included red-and-white dogs; over time, breeders selected strongly for the solid red coat now closely associated with the breed.

“Setter” refers to the dog’s field behaviour: locating birds by scent and then indicating the find by freezing low and still, allowing the hunter to approach. That legacy shows up today as a dog that ranges naturally, uses its nose often, and can cover ground with an easy, floating stride.

Physical characteristics

Overall build

The Irish Setter is athletic rather than bulky: deep-chested, long-legged, and designed for endurance. Height ranges in the breed standard sit roughly at 58–67 cm for males and 55–62 cm for females.¹

Coat and colour

The coat is fine and silky, with feathering along the ears, chest, belly, backs of the legs, and tail. The recognised colour is rich chestnut/mahogany red, ideally without black; a small amount of white on chest, throat, or toes can occur.²

Temperament and behaviour

Irish Setters are typically demonstrably affectionate and highly people-focused, often happiest when they’re included in everyday household movement rather than left to entertain themselves outside.³

They’re usually friendly with visitors and can do well with children, but their buoyant energy can be a lot for toddlers or anyone unsteady on their feet. Around smaller pets, remember what they were bred for: birds that flush and flee. Good socialisation, supervision, and training matter.

Training and exercise needs

Early training and socialisation

Start early. A young Irish Setter often tests the edges of the world with its nose and legs first, and its ears second. Short, frequent sessions and calm consistency suit the breed, especially when you begin before adolescent energy arrives in full.

What tends to work best

• Positive reinforcement (food, play, praise) for reliable recall and loose-lead walking
• Reward-based exposure to people, places, surfaces, noises, and other dogs while young
• Training that uses the nose (tracking-style games, scent work) to turn “busy” into “focused”

Daily exercise

This is a high-energy sporting dog. Plan on substantial daily exercise plus mental work—sniffing, training, and problem-solving—not just a slow lap of the block. Off-lead running in safe areas, hiking, retrieving games, and dog sports often suit them well.

Health and lifespan

Irish Setters are generally robust, but like many deep-chested, active breeds, there are a few conditions worth understanding before you commit.

Common concerns to discuss with your vet and breeder

• Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), often called bloat: a life-threatening emergency where the stomach distends and may twist. Know the signs and ask your vet about risk reduction for deep-chested breeds.⁵
• Hip dysplasia: an inherited/developmental condition that can lead to pain and arthritis. Reputable breeders screen breeding dogs and should share results.
• Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA): an inherited degenerative eye disease that can lead to blindness; genetic testing and eye screening can reduce risk in breeding lines.⁶

Life expectancy

You’ll often see Irish Setters living into their early-to-mid teens, with many sources placing the typical range around 12–15 years. Diet, weight, exercise, genetics, and preventative care all shift that number for the individual dog.⁴

Grooming and maintenance

That glossy coat is beautiful, but it isn’t “set and forget”. Brush a few times a week, more often if the dog is in long grass or burr-prone areas. Focus on the feathering behind ears, along the belly, and on the back of the legs, where tangles form quietly and tighten fast.

Keep up with ear checks (especially if your dog swims), nail trims, and routine dental care. Grooming sessions are also your regular chance to notice skin irritation, ticks, grass seeds, or sore spots early.

Diet and nutrition

Choose a complete and balanced diet suited to your dog’s life stage, and keep an eye on body condition—lean and athletic is the goal for joint health and stamina. If you’re feeding a large, active adolescent, your vet can help you adjust portions as growth and training loads change.

Foods to avoid

Some common human foods can seriously harm dogs. Avoid (among others) chocolate, grapes/raisins/sultanas, onion/garlic, products sweetened with xylitol, and cooked bones that can splinter.^{7, 8}

Fun facts (kept sensible)

• In some places the Irish Setter is still casually called the “Red Setter”, a nod to the breed’s signature colour.
• The show-bred coat can be longer and more profuse than the coats seen in many working lines, but the underlying design remains the same: a dog built to travel.

Final thoughts

An Irish Setter moves through the world like a dog with somewhere to be—nose working, legs ready, attention flicking between you and the horizon. If you can offer daily exercise, patient training, and plenty of company, you’ll often get a remarkably gentle, bright companion in return. If you can’t, the same energy and intelligence can spill into chaos, not out of spite, but simply because the dog has been built for motion.

References

1. Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) – Irish Red Setter (Irish Setter) breed standard listing
2. United Kennel Club (UKC) – Irish Setter breed standard (size/colour)
3. The Kennel Club (UK) – Irish Setter breed standard (temperament/characteristics)
4. WebMD – What to know about Irish Setters (size and lifespan overview)
5. PetMD – Irish Setter (health issues including bloat/GDV)
6. VCA Animal Hospitals – Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) in dogs
7. RSPCA Pet Insurance – Foods (fruit/vegetables and other items) to avoid feeding dogs
8. Agriculture Victoria – Human foods to avoid for cats and dogs