Irish Setter

Irish Red Setter and Red Setter

Ireland

The Irish Setter should be a deep red chestnut colour. A small blaze of white may appear on the chest.

Large

On average dogs stand at 65cms at the withers and weigh 30.5kgs, bitches average at 61cms from the withers and weigh 26kgs.

Can be prone to hip dysplasia and screening for this is very important.Common ailments: Bones (Developmental) - Hip dysplasia, Bones (Developmental) - Osteochondritis, Endocrine - Hypothyroidism, Eye - Cataract - Hereditary, Eye - Progressive retinal atrophy PRA, General diagnosis - Tumour (benign), General diagnosis - Tumour (malignant), Reproduction problems, Rickets, Stomach - Gastric dilation (Bloat), Wheat sensitive enteropathy

11-13 years

Irish Setters are born hunters. However they are also easily-distracted hunters, following any and every scent they find. Start obedience training early. With patience and kindness, the Irish Setter is easy to train and can even compete in obedience trials.

Medium

High

$15-$20 p/w

The Irish Setter needs a lot of exercise. Traditionally bred to hunt birds, the Irish Setter is an active dog that loves to spend time in the great outdoors. Due to its long legs, they are well-suited to run beside you while cycling.

Can be prone to hip dysplasia and screening for this is very important.Common ailments: Bones (Developmental) - Hip dysplasia, Bones (Developmental) - Osteochondritis, Endocrine - Hypothyroidism, Eye - Cataract - Hereditary, Eye - Progressive retinal atrophy PRA, General diagnosis - Tumour (benign), General diagnosis - Tumour (malignant), Reproduction problems, Rickets, Stomach - Gastric dilation (Bloat), Wheat sensitive enteropathy

Little

The Irish Setter's crowning glory is, of course, the chestnut coat. Daily brushing is essential to keep the feathers from tangling. Ears will need regular cleaning—as they are drop ears, very little air circulation is able to get inside the ear making it a breeding ground for bacteria and ear infection.

 

More than once a week

Occassional

Irish Setters are the oldest of the setter group, preceding Gordon and English setters. The country of origin is, of course, Ireland (hopefully you saw that one coming). It is believed the breed developed from old spaniels, setting spaniels and a Scottish setter. The breed was first developed for hunting and has always had a keen nose. However, their mischievous, fun-loving nature makes them distracted hunters who would rather follow a butterfly than chase down a rabbit. In 1882, the Irish Red Setter Club was formed in Dublin, prompted by the breeding programme of The Earl of Enniskellen, who developed the signature solid red coat. Despite this development, the late 1800s still saw show winners with the white and black markings of traditional Red and White Setters and the Gordon Setter. In the 1940s the breed was nearly decimated by the eye disease Progressive Retinal Atrophy, better known as PRA. This disease is a non sex-linked genetic illness that causes night blindness. Thankfully, DNA testing was able to identify carriers of the eye disease and thus, eliminate the disease from the breeding programme. Due to this scientific advance, the breed has recovered itself and the incidence of PRA has dropped dramatically since the 1940s.