Recognizable by its flame-colored mahogany coat and slender silhouette, the Irish Setter was developed in Ireland for hunting feathered game — a breed whose spectacular beauty often masks considerable exercise needs.

Physical characteristics

  • Height: 58-67 cm at the withers
  • Weight: 27-32 kg
  • Coat: medium-length, silky, characteristic mahogany or deep red
  • Build: slender, athletic, built for sustained running over open terrain

Temperament

Enthusiastic, affectionate and possessed of seemingly boundless energy, the Irish Setter retains a certain behavioral immaturity well into adulthood — often described as an "eternal teenager," a trait that calls for patience in training.

It's a sociable breed, generally not inclined toward guarding or wariness of strangers, unlike the protection breeds covered in our Cane Corso or Beauceron profiles.

Roles and disciplines

Hunting, its historical role — the Setter works by ranging widely and pointing when it detects game

Canicross and the endurance disciplines covered in our dedicated articles, where its athletic build and natural stamina make it an excellent candidate

Agility, though its size makes it less competitive than the herding breeds described in our Border Collie or Australian Shepherd profiles

Health and lifespan

Lifespan of 11 to 14 years. Watch for hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy (genetic testing available) and, as with many deep-chested breeds covered previously, the bloat detailed in our dedicated article.

Coat care

Unlike the short-coated breeds covered in several of our profiles, the Setter's medium-length, silky coat requires regular brushing to prevent matting, particularly after outings in brushy terrain — a point that echoes the principles detailed in our article on grooming the active dog.

A breed for highly active owners

The Irish Setter thrives on a minimum of one to two hours of vigorous exercise a day. Without this outlet, its energy quickly turns into destructive behavior or chronic restlessness — a reality that its spectacular looks sometimes let prospective owners forget, drawn in by appearance ahead of needs.

Also available in English: the ideal first aid kit for the active dog, the Bernedoodle: the crossbreed winning over families and the basics of dog training: recall and socialization. More translations are added over time.