Irish Setter Information

The Irish Setter

Also known as Red Setter this breed is one of the oldest. Developed in the 18th century, the breed was derived from the Spanish Pointer. Its coat color is one of a kind, his mahogany shade makes it widely recognizable when not completely identified.

The name, originally coming from Gaelic tradition, Madra rua, means red dog. It was in its beginnings used for hunting purposes and because of its usefulness to point at birds.

Its coat is quite long and soft at the same time. The beautiful color makes him stand out in a crowd. This breed also has an undercoat, which is really convenient in winter, they tend to suffer greatly from extreme weather conditions, especially cold.

The top height for the breed to be accepted as original is 27 inches. The weight should not be over 70 pounds for males and 64 pounds for the bitch.

They feel at ease among human beings and therefore, enjoy being around its owners.

They also like playing with other dogs and have no problem in sharing the place with other dogs. As regards children, they make excellent partners. It is better to consider adopting one of them when the kids are small : the kids will grow up at the same time and they will be able to enjoy the most of this wonderful breed.

As they need constant activity and exercise they may not be ideal for apartments or passive people. Apart from that, they tend to become large dogs, and making them live in an apartment may be a real nightmare for both the dog and its owners.

They tend to be rather stubborn and they have the tendency of being quite resistant to training. The best advice to be given in these cases is to persist. But it is important to bear in mind that it may require an extra effort on the part of the owner in this field.