Irish Red and White Setter
A friendly, energetic Irish setter in red and white, sweet at home and tireless outdoors.
At a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height at the withers
- Males 62–66 cm · Females 57–61 cm
- Weight
- Males 25–34 kg · Females 23–30 kg
- Life expectancy
- 11–14 years
- Exercise
- 90–150 min a day
- Grooming
- A few times a week
- Coat
- Silky, medium, long
- Colours
- Red, White, Piebald
- Bred for
- Pointing, Companionship
- Country of origin
- Ireland
- FCI
- Group 7, no. 330 · Pointing dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 5/5 – Very high |
| Good with cats | 4/5 – High |
| Open to strangers | 5/5 – Very high |
| Energy | 5/5 – Very high |
| Playfulness | 5/5 – Very high |
| Needs mental stimulation | 4/5 – High |
| Easy to train | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Prey drive | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Watchful and protective | 1/5 – Very low |
| Barking | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Shedding | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Grooming effort | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 2/5 – Low |
| Suits apartment living | 1/5 – Very low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want a friendly dog that likes everyone
- have time for long daily runs
- enjoy a playful, cheerful character
Think twice if you …
- want a guard dog
- cannot provide safe off-lead areas
- prefer a dog that matures quickly
Care
Temperament
Good-natured, affectionate and outgoing, with little guarding instinct. It is playful and can stay puppyish for several years.
Exercise
Needs one and a half hours or more of exercise a day, including free running in safe areas. Field work, hiking and canicross suit it.
Grooming
Brush the silky coat and feathering a few times a week to prevent tangles. Ears and feet benefit from regular tidying.
Training
Willing but easily distracted, especially by birds. Short, upbeat sessions and patient recall training work best.
Health
Hip dysplasia, some eye conditions and inherited disorders such as CLAD and von Willebrand disease are known in the breed. Ask the breeder for hip scores, eye results and DNA results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
- Eye examination
DNA tests
- CLAD
- vWD type 1
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Irish Red and White Setter is the older of the two Irish setter breeds. As the solid red setter became fashionable in the 19th century, the parti-coloured dogs almost disappeared, and the breed was rebuilt in the 20th century by a small group of Irish enthusiasts.
It is a cheerful, people-loving dog that tends to like everyone, including visitors and other dogs. It matures slowly and stays playful for years. It needs a lot of running to be calm indoors, and its nose for birds means a secure recall takes work. For an active household it is warm and easy-natured company.
Did you know?
The red and white setter is older than the solid red Irish Setter and was revived from a handful of dogs in the 1920s and 1940s.