Irish Setter
Description
The Irish Setter, or Red Setter…in Gaelic Madra rua or Red Dog…didn’t start out to be all red. It is genetically linked to the Irish White Setter and is an off shoot so to speak. The Red puppies in the litters born to Irish White Setters became popular, and eventually evolved into their own breed of dog that we know today as the Irish Setter. The male Irish Setter stands between 26 and 28 in tall at the withers, and weighs between 65 and 75 lbs. Female Setters stand between 24 and 26 in. tall, and weigh between 55 and 65 lbs. A beautiful dog with a medium long flowing red coat.
Temperament
The Irish Setter is a lively and spirited dog who is also smart, and loving. Affectionate around children and tolerant of other animals. They make a great addition to the family that can give them the attention they need both physically and mentally. They need a calm but firm hand when it comes to training. You will need to be his fearless pack leader instructing him in proper household behavior.
Grooming/Exercise
You will need to perform regular daily brushing with a good brush to keep the Irish Setters coat healthy and free from debris and dirt. The ends of the coat have a tendency to tangle, and taking care of this immediately will reduce the frustration later on. The Irish Setter needs a fair amount of exercise a restless Setter can become ill mannered. Irish Setters cannot live in an apartment they need much more space than that, along with a secure area to play in.
Health
Life Expectancy is between 11 to 15 years.
Possible Issues
- Bloat (feed small meals to your Setter 2 to 3 times per day)
- Epilepsy
- Skin Allergies
- Eye Problems
- Hip Dysplasia
- Hypothyroidism
- Ear Issues (Ear Operations for Otitis unfortunately on occasion make the Setter ill-tempered.
- Elbow Dysplasia
