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Irish Red and White Setter breed guide
American Kennel Club (AKC) calls the rollicking Irish Red and White Setter an athletic, medium-sized bird dog bred mainly for hunting, fun-loving, friendly and high-spirited, a bit shorter and stockier than its cousin the Irish Setter.
The coat of vivid red islands on a sea of pearl white has a practical function: it lets hunters spot their dog at a distance.
- Height
- 24.5 to 26 inches male, 22.5 to 24 inches female
- Weight
- 42 to 60 pounds male, 35 to 50 pounds female
- AKC group
- Sporting Group
Irish Red and White Setter temperament
The breed's high spirits can make it a challenge to train. AKC says the key is short, interesting, upbeat sessions. The Irish Red and White Setters is very eager to please and reacts well to positive training with lots of praise.
A bored, under-exercised Irish Red and White Setters may be a handful to live with.
Irish Red and White Setter lifespan
The Irish Red and White Setters lives 11 to 15 years. AKC lists posterior polar cataracts, hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, von Willebrand's disease, hypothyroidism and immune disorders as occasional issues.
The gene pool is not large, so genetic testing is especially important.
Irish Red and White Setter care
Grooming is a fairly simple job and the breed should look as natural as possible, though scissors or clippers may tidy the rough edges. An all-over grooming once a week with a soft brush and a slicker or comb removes tangles.
The Irish Red and White Setters is a high-energy dog that needs a lot of exercise. During the growth stage, up to 18 months, AKC advises plenty of low-impact activity to channel abundant energy and stimulate the mind.
Irish Red and White Setter history
Before the all-red Irish Setter there was the Red and White, a fixture of Ireland's hills and bogs since at least the 1600s. In those days setters crept up on game birds on their bellies, froze in a setting position and indicated with the tail until a hunter threw a net over the birds.
Nets eventually gave way to firearms and the best setter lines adapted their crouching style of hunting to the new technology.
AKC trait ratings
| Trait | AKC rating | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Level | 5 of 5 | Couch Potato to High Energy |
| Trainability Level | 5 of 5 | Self-Willed to Eager to Please |
| Shedding Level | 2 of 5 | No Shedding to Hair Everywhere |
| Barking Level | 3 of 5 | Only To Alert to Very Vocal |
| Adaptability Level | 5 of 5 | Lives For Routine to Highly Adaptable |
| Good With Young Children | 5 of 5 | Not Recommended to Good With Children |
| Good With Other Dogs | 5 of 5 | Not Recommended to Good With Other Dogs |
| Watchdog/Protective Nature | 3 of 5 | What's Mine Is Yours to Vigilant |
More Sporting Group guides
Sources
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Irish Red and White Setter by Pleple2000, CC BY-SA 3.0
