Is an Irish Setter the right dog for you?

As their name implies, the Irish Setter dog breed comes from Ireland. The Irish Setter, which also is a great bird dog, has a beautiful, long, silky coat.

These dogs are affectionate, cheeky, intelligent, and agile. They also are brave and enjoy dog sports.

Breed characteristics

This dog breed belongs to the big physical frame canines – both their head and neck are long. Apart from the long head and neck, their ears also share the same characteristic. However, their ears aren’t pointy; they fall downwards on both sides.

They have long, narrow tails. This dog breed also has a beautiful coat, which is usually mahogany or chestnut red. Some dogs also have white spots on their neck, chest, or feet.

The Irish Setter’s coat is lengthy, plush, and lies flat. On average, male dogs stand 27 inches tall and weigh 70 pounds, while females stand 25 inches tall and weigh 60 pounds.

Health issues

Some of the common health issues found in this breed are:

• Progressive retinal atrophy
• Hip dysplasia
• Hypothyroidism
• Epilepsy – This can be treated with CBD oil for dogs. A Colorado State University study shows CBD can reduce seizures. 
• Bone cancer
• Hypertrophic osteodystrophy

Some illnesses only manifest in adult Irish Setters. It’s impossible to predict if the dog will have any of these issues during its lifetime.

The most effective way to know is by taking a look at its background and the health of its parents.

Temperament

The Irish Setter is a cheerful dog who often exhibits a level of cheekiness. The dogs also are smart and loyal. But to ensure you get the best behavior from this breed is by training them from when they’re pups.

They should be trained to greet in a calm manner — a simple sit and tail wag, rather than leaping on their owner. Training the dogs teaches them to know what’s right and wrong and how to behave in their home.

Considering the agile nature of this dog, they work best with families that give them the space to exercise to burn off their excess energy. Keeping a dog like this locked up all day may result in bad behavior and damage to household items.

Instead, make time to get the dog outside daily for walks and play. To make sure that your dog doesn’t wander off outdoors, you can use a portable dog fence.

The dogs are friendly with training are well behaved. 

Grooming

To effectively groom this breed, comb its coat three or four times each week. The dogs need bathing every three to four weeks. 

The Irish Setter also needs to have its nails trimmed regularly to make sure they don’t get too long. Dental care also is crucial, and you should plan to brush your dog’s teeth daily.

Training

Based on this breed’s nature, don’t train it using negative energy. Instead, use positive training methods and avoid yelling at your dog to prevent it from becoming afraid of you.

The Irish Setter has a short attention span, so keep training sessions short and frequent. Keep sessions to 10 minutes or less, and consider mixing training with playtime.

The dogs are easy to potty train and rarely will poop near where they play, sleep, or eat.

Rescue groups

Don’t purchase or adopt an Irish Setter without fully understanding the dog’s needs. Too many people fail to do their research before buying this dog.

That mistake has led to too many Irish Setters being abandoned at shelters. Several rescues specialize in the Irish Setter breed. Some of them are:

• Irish Setter Club of Ohio Rescue
• Irish Setter Club of America Rescue
• Irish Setter Rescue in New Jersey
• The Irish Setter Club of Canada
• NorCal Irish Setter Rescue, Inc.

Conclusion

The Irish Setter needs an attentive owner who will work to train the dog to help them live long, happy, healthy lives. The dogs are smart and agile and do well in competitive dog sports. Before deciding to adopt an Irish Setter, do your research and make sure this is the right breed for you. 

To adopt an Irish Setter, check Petfinder.com.To find an American Kennel Club-Registered Irish Setter breeder, visit the AKC Marketplace.

Kimberly Johnson is a founder of The-Hunting-Dog, a website that provides research and information about hunting breeds, and dogs in general.

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