Ireland
Weight
60-70 lb
Height
25-27 in
Lifespan
12-15 yrs
Coat
Silky Long
The Irish Setter is a large sporting breed from Ireland, shaped by field work, close teamwork, and active days outdoors and a eager, friendly temperament.
Official, native, and commonly used variants
Weight
60-70 lb
Height
25-27 in
Lifespan
12-15 yrs
Coat
Silky Long
At A Glance
A quick read on energy, upkeep, and what day-to-day life with this breed usually feels like.
Energy
High
Barking
Moderate
Drooling
Low
Shedding
Moderate
Grooming
2/5
First-time owner
Yes
The Irish Setter comes from Ireland and belongs to the Sporting group, where its background is tied to field work, close teamwork, and active days outdoors. For the Irish Setter, that history is not just decoration; it helps explain the habits owners see around work, rest, people, and daily handling. Expect the Irish Setter to be a large dog with eager, friendly, active, trainable traits, high energy, and moderate barking.
In everyday life, the Irish Setter is usually best judged by routine fit. It does best where Irish Setter space and exercise are easy to provide, and its long silky coat brings moderate shedding with grooming needs rated 2/5. For exercise, the Irish Setter should get 90 minutes or more a day for many healthy adults, built from serious exercise, problem-solving work, and outlets that feel like a job. Without enough work, the Irish Setter can become noisy, restless, or inventive around the house. Training the Irish Setter should stay practical and reward-based, with early socialization around people, dogs, handling, and normal household noise.
The Irish Setter is most likely to suit owners who appreciate eager temperament and can meet the care pattern consistently. The Dogs Index profile rates the Irish Setter as having strong family potential when handled respectfully, 4/5 dog sociability, and 4/5 stranger comfort. People considering the Irish Setter should compare related breeds before deciding if the routine feels realistic. Health notes for the Irish Setter should be discussed with a veterinarian and, when buying a puppy, with responsible breeders who screen their lines.
This breed tends to suit homes looking for a eager, friendly, active companion, with daily rhythms shaped by high energy, moderate barking, and low drooling.
Coat type
Silky
Coat length
Long
Shedding
Moderate
Colors
Mahogany, Chestnut
Irish Setter is usually harder to manage in an apartment, especially when exercise, space, or noise control are limited. Owners of the Irish Setter should plan quiet walking routes, enough decompression time, and training for elevators, hallways, visitors, and nearby dogs.
Irish Setter has a moderate barking profile, so owners should expect some alerting and excitement barking. Teaching the Irish Setter a calm response to door sounds, passing dogs, and visitors is easier than trying to stop barking after it becomes a habit.
Irish Setter is usually responsive to clear, reward-based training, especially when lessons feel purposeful. Keep Irish Setter sessions short but frequent, use food or play well, and give this eager, friendly, active breed tasks that make sense instead of repeating drills until it gets bored.
The Irish Setter's long silky coat is relatively simple to maintain, with moderate shedding. Routine brushing, nail trimming, ear checks, and skin checks still matter for the Irish Setter, especially after muddy walks or seasonal shedding changes.
Irish Setter needs 90 minutes or more a day for many healthy adults, built from serious exercise, problem-solving work, and outlets that feel like a job. For the Irish Setter, build activity into most days instead of relying on one big weekend outing, and mix in sniffing, training, or puzzle work so the dog has a mental outlet as well as physical movement.
The Irish Setter's long silky coat is relatively simple to maintain, with moderate shedding. Routine brushing, nail trimming, ear checks, and skin checks still matter for the Irish Setter, especially after muddy walks or seasonal shedding changes.
Irish Setter is usually responsive to clear, reward-based training, especially when lessons feel purposeful. Keep Irish Setter sessions short but frequent, use food or play well, and give this eager, friendly, active breed tasks that make sense instead of repeating drills until it gets bored.
Feed Irish Setter a measured diet appropriate for a large dog, its age, and its activity level. For the Irish Setter, keep body condition lean, adjust portions when exercise changes, and ask your veterinarian about diet details if weight, digestion, allergies, or joint stress are concerns.
Energy level
High
Barking level
Moderate
Drooling level
Low
Watchdog ability
2/5
Guard dog ability
1/5
Climate tolerance
Common concerns to discuss with your vet and breeder.
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