Irish Setter
Breed Group: Sporting Group
Size Group: Large Dog Breeds
Origin: Ireland
Height: 27” (male) 25” (female)
Weight: 70lbs (male) 60lbs (female)
Color: Chestnut, Mahogany, Red
Lifespan: 12-15 years
Temperament: Spirited, graceful, patient
Set Your Pup Up For Success
Overview
Irish Setters were originally bred in the early 1800s as a bird hunting dogs, known for their keen sense of smell. Their characteristic alert, attentive and patient nature make them exceptional companions in the field. The name setter describes how the pup sets down his belly on the ground when he spots his prey.
The Irish setter is best known for his gorgeous red coat. They are famously popular as a family dogs. They are unparalleled in their love of children. These pups are totally devoted to their kids. Irish setters are notoriously friendly with everyone, so don’t expect them to alert you to danger. As hunting dogs, they may see all small animals as prey. Be mindful of this before bringing a pup home if you have any other animals at home.
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Celebrity Owners
Olivia Newton-John, Richard Nixon, Harry Truman, Ronald Reagan
Fun Facts
Bus Eireann is an Irish bus company that uses an Irish Setter as their mascot.
Health
Irish setters are generally healthy pups. Some health concerns to be aware of include progressive retinal atrophy, epilepsy, celiac disease, von Willebrand’s disease, hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, bloat, cataracts, megaesophagus, and osteochondritis dissecans.
While you always hope your pet will live a long and healthy life, it is always a good idea to invest in pet health insurance.
Keeping your dog’s mouth clean and problem free goes a long way to your pup’s overall health. Dental hygiene can be the cause or can be the byproduct of other serious health issues.
Visual inspections can be performed to keep track of the signs of potentially waning oral health. These signs can be anything from bad breath to abnormal chewing to loss of appetite.
Keeping ahead of these warning signs can pay dividends. A preventative approach can delay and stop many of the common dental problems from arising.
Oral health can be tackled in five basic steps:
- Brushing your dog’s teeth to prevent an undesirable buildup of plaque
- Feed your dog a diet where the high quality dog food has dental benefits
- Regularly give your dog dental toys and treats
- Use mouthwash, to help where brushing misses
- At the sign of any abnormalities, consult a vet. You can even do it virtually, from the convenience of your home.
Dogs are just like humans in that they can experience anxiety. The degree to which they are susceptible to anxiety and how they deal with anxiety is breed specific. Left unchecked, initial signs of anxiety could give way to an anxiety disorder. The symptoms of anxiety disorders can lead to a myriad of behavior issues.
Knowing the signs and symptoms will best equip you to keep ahead of it and to nip it in the bud at the earliest signs. There are options available to help with anxiety.
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Grooming
Plan to brush your dog’s coat at least twice a week to remove any dead hair or matts. Spritzing the coat over with water or detangler will make brushing easier. Pay special attention to the areas with longer hair. Use a comb to gently work out any matts or tangles, being mindful to be gentle. In the spring your pup will go through a heavier shedding period where daily brushing will help you to contain the hair in your house. Trim or clip the coat every 3-4 months. Bathe your pup occasionally, or if your pup gets exceptionally dirty. Trim your pup’s nails once a month. Keep your pup’s eyes and ears clean and clear of debris. Brush your pup’s teeth several times per week.
Cost
$800 – $5,000
Exercise
Irish setters need between 1-2 hours of activity per day. These pups love to be with their people, so this activity can take the form of games of fetch, walks in the park, brisk walks around town, easy jogs or running alongside a bike. Like all hunting dogs, setters have strong prey drive. Do not allow your dog off leash when outside of the house. The instinct to chase prey often outweighs the will to return when called. Irish setters especially love being able to romp free, a securely fenced in backyard is a good place for this. Irish setters are prone to separation anxiety, leaving your dog alone for long periods of time is not advised.
Nutrition
Your full-sized Irish setter will eat around 3 cups of food per day over 2 meals. This breed is prone to bloat which is an immediately life-threatening condition where the stomach overfills and flips in the torso. You can help avoid this situation by monitoring the rate at which your pup eats. The exact amount of food your dog will need will vary depending on age and activity level.
We’ve taken a look at some premium dog foods, high in nutrition here.
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Training
As with all dogs, early socialization with humans and other dogs is important. Irish setters respond best to positive reinforcement training. It is essential to keep sessions fresh so your dog does not become bored which can lead to them no longer participating in a session. These pups thrive when they have a job to do, so convincing them training is a job can help.
Proper training is essential to ensuring the safety of your dog and those around you. Having your dog come when they should, and in general having them listen is something you want to address early in your pup’s life, as it will pay dividends down the line. There are many tried and true training programs to accomplish this training – faster and better than you might think!
Unless you’re living on a farm, or have the space, a yipping dog, or one that barks all day when you are gone could be an issue with the neighbors and/or landlord. Historically, dogs would bark to communicate with the rest of the pack when hunting and bark as a warning shot to predators eyeing up their flock. Barking is deep rooted in dogs and manifests itself in many ways and for a variety of reasons.
Just like any habit or instinct, there are effective ways you can train this issue away.
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Supplements
A solid Glucosamine Supplement for hips and joints will go a long way to helping your furry friend.
Other helpful supplements include full-spectrum hemp oil or CBD oil. Fish oil skin and coat supplement.
Ensuring a comprehensive preventative vitamin and mineral plan is essential to keeping your dog healthy. Truth is, there are vitamins and minerals that your dog needs, but doesn’t produce naturally. While many of these vitamins and minerals can be found in your dog’s current diet and dog food, the question becomes, are there enough vitamins to ensure they aren’t deficient.
Poor nutrition can lead to some of the most common health issues, such as weak joints, compromised immunity, increased allergies, and low energy.
Vitamins play a vital role in your pet’s health and overall life expectancy. Here are some multivitamin and joint relief options.
As regulations around marijuana have eased, the emergence of CBD oils for humans and dogs have sprung up.
Just to begin to dispel the negative stigma, CBD extract comes from Hemp, marijuana’s cousin. Unlike its cousin, there are no psychoactive qualities in CBD oil. An emerging number of clinical and institutional studies have shown the wide variety of healing qualities in CBD, including pain management, and the containment of seizures and epileptic episodes.
Explore this remedy further to see all the health benefits that have transformed the lives of so many dogs to date.
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The Good
Excellent with children
Eager to please
The "Ruff"
Prone to separation anxiety
May see other pets as prey
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