Grooming
Irish Setters are a long-haired breed with a beautiful, thick coat of fur. This coat adds extra responsibility for you as their pet parent to keep your pup looking nice. (But trust us, they’re worth it.) Brush your Irish Setter every two to three days so their coat won’t get tangled or matted. A long pin brush or soft bristle brush will do the trick, with a fine-tooth comb for your Irish Setter’s tail. When it comes to shedding, you can expect moderate shedding during certain seasons of the year (more in the spring and fall).
Check your dog’s ears regularly for redness, swelling and debris. If you find anything unusual, call your vet—they may advise you to clean your dog’s ears.
You’ll also need to trim your Irish Setter’s nails every couple of weeks. If the nails touch the ground when your dog’s paw is relaxed, it’s time to give them a trim.
Irish Setters should have their teeth brushed every day if possible. This will help prevent gum disease and tooth decay. Your vet should also clean your dog’s teeth once a year. Grooming your Irish Setter takes some time, but it’s all worth it to keep your dog looking beautiful and feeling healthy.
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Training
An Irish Setter’s intelligence is high. Their desire to please you makes them easy to train and able to learn virtually any command. (Yep, beauty and brains!) However, Irish Setters are prone to getting bored or distracted, which can lead to frustration for pet parents trying to get a training session complete.
Keep in mind that Irish Setters are very sensitive, so yelling is not the way to get your point across—you’ll only hurt their loving little hearts. Be patient and gentle as you work with your dog, guiding them to focus and using positive reinforcement (like giving them treats, attention or playtime as a reward). Irish Setters can also be strong-willed, which may stand in the way of a successful training session. Make sure to give them lots of outlets for their energy so they’ll stay calm and focused during training.
Irish Setters sometimes have separation anxiety because they bond so closely with their families. (We did tell you that they’ll want to be with you all the time!) Practicing separation is an important part of training your pup. Get your dog used to being home alone or simply being in a different room of the house from you by practicing in short increments and slowly building up the time.
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Diet
Feed your Irish Setter dog a high-quality commercial dog food made for dogs of their age (puppy, adult or senior). Your veterinarian can help you nail down a feeding chart to guide you on how much and how often to feed your dog based on their specific diet, but two to three cups of food each day—split into two servings—is generally recommended.
If your Irish Setter is highly active, they will require a diet for active sporting dogs to make sure they’re getting in enough protein to help their muscles recover. It’s also important to make sure your dog always has access to fresh, clean water, especially during the hot summer months.
Don’t give your Irish Setter food from the table. Many “people foods” are harmful or even poisonous to dogs. The occasional dog treat is OK, but don’t overdo it—those calories count, too! If your pup has gained a little extra weight, chat with your vet. They’re in the best position to help you pick the right ratio of mealtimes, snacks and exercise to help your pup shed the extra weight and maintain their optimal nutrition.
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Exercise
An Irish Setter’s exercise needs are high—this breed has a lot of energy! Your pup will need one to two hours of exercise each day. Daily walks or jogs are a great way to fulfill your dog’s exercise needs and cater to that Irish Setter speed. This breed should also be allowed to run off-leash whenever possible—your fenced yard will do the trick. Energetic games such as Frisbee, fetch and other dog sports will make your Irish Setter as happy as a clam. If you have access to water, you can take your pup for a swim—Irish Setters are strong swimmers and love the water.
It’s important to provide your dog with ample exercise to help them stay healthy. But for Irish Setters, simple physical activity isn’t enough. Irish Setters are very intelligent and love to learn, meaning that mental stimulation is equally important to keep them happy.
Obedience competitions, tracking (detecting and following a specific scent) and agility (going through an obstacle course) can all be a good fit for an Irish Setter’s energy level and keep them from getting bored, chewing on things and barking excessively. You can even create puzzles at home, setting up scavenger hunts where your dog has to find their toys and food or doing scent work to find different scents in your home.
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Environment
Irish Setters can experience separation anxiety and boredom, which can lead them to be destructive—say goodbye to your favorite pair of kicks! An Irish Setter probably won’t thrive in a home where their pet parents are gone all day, every day. Besides your company, these pups also need someone who can provide them with plenty of exercise. If these active dogs don’t get the exercise and stimulation they need, they might choose their own adventure—and as mentioned above, chances are you won’t be a fan of what they pick.
If you’re considering an Irish Setter, you’ll want to be prepared for their grooming needs. This breed has a thick, beautiful coat of fur, but those luscious red locks require a lot of maintenance and upkeep. Between brushing, combing and trimming, you’ll stay so busy taking care of your pup’s coat that you may not get the time to care for your own locks.
Irish Setters are excellent family dogs and do very well with children (although older children may be best because of this breed’s high energy level). Setters are also good with cats and other dogs. (Just keep them away from birds!) Ideally, they’ll live in a home that has a large outdoor space for them to run off-leash. An apartment, townhome or any home in a city would not be ideal for an Irish Setter, but with regular access to a fenced, dog-friendly park, you could make it work.
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