Breed Description

The Irish Setter has a strong chestnut or mahogany coat and is very commonly referred to as the Red Setter. It is not uncommon for the Irish Setter to be black however this is not recognised in the breed. Some young dogs may appear to have touches of silver/grey in areas such as chest and feet, however with age this will develop into one of the strong colours mentioned previously. It is possible for the Irish Setter to have splashes of white on its chest and feet, however typically it is a solid colour. Its coat is silky and long and requires regular grooming. As a breed they are energetic, intelligent, affectionate dogs, who love other animals and are great with children, however like the retriever, it holds no guarding instinct, and can be highly strung at times. Some find the Irish Setter to be very difficult to train due to there independent spirit but with a firm hand and plenty of exercise the Irish Red Setter can be a joy for any family. Thus said, housebreaking is relatively easy, but care must be taken in order for your Irish Setter to not pick up bad habits as they can be very difficult to shake off later in life.