Irish Red and White Setter

Also known as: Setter, Rossmore Setter

The Irish Red and White Setter is historically the older of the two Irish setter types, and it nearly vanished in the 19th century once the solid red variety became more fashionable in the show ring. A male can weigh up to 32 kilograms on a long, athletic frame built for hours in the field searching for and pointing game birds. The medium-length, feathered red and white coat needs regular brushing to keep mats from forming around the ears and tail feathering. The breed had to be largely rebuilt from a handful of dedicated lines in the 20th century, and it remains considerably rarer than its solid-red cousin today. The hunting instinct runs strong, with dogs pointing birds with real precision even without formal training. It tends to be friendly with family and needs a solid amount of daily exercise. Life expectancy runs 11 to 13 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Irish Red and White Setter: how old in human years?

57–66 cmHeight
24–32 kgWeight
11–13 yrsLife expectancy

Small Münsterländer

FCI group: Pointing Dogs
FCI section: Section 2.2: British and Irish Pointers and Setters, Setters
FCI: 330
Country of origin: Ireland

Energy level

5/5
Trainability

4/5
Family friendly

4/5
Grooming need

3/5

At a glance

Height

Males 61–66 cm

Females 57–61 cm

Weight

Males 27–32 kg

Females 24–29 kg

Life expectancy

11–13 yrs

Coat

medium-long, flat, feathered, red and white (medium-length)

Temperament & Family Life

Irish Red and White Setter's average temperament and family-life score for this breed is high.

Family friendly 4/5
Good with children 4/5
Good with other dogs 4/5
Friendly with strangers 3/5
Intelligence 4/5
Trainability 4/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Irish Red and White Setter's energy and exercise needs are high.

Energy level 5/5
Exercise need 5/5
Apartment friendly 1/5
Prey drive 4/5
Hunting instinct 5/5

Guarding & Alertness

Irish Red and White Setter's guarding and alertness traits are low.

Guarding instinct 1/5
Watchfulness 2/5
Barking level 3/5

Grooming & Care

Irish Red and White Setter's grooming needs are low.

Shedding 3/5
Drooling 1/5
Grooming need 3/5

Living with the Irish Red and White Setter

A field, a breeze, and a red-and-white dog sweeping across it with its head held high, then freezing on the spot with one paw raised: that is a setter doing what it was bred for. The Irish Red and White Setter is a bird dog with enough energy for two, and it needs plenty of exercise every day: long free runs somewhere safe, swimming, games. It is no flat dog, and a quick walk around the block won't tire it in the slightest.

It is clever and willing to learn, but holding its attention takes some skill: short, cheerful sessions with lots of praise work best. Its hunting drive is very strong, so recall with the scent of birds in the air is a real challenge, and one worth working on from its first weeks with you. It can stay puppyishly giddy well into adulthood, so the young years call for more than one helping of patience.

With its family it is affectionate, with children friendly and playful, and with other dogs usually easygoing. It greets strangers politely, sometimes with a touch of reserve, and it is no guard dog: an intruder would most likely be offered a toy. Its ideal day is a morning run in the fields, a rest at your feet, another outing in the evening and a cosy night close to its people, because it doesn't like being left alone for long.

Grooming and coat

The Irish Red and White Setter wears a medium-length, flat, silky coat with feathering on the ears, chest, legs and tail. Most of the body is easy to keep, but the feathering tangles, and in autumn it gathers burrs and seeds. Comb the whole dog through twice a week, starting with the ears, armpits and trousers, and check what it has brought home after every run outdoors. It sheds a moderate amount, and white hairs show up beautifully on a dark sofa.

The long, hanging ears should be checked after rain and swimming: clean, dry and free of grass seeds. Trim the hair between the pads and around the feet so it doesn't hold mud, and keep the nails short. The white parts of the coat turn brown fast after a muddy walk, but usually it's enough to let the mud dry and comb it out rather than bathing the dog every time.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

We don't have reliable health information specific to this breed, so we don't list conditions here. Keep up regular vet check-ups, and if you are getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Food for large breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (32 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 360 g of dry food a day, from €19,68 a month For a neutered, normally active 28 kg dog. Calculate for your dog