Irish Setter

Irish Setters are a friendly, playful breed. They love to be around people and are great with kids. However, this breed is not for everyone. Due to their active, energetic nature, Irish Setters require a lot of exercise. For this reason, they aren't a great fit for inactive families or apartment living.

Firm but gentle training from an early age is important for Irish Setters. Because of their strong hunting instincts, Irish Setters will happily ignore their owners and follow a scent trail without adequate training to stay on task. Irish Setters are also slower to mature than other breeds, which means their boisterous, mischievous "puppy phase" will last well into their adult years.

This good-natured breed loves to be the center of attention. Though they're eager to please and adore their people, Irish Setters can also be independent or stubborn.

To meet their nutritional needs, feed your Irish Setter a high-quality food that's appropriate for their life stage (e.g., puppy, adult, senior) and energy level.

Irish Setters are at a greater risk than other breeds to bloat (also known as twisted stomach). To help prevent bloat, break your dog's food up into several meals a day, and use a food bowl specially designed to slow their rate of eating. When timing meals, avoid feeding your pup immediately after any kind of vigorous activity and wait at least an hour after eating before allowing them to run or exercise.

These are just a few ways you can help prevent this life-threatening condition. A veterinarian is the best resource for other recommendations—including surgical options—for preventing bloat.

All dogs have the potential to become overweight, and it's easy to feed your pup too many calories without realizing it. Keep your Irish Setter at a healthy weight by monitoring their food intake and measuring out meals to avoid accidental overfeeding. Also, don't forget to count calories from treats in their daily totals. As a guideline, treats should make up no more than 10% of a dog's calories.

An Irish Setter's coat requires brushing at least twice a week with a soft-bristled brush or pin brush to keep it looking its best. Use a long-toothed comb as necessary to work out any tangles.

Because of their long ears, Irish Setters may be more susceptible to ear infections. So, check and clean your ears regularly to prevent infections. Also, maintaining good dental hygiene is essential for the overall long-term health of all dogs. In addition to professional dental cleanings, establish an at-home dental care routine that includes regular teeth brushing.

Irish Setters need more exercise than most dogs. So, be sure to provide yours with plenty of physical and mental challenges. Dog sports—such as field trials, hunting, agility, tracking, and competitive obedience—are fun ways to exercise their bodies and minds. Other ideas include long walks, jogging, hiking, or games of fetch in an enclosed yard.

The Irish Setter has the reputation of being a bit of an airhead and thus difficult to train. But the more likely cause of this perceived flightiness is owners using training techniques that don't motivate the breed. Irish Setters do best with short training sessions combined with plenty of exercise and playtime.

As mentioned before, Irish Setters can also be stubborn. But you can overcome these tendencies by using treats and favorite toys as rewards during training sessions.