Irish Red and White Setter

Origin & history

The Irish Red and White Setter is the original setter of Ireland, predating the now more familiar solid red dog. Particoloured setters were the working type favoured by Irish sportsmen for generations, valued because the white in the coat made the dog easier to spot at distance in the field. Through the 1800s fashion swung toward the all-red Setter and the red and white very nearly died out, surviving in only a few pockets, often on the estates of dedicated families. A determined revival began in Ireland in the early 20th century, with breeders gathering the remaining dogs and slowly rebuilding numbers. The breed remains far less common than its red relative. In Australia it is recognised by the ANKC but seen in small numbers, kept mostly as a companion and show dog and occasionally still worked.

Temperament

Irish Red and White Setters are affectionate, friendly and people-focused, and many owners find them a little more biddable and steady than the solid red Setter, though they are still high-spirited and slow to mature. They are typically very good with children and enjoy a busy family home, and they generally get on well with other dogs. The strong bird-finding instinct means small pets need careful introductions and ongoing supervision. With strangers they are welcoming rather than protective, so they make friendly companions but unreliable guards. They are intelligent and willing workers that respond well to positive, varied training, but they bore quickly with drilling and need their minds kept occupied. The essentials are plenty of daily exercise, mental stimulation and human company, without these a Setter of this type will become restless and destructive.

Appearance

This is a strong, athletic gundog, a little more powerfully built and slightly smaller on average than the red Irish Setter. Males generally stand about 62 to 66 cm at the shoulder and females around 57 to 61 cm, with weight roughly in the 25 to 32 kg range. The defining feature is the coat colour, a clear white base with solid islands of deep red, ideally well broken up, with flecking permitted around the face and feet. The coat itself is finely textured, flat and feathered on the ears, chest, legs and tail, though generally a touch shorter than the red Setter's. The head is broad with a kind expression, the eyes dark and round, and the ears set level with the eye and hanging close.

Suitability

This breed is best suited to an active household with a house and a securely fenced yard, and an owner genuinely willing to exercise and train a working-bred gundog every day. It fits people who want a friendly, involved dog for walking, running or a dog sport, and who will not leave it alone for long stretches. It is not suited to apartment living or to a quiet, inactive home. A motivated first-time owner can succeed with one, provided they commit to the exercise and the long adolescence. In the Australian summer the feathered coat warrants exercise in the cooler parts of the day, ready access to shade and water, and sensible caution about heat and hot surfaces.

Health

Irish Red and White Setters generally live around 11 to 13 years. The standout inherited concern in this breed is canine leucocyte adhesion deficiency (CLAD), a serious immune disorder, but a reliable DNA test exists and responsible breeders test so that affected pups are not produced, so always ask to see the parents' CLAD status. Posterior polar cataract and progressive retinal atrophy occur, making annual eye testing important, and von Willebrand disease (a bleeding disorder) has been reported. Hip dysplasia is also possible, so breeding dogs should be hip-scored. As a deep-chested breed it carries some risk of bloat (gastric torsion), so feed measured meals and avoid vigorous exercise straight after food. Choose a breeder who DNA-tests for CLAD, eye-tests and hip-scores, and shows you the certificates.