Animal register · DogComing soon to the app
Irish Setter
Irish Red Setter, Red Setter
The Irish Setter (Irish Red Setter) is a racy, athletic gundog from Ireland, bred to range and hunt. The FCI standard describes one colour — rich chestnut with no trace of black — and a height of 58–67 cm for males and 55–62 cm for females; the American breed standard calls about 70 pounds (about 32 kg) ideal for a male and 60 pounds (about 27 kg) for a female. A dog of this size is fully grown at about 15–18 months (PetMD), and the Royal Kennel Club gives a lifespan of over 10 years.
The Royal Kennel Club recommends more than 2 hours of exercise a day and grooming more than once a week, says the breed sheds and suits a large house with a large garden, and lists it in Breed Watch Category 1. The PDSA describes very friendly, affectionate dogs that get on well with children and other pets and advises grooming 2 or 3 times a week; PetMD recommends weekly ear checks and cleaning and says Irish Setters need plenty of human company.
Built and tested; it arrives with a coming app release.
Updated:
At a glance
- Size
- large — The Royal Kennel Club S676
- Adult weight
- males 31.8 kg, females 27.2 kg — Irish Setter Club of America S680
- Daily exercise
- more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S676
- Brushing
- more than once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S676
- Shedding
- sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S676
- Lifespan
- more than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S676
Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.
Who it suits
Good for:
The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.
What it needs
From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.
Exercise
- Daily exercise: more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S676
Coat and grooming
Meals
General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):
Lifespan
- Lifespan: more than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S676
Life stages
- Reaches adult size at: about 15–18 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10
General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):
Size and weight
Training
Questions and answers
Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.
How much exercise does an Irish Setter need?
According to our sources, the Irish Setter needs this much exercise: more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S676.
How long does an Irish Setter live?
According to our sources, the lifespan of the Irish Setter is: more than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S676.
How big does an Irish Setter get and how much does it weigh?
Size and adult weight of the Irish Setter, according to our sources: Size: large — The Royal Kennel Club S676; Adult weight: males 31.8 kg, females 27.2 kg — Irish Setter Club of America S680.
How much grooming does an Irish Setter need?
Coat and grooming of the Irish Setter, according to our sources: Brushing: more than once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S676; Shedding: sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S676; Coat: medium length — The Royal Kennel Club S676.
Who is the Irish Setter a good fit for?
Our sources describe the Irish Setter as a good fit for: an active family — The Royal Kennel Club S676; families with children — PDSA S678; homes with other pets — PDSA S678; a large house and garden — The Royal Kennel Club S676. Keep in mind: needs lots of exercise every day — The Royal Kennel Club S676; loves company — best with someone home most of the day — PetMD S679; sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S676; needs brushing several times a week — The Royal Kennel Club, PDSA S676S678.
Game rules, not veterinary advice
How PetPrep simulates it
In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.
| Life stage | Starts | Meals a day | Daily step goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy | arrives at 2 months | 4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 2 | 1,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 12,000 from month 12 |
| Young dog | month 9 | 2 | 9,000 → 12,000 steps |
| Adult | month 36 (3 years) | 2 | 12,000 steps |
| Senior | month 90 (7.5 years) | 2 | 9,000 steps |
- Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 2 hours, so 12,000 steps a day.
- Learns commands 1.2× as fast as the mixed breed of the free plan.
- Becomes a senior in month 90 (7.5 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
- Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
- Combing 3 times a week.
- Care: checking and cleaning the ears once a week — a task for the child.
- Care: trimming the nails every 4 weeks — a task for the child.
Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine, PDSA S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S35S45S676S678S679
Common Irish Setter owner mistakes
Small habits that cause bigger problems — each point comes from the sources of this breed.
- Too little daily exerciseExercise needed: more than 2 hours a day. Plan it into every day, not only at weekends. — The Royal Kennel Club S676
- Skipping coat careBrushing: more than once a week. Sheds. — The Royal Kennel Club S676
- Forgetting that the puppy is still growingAdult size reached at: about 15–18 months (guidance for its size class). Until then, plan exercise and food for a young animal that is still growing, and ask your vet what suits yours. — PetMD S10
- Overlooking the breed's known health issuesBloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus), where the stomach twists, can occur in the breed — it is an emergency that needs a vet straight away. Hip dysplasia, a poorly developed hip joint that can lead to arthritis, occurs in the breed; breeders are advised to have the parents' hips scored. Progressive retinal atrophy, an inherited eye disease that can slowly lead to blindness, occurs in the breed; DNA tests and eye testing are available. Skin allergies (atopy), which cause itching and sore skin, can occur in the breed. An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), which can affect weight, skin and energy levels, can occur in the breed. Epilepsy, a brain disorder that can cause seizures, occurs in the breed. Certain cancers can occur in the breed. — PDSA S678
In PetPrep a child practises exactly these habits — steps, meals, care — before the real pet comes home.
Health
For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.
- Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus), where the stomach twists, can occur in the breed — it is an emergency that needs a vet straight away. — PDSA S678
- Hip dysplasia, a poorly developed hip joint that can lead to arthritis, occurs in the breed; breeders are advised to have the parents' hips scored. — PDSA S678
- Progressive retinal atrophy, an inherited eye disease that can slowly lead to blindness, occurs in the breed; DNA tests and eye testing are available. — PDSA S678
- Skin allergies (atopy), which cause itching and sore skin, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S678
- An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), which can affect weight, skin and energy levels, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S678
- Epilepsy, a brain disorder that can cause seizures, occurs in the breed. — PDSA S678
- Certain cancers can occur in the breed. — PDSA S678
Before you buy: what to check with the breeder
Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.
For every breed
- See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
- The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
- Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
- Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
- National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
- Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10
Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.
Health tests of the parents for this breed
Tests the Royal Kennel Club recommends as a minimum
Further tests for best practice
- DNA test for canine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (CLAD), an inherited immune disorder — The Royal Kennel Club S676
- DNA test for progressive retinal atrophy (rcd1) — The Royal Kennel Club S676
- Elbow X-ray screening for elbow dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — The Royal Kennel Club S676
- Eye examination by a veterinary eye specialist (UK: BVA/KC/ISDS scheme; for some breeds with gonioscopy) — The Royal Kennel Club S676
- Hip X-ray screening for hip dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — The Royal Kennel Club S676
These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.
Similar breeds
Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.
Sources
Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.
- S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
- S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
- S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
- S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
- S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
- S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
- S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
- S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
- S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
- S675FCI — FCI-Standard N° 120 — Irish Red Setter (PDF)https://fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/120g07-en.pdf
- S676The Royal Kennel Club — Breeds A to Z — Irish Setterhttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/gundog/irish-setter/
- S678PDSA — Irish Setter breed informationhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/large-dogs/irish-setter
- S679PetMD — Kristen Seymour (reviewed by Barri J. Morrison, DVM; updated 2023-02-16) — Irish Setterhttps://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/irish-setter
- S680Irish Setter Club of America (AKC parent club) — Official Breed Standard for the Irish Setter (AKC, approved 1990-08-14)https://irishsetterclub.org/breed-information/official-breed-standard/
- K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
- K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
- K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
- K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
- K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy
PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.
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