Irish Red and White Setter

The Irish Red and White Setter is an intelligent and friendly dog with a balanced character. Representatives of this breed are very sociable and require a lot of human attention. They become very attached to the owner, as well as to the members of his family. Excellent get along with children, showing care and affection. Setters do not have aggression characteristics at all.

Breed Photos

Origin History

The Irish Red and White Setter appeared in Ireland back in the 17th century. This ancient breed became the ancestor of the red setter, which gained great popularity by the end of the 19th century. The offspring gradually began to oust the ancestor so that the latter was on the verge of extinction. In the 1920s, amateurs began to restore the nearly extinct breed, and quite successfully. In 1944 a club of amateur Irish Red and White Setters appeared in Ireland. Thirty-seven years later, the International Amateur Club of the breed began its work. The standard of the Setter breed was officially adopted only in 2005.

Appearance

The Irish Red and White Setter is a handsome dog with a proportional athletic build. The back is strong and muscular. The chest is deep, with curved ribs. The neck is not thick, slightly curved. It has a wide head with a not pronounced occipital tubercle. The dog’s muzzle is dry and square. The nose bridge is black. The eyes are oval, convex, dark walnut in color. The ears are medium length, floppy.

The limbs are straight, long, muscular, with strong bones. The tail is not long, narrowing towards the end, thick at the base. The coat of the pet is long, thin, silky. The color is white with large red spots.

Character

The Irish Red and White Setter is an intelligent and friendly dog with a balanced character. Representatives of this breed are very sociable and require a lot of human attention. They become very attached to the owner, as well as to the members of his family. Excellent get along with children, showing care and affection. Setters do not have aggression characteristics at all. They get along well with other pets and do not give voices in vain. They are very calm dogs. At work they are very energetic and easy-going.

Care

The Irish Red and White Setter is a calm family dog that adapts well to life in an apartment. Just do not forget to walk your pet twice a day. The duration of the walk should be at least an hour and a half. If these conditions are observed, the dog will be comfortable in an urban environment.

Long coats require daily brushing with a stiff brush. Bathe your dog with a special shampoo as needed, no more than once every two weeks. Also, take care of his eyes and ears, and clean them in time. Once a month, trim his nails.

Training

Proper training and early socialization are important for the setter. The earlier the dog learns basic commands, the easier it will be to train him. When training, it is important to encourage your pet and show patience and restraint. You shouldn’t punish, yell or force him. It’s better to educate your dog playfully.

The Irish Red and White Setter is a born hunter. Therefore, regular walks, preferably in the woods, as well as field trials will be mandatory. To develop the dog’s hunting qualities, it is necessary to carry out specialized training – training. It is better to entrust this business to professionals.

Common Diseases

The Irish Red and White Setter are generally in good health. Unfortunately, the breed is prone to hereditary diseases. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to the pedigree of the puppy. Such ailments characterize the setter:

• hip dysplasia;
• Willebrand’s disease;
• esophageal dilation;
• ophthalmological diseases.

A dog needs good nutrition, good care, and constant attention from its owner to prevent illness. You should take your dog to the veterinarian and have him vaccinated against infectious diseases.

Nutrition

The nutrition of the Irish Red and White Setter must be handled responsibly. Like all hunting dogs, this breed is energetic and agile. They require a balanced diet based on protein food. Vitamins, minerals, vegetables, and animal fats should also be present. Give the setter food twice a day in small portions so as not to overfeed. It is not advisable to feed the dog before walking or hunting to avoid stomach congestion.

Give your pet eggs, cottage cheese, and sometimes saltwater fish, but not too often. Do not forget about cereals, vegetables, and fruits, which contain necessary minerals and vitamins. Foods such as sweets, chocolate, smoked meats, tubular bones, and spicy food are contraindicated for the dog.