Irish Red and White Setter puppies

About the Irish Red and White Setter

The Irish Red and White Setter is the older of Ireland's two setters and very nearly disappeared in the early twentieth century before a determined revival brought the breed back. This is a strongly built gundog of 57 to 66 cm, a little stockier than their solid red relative, in a pearl white coat broken by solid red patches with silky feathering. The working character shows at home as constant good humour: sociable, biddable and demonstrative, rated 5 out of 5 with children and other pets given supervision.

Energy is very high and this dog is miserable without an outlet, whether that is field work, long hikes or canine sport. While they are growing, up to about eighteen months, keep exercise low impact and let a puppy set their own pace in a fenced field rather than jogging or cycling with them. Grooming is a weekly brush and comb through the feathering. The gene pool is small, so health testing on both parents matters more than usual. An adult who seems hyperactive is usually an adult who needs more exercise.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Irish Red and White Setter puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. This is a very high energy breed. The mistake owners make is trying to tire them out physically. Training, scentwork and puzzles will do more than distance ever will. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Posterior polar cataract, screened by an ophthalmologist evaluation
• Progressive retinal atrophy (rcd1), detectable by DNA test on both parents
• Canine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (CLAD), detectable by DNA test
• Hip dysplasia, screened by hip evaluation of breeding stock
• von Willebrand disease, a clotting disorder detectable by DNA test
• Hypothyroidism, detected by a blood test of thyroid hormone levels

Your Irish Red and White Setter puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a Irish Red and White Setter.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 15.9 to 27.2 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 27.2 kg; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other large breeds

More on the Irish Red and White Setter

Previous: Irish Doodle · Next: Irish Setter

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Irish Red and White Setter breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/irish-red-and-white-setter/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Pleple2000, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.