Irish Setter facts for kids
Irish Setter
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| Other names | Red Setter (Irish: sotar rua) Irish Red Setter |
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| Origin | Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
The Irish Setter is a beautiful and energetic type of dog. It's known for its long, silky red coat. This breed is a kind of gundog, which means it was originally bred to help hunters find birds. Today, Irish Setters are also popular family pets. They are often called "Red Setters" because of their striking color.
Appearance
Irish Setters have a medium-long, silky coat that is usually a bright red or chestnut color. This coat needs to be brushed often to keep it from getting tangled. In winter, they grow a thick undercoat to stay warm. Their fur is longer and feathery on their tail, ears, chest, and legs.
Male Irish Setters usually stand about 61 to 71 centimeters (24 to 28 inches) tall. They weigh around 29 to 34 kilograms (65 to 75 pounds). Females are a bit smaller, standing about 55 to 62 centimeters (21.5 to 24.5 inches) tall. They weigh about 25 to 29 kilograms (55 to 65 pounds). These dogs have a deep chest and a slim waist. Most Irish Setters live for about 11 to 12 years.
Personality and Behavior
Irish Setters are known for being very friendly. They usually get along well with children and other dogs. They are also happy to greet visitors with lots of excitement! Because they were bred for hunting, they might chase small animals. So, if you have small pets like cats, it's good to introduce them carefully.
These dogs are very affectionate and loving. They make wonderful companions and family pets. Irish Setters are also very active. They need long walks every day and enjoy running freely in open spaces. It's important to train them well, especially to come back when called. This is because they can sometimes get so excited that they "play deaf" and ignore your calls!
Irish Setters like to have something to do. If they don't get enough exercise or attention, they can become bored. A bored Irish Setter might get into mischief or become very hyper. They love being with people and should not be left alone for long periods. They are smart dogs and learn quickly with positive training methods.
Even though they are alert, Irish Setters are not the best guard dogs. This is because they are usually too friendly to be assertive with strangers.
Irish Setters are also often used as therapy dogs. They visit schools and hospitals to help people feel better. In schools, children sometimes read to Irish Setters. This helps kids practice reading in a calm and relaxed setting, without feeling judged. The dog will often lie quietly on the floor while the student reads.
Their Jobs and History
The Irish Setter was first bred for hunting. Their job was to find and point out upland gamebirds, like pheasants or grouse. They are very energetic and can hunt for a long time over wide areas. They are good at finding birds in fields or on wet or dry moorland. They use their excellent sense of smell to find the bird. Once they find it, they stop and "point" with their nose, showing the hunter where the bird is hiding.
Irish Setters were brought to the United States in the early 1800s. In 1874, the American Field created the Field Dog Stud Book. This was the first official registry for purebred dogs in the United States. Around that time, the red Irish Setter became very popular in dog shows.
Images for kids
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Irish Setter in a dog show.
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9-week old puppy plays with cat
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The Irish Setter, in the beginning, was not identical to the breed today. The solid red colouring came about by selective breeding practices. Ranger, a Red Setter, the property of Elizabeth Gray in 1797
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Garry Owen with Maine Governor Baxter.
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Irish Setter in profile
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Two female Irish Setters
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Irish Setter crosses stream in Himalayas
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Irish Setter lying down
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Irish Setter 1881
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Irish Setter with a duck, 1855
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Irish Setter in 1879
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Irish Setter circa 1915
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The Irish Setter was bred for hunting
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Irish Setter
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An Irish Setter after swimming
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Irish Setter running in the fields
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See also
In Spanish: Setter irlandés para niños
