Setter gundog Large size 24-32 kg
Irish Setter
A glamorous, exuberant setter that stays puppyish for years - affectionate and family-friendly, but demands heavy daily exercise and coat care.
Match with your household
See match detail → Quick overview
Large
Size
24-32 kg, 55-67 cm
Very high
Activity
Built for all-day work; needs serious daily exercise
Low
Alone-time tolerance
Pack-minded; dislikes long hours alone
Moderate
Trainability
Trainable but independent-minded
Moderate
Coat care
Silky feathered coat; regular brushing and trimming
Good
Fit with kids
Good with kids given supervision
Good
Other pets
Pack-social; usually fine with other dogs
Light
Health burden
Dental Disease, Hip Dysplasia, Chronic Ear Infections
The Irish Setter typically weighs 24-32 kg, stands 55-67 cm, and lives 11-14 years.
Consider this breed if…
you're an active family that runs, hikes, or hunts most days,
you want a genuinely friendly dog with people and other dogs,
someone is home most of the day or the dog comes along,
you enjoy brushing a beautiful coat a few times a week.
Do not consider this breed if…
the dog would regularly be alone through full workdays,
you want a fast-maturing, serious dog - this one is a clown until 3,
your exercise budget is one moderate walk a day,
off-leash reliability matters more to you than enthusiasm.
A typical day with a Irish Setter
- 6:30 · Morning60 min run or free galloping in a safe area
- 9:00 · MidmorningRests near its people; it hates being shut away
- 12:30 · NoonWalk with sniffing time - the nose needs work too
- 16:00 · AfternoonShort, upbeat training; keep it fun or it tunes out
- 18:30 · EveningSecond workout - hike, fetch, or field work
- 21:00 · NightLeans on someone on the sofa, then sleeps soundly
Family and environment
Kids Good
Gentle and playful; exuberance can knock over toddlers.
Dogs Good
Pack-social gundog; usually delighted by dog company.
Cats Conditional
Fine when raised together; bird-dog instincts may chase outside.
Apartment Conditional
Only with two big daily workouts, without them it unravels.
House with a yard Suitable
Fenced yard helps but doesn't replace real running.
City Manages
Sociable enough for city life if the exercise is there.
Countryside Ideal
Fields to gallop in are what it was bred for.
Health data provided by RealVetCost Overall health burden Light
Detailed health data - inheritance, prevalence, course, and typical treatment costs - lives in a separate expert database. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice - confirm any decision with your vet.
View the full health profileTop health concerns
Dental Disease Routine home care and cleanings reduce risk
Hip Dysplasia Screen breeding stock; manage weight and joint load
Chronic Ear Infections Drop ears need regular cleaning
Progressive Retinal Atrophy Inherited; DNA tests exist in many lines
Similar breeds - by reason
Not visually similar - similar in what they mean for you.
Slightly calmer setter cousin
English Setter
A gentle, feathered bird dog that is great with family but needs daily exercise and regular coat care to stay content.
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Heavier, more reserved setter
Gordon Setter
A handsome, loyal black-and-tan setter that bonds closely and needs daily exercise plus regular grooming of its feathered coat.
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Similar friendliness, easier training
Golden Retriever
A gentle, biddable family dog that fits almost any household - as long as you accept heavy shedding and one of the higher cancer burdens among popular breeds.
View profile →Frequently asked questions
How much does an Irish Setter cost?
Expect roughly $1,000-$2,500 from a health-testing US breeder; field and show lines can differ in price. The purchase price is the small part: over a 11-14 year life, food for an athletic 24-32 kg dog, grooming, ear care, and routine vet work cost far more, and deep-chested breeds carry some bloat risk - an emergency that can cost thousands. Insurance or a reserve fund is wise.
How much exercise does an Irish Setter need?
Plan for around 2 hours of real activity daily, ideally including free running - this is a gundog bred to quarter fields all day. A leash walk around the block does not come close. Underexercised setters are the classic bouncing, counter-surfing, garden-excavating complaint; well-run ones are surprisingly calm and cuddly at home.
Are Irish Setters good family dogs?
Yes, for active families - they are among the friendliest large breeds, genuinely gentle with children and welcoming to guests and other dogs. The honest caveats: they stay boisterous and puppyish for their first 2-3 years, they can flatten small children by accident, and they are useless as guard dogs because they love everyone.
Can an Irish Setter be left alone during a workday?
Not comfortably as a routine. This is a pack-oriented breed that wants to be with its people; regular 8+ hour stretches alone commonly produce barking, destruction, and general misery, even in an exercised dog. It suits households where someone is home much of the day or the dog joins daily life.