The Irish Setter, with his deep red coat and soulful expression, is truly a beautiful dog. In addition to great looks, this Irish breed has a great personality to boot! Playful, happy and loving – these dogs make wonderful companions for those who can meet their needs. Furthermore, they make great hunting companions and even therapy dogs in nursing homes. Their high prey drive, high energy and cold-weather-ready coats makes them fantastic in the field, but less so in an urban environment.
Irish Setter puppies have a lot of energy and a stubborn temperament – they need plenty of training and exercise in order to mature into the gentle dogs they will eventually become. As the breed can take a while to fully mature, an owner should be prepared to deal with a lot of mischief in the meantime! This may include a propensity for nabbing your belongings or just general destructiveness. On the bright side, most puppies can be housebroken without too much trouble, however. When that mischievous puppy eventually grows up, he will still need lots of exercise throughout his life as this is a high-energy breed. Having a large fenced yard and/or being prepared to give the dog plenty of outdoor activity should be a requirement for ownership. This is not the best match for someone in an apartment.
Irish Setters are intelligent but can have short attention spans, so when it comes to training the owner should know what they are doing. They can alternate between wanting to please and deciding that they would rather go do something else during training time. It is the trainer’s job to keep them focused and motivated in a firm but fair (and fun) way. Like all sporting breeds, the Irish thrives when he has a job to do, and obedience training is one such job that will keep him happy and fulfilled. Once the basics of obedience are taught, an owner can move into other dog sports if desired – Irish Setters do great at hunting, dock diving, tracking, agility, rally and flyball – just to name a few! 
Irish Setters are extremely social animals who want to be around “their people” as much as possible (they don’t make good outdoor-only dogs for this reason). They love adults and children alike, as well as other dogs. Some have issues with cats, and some are too rambunctious to be around very small kids. They are outgoing with strangers and love making new friends! They will announce visitors to the home with great vigor, although they are too friendly to be relied upon as guard dogs. While some members of the breed have protected their owners from dangerous individuals, this is usually only in the most extreme of circumstances.
The Irish Setter does shed, and he needs a fair amount of grooming upkeep. Brushing the coat twice a week and giving him regular baths will help keep him in good shape. Show dogs sport an understated traditional clip, which means an owner should be prepared to learn or pay a groomer if they want their dog to have the particular “show look” of an Irish Setter. Finally – ears, teeth and nails will all need regular grooming as well.
Irish Setters adore visiting new places and tend to bring their enthusiasm with them wherever they go! Calm in the car, once they reach their destination they are likely to bounce out ready for adventure once the car door is opened. These athletic, playful dogs love anything that involves activity, wildlife and other people. On the flip side, an Irish Setter that is constantly left at home by himself is likely to develop separation anxiety.
