Red-Haired Irish Setter: A Cute And Friendly Dog

Redhead Irish Setter Story

The red-haired Irish setter originated from another variety of setter that is less popular today.  The combined color ranges were between white and red. There are records reporting that this breed of dog, as we know it today, already existed in the 18th century.

Back then, he was a great hunting dog, specifically, a pointing dog. That is,  his job was to accompany the hunter and show him where the prey was hidden. This same work was done by pointers , for example.

However, in the 19th century, he began to participate in beauty contests. They quickly gained a lot of popularity. Since then,  the setters born in breeders are more dedicated to beauty pageants than hunting.  Currently, there are few  setters dedicated exclusively to this activity.

However, as we will see later, the hunting instinct remains in them. As for their physical appearance, despite competition standards, little has changed over time.

Redhead Irish Setter Characteristics

This breed of dog stands out for its slender, elegant and agile appearance. They are tall dogs that reach 65 centimeters at the withers, but weigh 30 kilos at most. That’s because they have a narrow body and long legs.

The head is long and thin, but harmonious, and its expression is gentle and docile. The truffle can be light or black in color. Ears are triangular and rounded, with a low set on the head and drooping back.

As for the fur, it is smooth and long all over the body, with a silky touch and shiny appearance. It has longer bangs on the ears, belly, chest and tail. Ideally, it should be as smooth as possible, but it is often wavy. The tail is long, of low set and, even in the alert position, it never rises higher than the line of the spine.

As for colors, as the name suggests,  the redhead Irish setter can only appear brown in color. He may have white patches on his forehead and face, toes or chest. There are other varieties of setter in other colors that appear black or speckled.

behavior of the red-haired irish setter

The red-haired Irish setter’s hunting genes remain despite all generations away from the mountains. He is,  in short, a dog full of energy and intelligent, very friendly and hardworking.

In general, they  are dogs with good character, but they need to meet their daily exercise needs to avoid undesirable behavior. Three quality walks a day are usually enough, but let’s not forget about mental exercise. They need to follow trails, solve problems and have interactive toys within reach whenever they want.

They are very sociable and affectionate dogs. Therefore, they coexist with children or other pets in a very harmonious way. They are not suspicious of strangers, so they are not good guard dogs. On the contrary, they tend to make friends wherever they go.

Due to his intelligence and docility,  it is not difficult to train a  red-haired Irish setter . If you adopt a positive posture in game training  and one that is based on positive reinforcement, it is easy to train. It’s simple to get collaboration and make it easy for a working dog like this to learn .  However, establishing dominance relationships is unproductive.

Redhead Irish Setter Care

The red-haired Irish setter is, in general, a healthy breed. Due to its size, it has a certain propensity to suffer from hip dysplasia. Also, it is one of the breeds prone to suffer from gastric torsion. Furthermore, it seems that within the breed the most common diseases are hemophilia, epilepsy and eye problems.

As with any other breed of dog,  the diagnosis of these diseases or their prevention should be in the hands of a veterinarian. It is necessary to follow the recommended schedule of vaccinations and deworming to ensure the health of these dogs.

The red-haired Irish setter’s smooth, silky coat needs regular grooming to stay healthy. Otherwise, knots are created that, in addition to being unpleasant, can cause discomfort or skin problems in the dog.

As they are dogs that usually enjoy the outdoors, they  should always be dewormed. Also, the paw pads and their ears need to be checked frequently. This is because they tend to retain thorns, twigs,  as well as parasites or ticks in these areas.

The red-haired Irish setter had its origins as a hunting dog. However,  his great beauty and kindness meant that he never left the houses. Especially after finding a place as a companion dog. Remember to keep your dog physically and mentally active. This way, you will enjoy the company of a loving and loyal friend for many years to come.