Irish Red and White Setter

Overview

The Irish Red and White Setter is a medium to large sporting dog from Ireland. It stands 22 to 26 inches at the shoulder and weighs 50 to 75 pounds. The body is athletic and balanced. The white coat with clean red patches distinguishes the breed from its solid-red Irish Setter cousin, and the two share ancestry but developed as separate breeds.

This is a warm, biddable, deeply social setter. IRWSs bond hard to family, greet strangers with enthusiasm, and thrive on togetherness. They fit active households that hunt or enjoy outdoor sports. The breed is rarer than the Irish Setter and finding a reputable breeder can take patience. Numbers are stable and growing worldwide.

History & origin

Setters have hunted birds in Ireland for at least 400 years. Early Irish setters came in various colors including solid red, solid white, and red-and-white. By the 1700s all three types worked alongside each other on Irish estates. The Irish Red and White Setter was the more common working color at the time, though the solid red gained popularity in show rings in the 1800s.

The show fashion for solid red nearly destroyed the red-and-white variety. By the early 1900s IRWSs were rare and considered extinct by some references. A small group of Irish enthusiasts, notably Reverend Noble Huston, revived the breed starting in the 1920s. Huston and later breeders rebuilt the population from a handful of surviving dogs.

The Irish Kennel Club recognized the IRWS as a separate breed in 1979. The FCI followed shortly after. The AKC placed the breed in the Sporting Group in 2009. Numbers remain smaller than the solid Irish Setter but the population is stable and growing. Working-line IRWSs are used in field trials across Ireland, Britain, and North America.

Appearance

The IRWS is medium to large and balanced. Height is 22 to 26 inches at the shoulder and weight ranges from 50 to 75 pounds. The body is roughly square or slightly longer than tall, deep-chested and well-muscled. The build is more substantial than the Irish Setter, closer in bone to a Gordon or a working English Setter.

The head is broad and slightly domed, with a moderate stop and a well-developed muzzle. Ears are set at eye level, drop, and feathered. Eyes are dark hazel or dark brown, with a gentle intelligent expression. The coat is medium-length, straight or slightly wavy, with feathering on ears, chest, back of legs, and tail. The pattern is white base with clean red patches; mottling and ticking on face, feet, and legs is acceptable.

Temperament

The IRWS is warm, biddable, sensitive, and deeply social. It bonds hard to family and greets strangers with enthusiasm. Toward other dogs it's sociable and rarely picks fights. Toward children it's gentle and patient. The breed is quieter and more thoughtful than the Irish Setter, less silly and more work-focused.

In the field the breed switches on. IRWSs point instinctively, work with the handler rather than solo, and cover ground with an efficient gait. Prey drive is high but controllable, and the breed responds well to steady training. It's a partner dog in the field, not a self-directed hunter that requires managing.

Living with one

Energy is high. Adults need at least an hour and a half of hard exercise daily, ideally with hunting-style or scent-driven work. Long walks alone aren't quite enough. Fetch, tracking, nose work, and hunt training all suit the breed. Puppies grow slowly and shouldn't do repetitive impact exercise before 15 months.

Housing is best in a house with a securely fenced yard. Apartments are possible for adult IRWSs with committed owners who commit to daily hard exercise. The breed can settle indoors when properly exercised but does need room and outdoor access. Rural or suburban homes suit it best.

Climate tolerance is broad. The medium coat handles both cold and heat reasonably well. In freezing weather, a coat helps on long outings. In hot humid summers, exercise should shift to morning or evening. The IRWS is an outdoor athlete but a highly-bonded companion and should live in the house with the family.

Alone-time tolerance is limited. IRWSs are Velcro dogs and struggle with long solitary hours. Adults with proper exercise manage a workday, but the breed is prone to separation-related behaviors when routinely left for very long stretches. Crate training and midday enrichment help. Noise level is low; the breed barks to alert but isn't a chronic vocalizer.

Training & exercise

Trainability is high. IRWSs are smart, sensitive, and eager to work with their handlers. Reward-based training with food and clear structure works well. The breed's sensitivity means harsh handling shuts them down. Short focused sessions get more done than long serious ones. The breed excels in obedience, agility, hunt tests, and field trials.

Early socialization matters. Puppy classes and controlled exposure to strangers, novel environments, and calm dogs before four months build a confident adult. The breed's default is friendly, so socialization is about broadening experience rather than fixing problems. Recall training should start early and continue for life.

The common mistake is underestimating the exercise commitment. An IRWS without a job becomes anxious, destructive, or vocally frustrated. Owners who commit to hunt training, dog sports, or serious hiking routines produce settled adults. This isn't a dog for someone who wants a low-effort companion.

Grooming & care

Grooming is moderate. Weekly brushing with a slicker brush controls loose hair and prevents mats in the feathering. The breed sheds moderately year-round with heavier drops in spring and fall. Baths every four to six weeks are typical, more often for active hunters. Feathering on ears, chest, and legs benefits from light trimming for tidiness.

Ears deserve weekly attention. Drop ears trap moisture and debris after hunts. Clean with a vet-approved solution weekly. Nails need trimming every three weeks. Teeth benefit from brushing several times a week. Check paws, ears, and feathering for burrs and ticks after every hunt or hike.

Health & lifespan

Typical lifespan is 12 to 15 years. The IRWS is generally sound thanks to careful revival breeding, though the narrow foundation means responsible breeders monitor genetic diversity closely.

Hip dysplasia occurs and both parents should carry OFA or PennHIP certifications. Progressive retinal atrophy is documented; DNA testing exists. Canine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (CLAD) is a serious immune disorder present in the breed's gene pool, and DNA testing is essential for breeding stock.

Other conditions include hypothyroidism, epilepsy, and various cardiac issues. Bloat is a risk in any deep-chested breed. Responsible breeders screen hips, elbows, eyes (through CAER), cardiac health, thyroid, and CLAD, and share the paperwork on request. Ask specifically about CLAD status; it's the breed's signature genetic concern.

With kids & pets

IRWSs raised with children are typically excellent family dogs. They're gentle, patient, and tough enough to handle rough play. Supervision with toddlers is important because of the breed's size and enthusiasm rather than any temperament concern. Older children and IRWSs bond deeply.

First-time owner note

A workable first-dog choice for active households ready for a sporting breed. The friendly temperament and biddability make handling easy. The exercise commitment, rarity of good breeders, and CLAD testing homework are the main considerations. Casual pet homes usually underuse the breed.

Fun facts

• The IRWS was the original color of Irish setters and predates the solid Irish Setter in Irish hunting history.
• The breed nearly went extinct in the early 1900s when solid red became fashionable in show rings.
• Reverend Noble Huston led the twentieth-century revival, rebuilding the breed from a handful of surviving dogs.
• Ireland recognizes the IRWS as a national breed alongside the Irish Setter and the Kerry Blue Terrier.

Famous & in culture

• The IRWS features prominently on Irish cultural and tourism materials as one of the country's native breeds.
• Individual IRWSs have won Group placements at major Irish, British, and North American shows since the breed's revival.