9 things to know before getting an Irish Red and White Setter

Most people know what an Irish Setter looks like but get surprised when they hear about the Irish Red and White Setter. Is that the same breed as the standard Irish Setter but with a tinge of white in its coat? Don’t dog breeds come in different coat varieties anyway, why is this one separate? We’ll answer that and more in our list of 9 interesting things to know about the Irish Red and White Setter below.

1. The Irish Red and White Setter is the original “Irish Setter”

Also called IRWS dogs for short, Irish Red and Whites are not just an “offshoot” of the Irish Setter – they are actually the original. Or, to be more accurate, both breeds are the original.

Essentially, centuries ago, Irish Setters came in two coat types – full red and white with red spots. Once the trend of looking after dogs as family pets started getting more and more popular, however, IRWS dogs fell out of fashion.

Why? No adequate reason – people at the time just decided that red Irish Setters looked better and they started neglecting the red and white variant. This led to breeders avoiding the breeding of IRWS dogs as much as possible as they were deemed “unprofitable”. Things got so bad at one point that this coat type nearly got instinct.

Still, select few breeders managed to act in time and save the red and white setter. Instead of as family pets, these dogs continued being used exclusively for hunting even though the practice was also declining in popularity and there were also many other Setter and Pointer breeds in use. What’s important, however, was that this coat type continued being bred albeit rarely.

Another factor was that the standard red Irish Setter never really started getting bred with red and white Setters again. Over time, this led to some minor differences appearing between the two dogs that used to be the same breed not that long ago. Namely, the Irish Red and White Setters are a bit shorter and stockier than their now more red athletic cousins.

So, are standard Irish Setters and IRWS dogs the same breed now? Officially, no, these are two different breeds. In practice, however, the physical, grooming, and temperamental characteristics of these two dogs are not that major – one’s just shorter and stockier than the other. That’s pretty much the same difference as that between American and British Labrador Retrievers and those are still counted as the same breed. But, hey, we can’t argue with kennel clubs.

2. These dogs are a bit shorter and stockier than their red Irish Setter cousins

Depending on where you look, the average height and weight of Irish Red and Whites can be listed as either identical to that of the standard red Irish Setter or the height will be a bit lower. Most of what we’ve seen points to the latter rather than the former but it’s difficult to say.

Overall, you can expect your IRWS dog to be somewhere between 22 and 26 inches tall at the shoulder (56 to 66 cm) and to weigh somewhere between 50 and 70 pounds (23 to 32 kg). In terms of its body shape, it is very similar to the standard red Irish Setter – hanging ears, long standard muzzle, big black nose with small eyes, long legs, and an athletic body.

3. The color of these dogs really is mostly white with just a few red patches

This Setter breed may be called “Red and White” but it’s actually “mostly white with just a tinge of red”. This does give the IRWS a very cool and beautiful look, just don’t be surprised if you were expecting a 50/50 color split. Also, don’t worry, congenital blindness doesn’t seem to be an issue for these dogs even though they are almost fully white. There are some potential eye issues, however – we’ll cover those below.

4. Irish Red and Whites are harder to find than red Irish Setters

As you can see from AKC’s breed popularity rankings for 2021, Irish Red and White Setters rank at #154, 83 spots behind the red Irish Setter. This doesn’t reflect negatively on the breed itself but it does mean that IRWS dogs are harder to find. So, if you want one, you may have to be prepared for a longer search.

More importantly, It’s crucial that you make sure to ask for hereditary and health certificates for the pup you’re getting. This will ensure good health or it’ll at least let you know ahead of time what health issues you should watch out for. You can ask for medical information even if you’re adopting from a shelter.

5. Like their red cousins, the Irish Red and Whites need lots of exercise and playtime

This is a hunting dog so you should expect to have to spend a lot of time in the dog park every day. 90 to 120 minutes of outdoor time is pretty much a must with this active breed and that doesn’t include yard time – that’s extra. There should also be indoor playtime every day to keep your dog mentally stimulated. And then, there are the longer weekend hikes.

If this sounds like too much bother and you’d prefer a more of a “couch potato” pet, then neither this nor other Setter breeds are suitable for you.

6. These dogs are fiercely intelligent but can be a bit stubborn too

As a hunting breed, the IRWS boasts impressive intelligence. It is somewhat harder to train than other gun dog breeds such as retrievers, however. This means that an early focus on obedience training is crucial as well as that you’d do well to make training sessions shorter and more frequent as the Setter’s attention span isn’t exactly long.

7. The Irish Red and White Setter is very affectionate and loving as well as friendly toward strangers

The Irish Red and White Setter really is a model dog when it comes to getting along with those around it. Smaller or larger families, kids, guests, strangers in the park, other dogs, and even non-canine pets – an IRWS can get along with everyone.

Of course, some basic socialization early in the dog’s life is still a must. Once that’s done, however, your Irish Red and White pet should give you very few problems when it comes to interacting with those around you. Just make sure that you still maintain at least some basic supervision with babies and toddlers during those first few months – that’s just always good practice.

8. These dogs have silky double coats but are nevertheless pretty easy to groom

The IRWS has a gorgeous coat with a thick underlayer but it doesn’t shed as much as other similar breeds. One thorough brushing a week as well as one bath a month should be able to keep this dog’s coat in check pretty easily. There are two seasonal blowouts every year (typically spring and fall) but even those aren’t all that bad. If they bother you, some extra grooming can alleviate them or you can just visit a professional groomer twice a year.

9. While generally healthy, Irish Red and Whites do have a few potential issues to watch out for

As with red Irish Setters, IRWS dogs tend to have a very impressive average lifespan for their size – about 12 to 14 years or even up to 15 years according to some estimates. And, remember, that’s the expected average. This means that with good care, a healthy pup with no hereditary issues can outlive that average by several years too.

Still, the emphasis is on “good care”. This means excellent food, regular exercise, good grooming, and mental stimulation, as well as regular vet visits to look for early symptoms of potential issues. These include things such as Willebrand’s disease, hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), posterior polar cataracts, and immune disorders.

So, if you want a large dog with a great lifespan and health, the Irish Red and White Setter is a great choice as long as you look after it properly.

So, should you get an Irish Red and White Setter over a standard red Irish Setter? Sure, if you like the coat color, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t. These dogs are every bit as awesome, playful, social, affectionate, and fun to be around as their more common red siblings. Just make sure that you can indeed keep up with their exercise needs as this is not a suitable dog for the more

As with any other relatively rare breed, however, you should be careful where you get the dog from and whether it’s healthy or not. These dogs are still occasionally available in shelters or can be purchased from breeders – just make sure you know what you’re getting.