Irish Red and White Setter: the original Irish setter that nearly went extinct by 1920

By the end of the 19th century the red-and-white variety had become a minority next to the fashion for the solid mahogany coat. When World War I emptied the great houses of Ireland and scattered the gundog kennels, the breed dwindled to a handful of dogs spread across County Down and the northwest of the island. The figure that circulates among cynology historians is stark: by 1920 there were probably fewer than a dozen pure dogs left alive. The Irish Red and White Setter survived through the stubbornness of one clergyman, Reverend Noble Huston, an Anglican rector in Killinchy, who through the 1920s gathered the surviving dogs and rebuilt the breed from two foundation sires whose descent is still traceable in today's pedigrees. The Irish Red and White Setter Society was founded in 1944. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale recognized the breed as Standard No. 330 in Group 7 (pointing dogs), Section 2 (British and Irish). The American Kennel Club did not open its registry until 2009, and the breed remains uncommon in the US.

One detail explains the dog's character. Unlike what happened with the solid-red Irish Setter, the rescuers here prioritized pointing work over appearance. Modern dogs therefore keep a functional hunting instinct. In Irish field trials the red and white competes against the solid red and often beats it on steadiness on point and efficiency in the retrieve.

What the breed looks like

Large, athletic, balanced. Males stand 24-26 in (61-66 cm) at the withers and weigh 60-70 lb (27-32 kg); females stand 22-24 in (57-61 cm) and weigh 50-64 lb (23-29 kg). The build is square or slightly longer than tall, strong without heaviness, with more solid lines than the somewhat leaner Irish Setter. Deep chest, muscular loins, strong bone, clean joints.

The coat gives the breed its name. A white base carries solid red patches (not fine ticking) of deep red, distributed mainly on the head, ears, part of the body, and the root of the tail. The ideal proportion is mostly white with clearly defined red patches. The coat is silky and medium-long on the body, with marked feathering on the ears, the back of the legs, the belly, and the tail. On the head and the front of the limbs the hair is short.

The ears are set medium, drop, long, and covered in silky feathering. The tail is carried level or slightly below the topline, with a generous feathered plume. The head is long and well proportioned, with a moderate stop and a mahogany, brown, or black nose.

Temperament

Friendly, affectionate, sociable. The breed was bred to work side by side with the hunter over long days, which produces a people-oriented dog: communicative and eager to please. It is one of the most even-tempered setters, less exuberant than the Irish Setter, calmer in the house, but just as driven in the field.

With family it bonds deeply. It follows its person around the house, settles at the feet or on the couch, seeks physical contact, and greets any return with visible joy. Well-socialized dogs are patient with children over five; with very young children, supervise for the dog's size and the kinetic energy of a setter at play.

With strangers it is friendly or slightly reserved at first, depending on the individual. This is not a guard dog. It will bark to announce visitors, then greet anyone past the entryway with enthusiasm. It generally lives well with other dogs; breeding as a pack gundog has preserved its canine social skills.

A practical trait: the breed develops separation anxiety easily. It was selected for close human company and finds long isolation especially hard. Households with long days away should plan for doggy daycare, a dog walker, or a stable second dog.

Health

Condition	Screening
Hip dysplasia	OFA or PennHIP radiograph
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)	DNA test plus ophthalmic exam
Bloat (GDV)	Veterinary emergency; prevention through split meals
Canine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (CLAD)	DNA test, mandatory before breeding
Von Willebrand disease type I	DNA test

Canine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (CLAD) is a breed-specific mutation with a DNA test developed in the 2000s. Any reputable breeder provides certificates for both parents. A puppy without parental testing is a sign of a breeder to avoid.

Bloat is a clinical concern in every large deep-chested breed, and the Irish Red and White Setter fits the risk profile. Practical prevention: two or three small meals a day instead of one large one, no intense exercise in the hour before and after eating, and a floor-level bowl (not raised, per current veterinary literature).

Average lifespan is 10 to 13 years. With full parental testing, a sound diet, and bloat-risk management, the breed reaches good longevity figures for its size.

Grooming

Grooming demand is moderate. Brush two or three times a week with a slicker and a metal comb, paying attention to the feathering on the ears, chest, the back of the legs, and the tail. Without that frequency the feathering mats and knots, especially behind the ears and in the armpit area.

Bathe every four to six weeks with a mild shampoo, or whenever the dog comes back muddy from a day in the field. Dry the coat completely, the ears above all, before letting the dog rest; the long hair holds moisture and invites ear infections.

The ears, being drop and long with a hairy flap, are the critical zone. Inspect weekly and clean with a specific product at the first sign of excess wax or odor. Otitis externa is the most common reason this breed shows up at the vet.

Trimming is optional and cosmetic. Some owners trim the leg feathering and the genital area to reduce mud on winter walks. For the show ring the coat is kept natural with discreet tidying. Trim nails every four weeks; brush teeth daily or three times a week.

Training

Trainability is high. The breed is intelligent, responsive to positive reinforcement, and eager to please. Early socialization and the introduction of cognitive work from puppyhood produce stable, obedient adults.

Basics:

• Positive reinforcement: treats, toy, voice. The breed is sensitive to harsh tones, and excessive corrections shut it down emotionally.
• Short, varied sessions: the Irish Red and White Setter bores with mechanical repetition and learns better when exercises are mixed.
• Thorough socialization between 8 and 16 weeks with people, other dogs, and both urban and rural settings.
• Early field work if you want to develop the pointing instinct. First introductions to birds (quail, controlled chukar) can start at 4-5 months.

Disciplines where the breed excels: pointing work on upland birds, field trials, basic obedience, recreational agility, canicross, and surface search and rescue. It is one of the few setters whose field and show lines have not split irreversibly; a dog from mixed lines keeps functional aptitude and a harmonious build.

Living arrangements

The breed needs 90-120 minutes of varied physical exercise a day, plus mental stimulation. Free running in a fenced area, long walks, retrieve sessions, and search work all help. Without that, it develops destructiveness, separation anxiety, and excessive barking.

A home with a yard or a rural setting is ideal. The breed can live in an apartment if the owner commits to two or three long outings a day, though that is not the ideal situation given the dog's size and need for free running. An apartment with no access to open fields or a large park is not a suitable setting.

With children in its own household the breed is an excellent companion from about age five or six. With very young children, supervise: a setter at full play is a 60 lb (28 kg) mass moving at considerable speed and can knock a child over by accident, with no malice. It lives well with other dogs; with household cats introduced from puppyhood it usually does fine, though the retrieve instinct means some dogs will chase a cat that runs.

Cold tolerance is good thanks to the double coat and the Irish origin. Heat tolerance is moderate; provide shade from direct sun and plenty of water in summer. Long isolation is the most critical factor; this is not a breed for an empty house ten hours a day.

Is the breed right for you?

It fits if you lead an active life with regular access to open country, value an intelligent and communicative dog that gets involved in family life, are interested in upland bird hunting or dog sports, and have someone home most of the day. It fits families with children over five, bird hunters, and people who run canicross, recreational agility, or trail running with their dog.

It does not fit if you have long work hours with no option for a dog walker, expected a low-maintenance coat, are sedentary, or live in a small apartment with no access to open space. It also does not fit if your patience with the adolescent phase (10-18 months) is short, because the Irish Red and White Setter goes through a limit-testing stage that you manage with consistency and gentle firmness.

FAQ

Is this the same as the Irish Setter? No. They are separate breeds with separate AKC standards. They share an Irish origin and a bird-hunting aptitude. Differences: the red and white is a bit more robust, holds its pointing work better, and is notably rarer.

How much does a puppy cost in the US? Roughly $1,500 to $3,000 from a breeder registered with the AKC or the Irish Kennel Club, with parental testing (hips, eyes, DNA for CLAD and von Willebrand). Availability is limited in the US, and many puppies are imported from Ireland, the UK, or continental Europe.

Is it still good at hunting? Yes. Unlike many modern pointing breeds, where show lines have lost their working drive, the Irish Red and White Setter keeps both instinct and aptitude. Irish field trials are the reference point.

Does it shed a lot? Moderate shedding, with two heavier seasonal blows. It is not a hypoallergenic breed.

Can a weekend hunter own one, or does it need intensive hunting? It works perfectly as a weekend hunter's dog as long as it gets enough daily exercise between hunts. Occasional hunting does not make up for a sedentary week.