Please don't leave a setter in a crate for extended periods of time. Setters are active animals and extensive crating can leave them sad & lonely, leading to anxiety and bad behavior. They need to be able to run and play and they need to be with others. They are loving and devoted to their people and want to be near them.
I'm currently fostering an Irish Setter who developed anxiety and crate sores from extensive crating. The poor dog was on Prozac for anxiety and had become destructive to blankets etc in the crate, so he was in an otherwise empty create -- hence the crate sores on his chest. The shelter was told that he had extensive food allergies and sensitivities and could eat no protein.
I've had him for 2 weeks. He's a sweet, mild mannered, well behaved dog who loves to run around in the yard and sit near me. We're working to address his alleged food sensitivities but so far we've found that the can eat chicken, eggs and salmon. He's being weaned off the Prozac and we've stopped the fiber supplement, anti-allergy and heartburn meds.
I'm beginning to think that his food sensitivities arose from anxiety, which arose from extensive crating. Having to "hold it in" all day exacerbated his separation anxiety. And vice-versa.
Simple human company and loving care, plus being able to run free outside has made a tremendous difference. He's a different dog!
I’ll answer your other questions, but first, leaving any setter in a crate eight hours a day would be borderline cruel, please don’t do that! They are extremely active and affectionate dogs, meant to be off leash by your side in the field flushing game. Your setter will be stir crazy, sad, and not thriving if you crate them all day. That said, if you give them enough exercise otherwise, they can definitely handle being at home alone without terrorizing your house. And our boy sleeps in his crate overnight sometimes and absolutely loves it. He goes in there on his own.
Setters are extraordinarily friendly dogs. Everyone is their friend, dogs and human alike. They are not known to be reactive. They are, however, sensitive. You can hurt their feelings pretty easily and they tend to mope around when they think you’re sad or upset with them. It’s very endearing.
I would rate them a 4/5 on adaptability. They travel pretty well, but do like their routines. They can get a little anxious in car rides, in very new situations, etc. But overall they are pretty resilient dogs. They shake off bad experiences pretty fast and get back to doing what they do best — bringing joy to the world around them.
Ooo following! I hope this is my next dog. I think this breeder is in PA. https://www.trulyredandwhites.com/?fbclid=IwAR1trWBH8Q7Yj9rbp8aVjZGKvHHHSuyQzCuEtDZil-bC70-A944rvQ28EnM
I have an e fence for my setter, and it works fine. Mine beeps before it’s about to shock him and he knows his barrier to the absolute limits. The more cruel thing is to keep that dog in a box for hours at a time. If you’re serious about that I’d recommend getting a kennel outside so the dog can bounce off the walls to its hearts content. The dogs have soft mouths, they really can’t cause damage to a human, and I’ve never even seen mine look twice at a person, granted he was trained properly. Their anxiety should be fine, but separation is a whole other thing. If you can’t get a kennel outside with space for the dog to pace, then don’t get the dog. It’ll tear up your house if left out, and having a dog with that amount of energy in a crate is cruel. They’re hunting dogs, they need more energy than you’d think. Mine barely came inside for the first two years of his life, because they don’t stop. Just walking wouldn’t be enough for the dog. They’re resilient and adaptable, but it’s a bad idea for you to get you, I don’t think you’re prepared for the energy level that the dog has.
I’ve got a red setter: They need a lot of attention and exercise. Honestly wouldn’t recommend w y’all’s situation unless you’re looking at an older adoption.
My ~15 month old is stubborn and independent at times but also clingy & mischievous. High energy and short attention span.
I don’t have a fenced in backyard and it’s practically every day 1-2 hours at off the leash parks + handful of walks a day + enrichment + play and it’s still constant attention seeking and neediness haha. (I had one breeder turn me down for not having a fence).
Then there’s the brushing, daily pulling out twigs, seeds etc from his feathers, breaking up mats by hand.. and ear cleaning every time he swims / bathes..
He can be very mouthy during play but never bites hard, likes to play rough and will go for ankles with an ever evolving attack strategy haha.
Thank you for your honest feedback! We definitely have time for daily walks and exercise, but also have demanding day jobs and a kid in lots of after school sports so we don’t want to get a dog has exercise needs that we can’t always meet.
I will say if you’re set on the breed and delegate / communicate responsibilities & expectations amongst the 3 of you before hand it could work out… if you factor in daycare, my setter loves other dogs and I leave him w the breeder on her farm with other boarded dogs when I fly for work trips. He can be a bit much for some dogs.
Crate like the others said was why I said not ideal, and running around with a child who is busy with extracurriculars sports friends etc could make it tough… the dog would want to be with you but if it’s outside sports etc you could always bring him/her… mine goes on week long road-trips with me and hotels and does alright so they are adaptable. The first ~year and a half has been tough ngl but it’s just me and you have a team. I’d check out the AKC website for reputable breeders and reach out about what they think. There’s a couple Facebook groups also. The English and Gordon setters I’ve experienced seem to be more moderate energy breeds so that’s another option…
Exactly what this person said. Mine would run for hours a day & still have energy. It’s constant. They are clingy, mischievous, high energy, attention seeking. There’s a reason it’s a “dying” breed.
They need to be brushed every day. You will find burs, twigs, etc. In their hair.
Yes, they will be mouthy during play.
Also I’d be very careful with off leash unless trained properly. We’ve always had our setters professionally trained because the breed is so mischievous. Unless trained properly, Irish setters are notorious for spotting a cat, birds, squirrels & bolting. They are great escape artists too & before you know it can be miles away exploring. They LOVE to be outdoors. More stubborn than other breeds who always listen to owners & have great recall.
I honestly think your family will be better off with a different breed. Have you considered a Newfie, lol?
We have a coming 2 y.o. Irish Setter - our first. We also have a standard-sized longhair Dachshund. My past dogs have included a prior Dachshund, a Doberman, a Newfoundland, and a Cairn Terrier.
To provide context, we live on a small farm (4 acres). Sometimes I wonder if we need more property, LOL! My husband and I both work from home, although I'm on-site once a week. The exercise needs of the Irish Setter are just off the charts. Luckily, between the acreage and the fact that I'm extremely active when I'm not at work, we can manage his energy needs pretty well. But there is no way on God's green earth that I would ever imagine crating him for extended periods of time during the day. As the previous poster said, it would be borderline cruel. Many breeds of dogs would be content to do that, but this is not one of them.
What's funny is that we had a Newfoundland who was just the kindest and mellowest dog ever. The drool and twice-yearly "blow-out" shedding was manageable (We had regular groomer appointments every 6 weeks). As a result, I thought I had sufficient "long-coated dog" experience to lean on when it came time to get our Setter. What no one could have prepared us for is the amount of MESS this dog is capable of creating! Good Lord, he's like the character "PigPen" from the Charlie Brown series. He loves nothing more than to chase a ball until he drops, but before he drops, he heads STRAIGHT for the pond, REGARDLESS OF THE TIME OF YEAR! And yet he looks so pleased with himself afterwards that we can't help but grimace and laugh!
With all that said, would I get another one? ABSOLUTELY. Are we still on a massive learning curve? YES. I actually just joined this forum to seek advice from those with more Setter experience than I have to get feedback for a couple of different things I've been wondering about. But when you think of all the different breeds of dogs out there with so many different types of temperaments, be mindful to pick a breed who will fit in like a champ with your family so that you're not trying to make a square fit in a round hole.
We have two Irish Red and White Setters, the best dogs I’ve ever had. Gentle, loving, very playful. They don’t tear up the house, and haven’t killed our two cats, lol. They need alot of exercise, i take mine for one or two mile walks every day and they also run off leash at a local baseball field for 30-40 minutes a couple times a week.
Please don't leave a setter in a crate for extended periods of time. Setters are active animals and extensive crating can leave them sad & lonely, leading to anxiety and bad behavior. They need to be able to run and play and they need to be with others. They are loving and devoted to their people and want to be near them. I'm currently fostering an Irish Setter who developed anxiety and crate sores from extensive crating. The poor dog was on Prozac for anxiety and had become destructive to blankets etc in the crate, so he was in an otherwise empty create -- hence the crate sores on his chest. The shelter was told that he had extensive food allergies and sensitivities and could eat no protein. I've had him for 2 weeks. He's a sweet, mild mannered, well behaved dog who loves to run around in the yard and sit near me. We're working to address his alleged food sensitivities but so far we've found that the can eat chicken, eggs and salmon. He's being weaned off the Prozac and we've stopped the fiber supplement, anti-allergy and heartburn meds. I'm beginning to think that his food sensitivities arose from anxiety, which arose from extensive crating. Having to "hold it in" all day exacerbated his separation anxiety. And vice-versa. Simple human company and loving care, plus being able to run free outside has made a tremendous difference. He's a different dog!
I’ll answer your other questions, but first, leaving any setter in a crate eight hours a day would be borderline cruel, please don’t do that! They are extremely active and affectionate dogs, meant to be off leash by your side in the field flushing game. Your setter will be stir crazy, sad, and not thriving if you crate them all day. That said, if you give them enough exercise otherwise, they can definitely handle being at home alone without terrorizing your house. And our boy sleeps in his crate overnight sometimes and absolutely loves it. He goes in there on his own. Setters are extraordinarily friendly dogs. Everyone is their friend, dogs and human alike. They are not known to be reactive. They are, however, sensitive. You can hurt their feelings pretty easily and they tend to mope around when they think you’re sad or upset with them. It’s very endearing. I would rate them a 4/5 on adaptability. They travel pretty well, but do like their routines. They can get a little anxious in car rides, in very new situations, etc. But overall they are pretty resilient dogs. They shake off bad experiences pretty fast and get back to doing what they do best — bringing joy to the world around them.
Ooo following! I hope this is my next dog. I think this breeder is in PA. https://www.trulyredandwhites.com/?fbclid=IwAR1trWBH8Q7Yj9rbp8aVjZGKvHHHSuyQzCuEtDZil-bC70-A944rvQ28EnM
I have an e fence for my setter, and it works fine. Mine beeps before it’s about to shock him and he knows his barrier to the absolute limits. The more cruel thing is to keep that dog in a box for hours at a time. If you’re serious about that I’d recommend getting a kennel outside so the dog can bounce off the walls to its hearts content. The dogs have soft mouths, they really can’t cause damage to a human, and I’ve never even seen mine look twice at a person, granted he was trained properly. Their anxiety should be fine, but separation is a whole other thing. If you can’t get a kennel outside with space for the dog to pace, then don’t get the dog. It’ll tear up your house if left out, and having a dog with that amount of energy in a crate is cruel. They’re hunting dogs, they need more energy than you’d think. Mine barely came inside for the first two years of his life, because they don’t stop. Just walking wouldn’t be enough for the dog. They’re resilient and adaptable, but it’s a bad idea for you to get you, I don’t think you’re prepared for the energy level that the dog has.
Not sure about yours but the only thing that’ll slow mine is the summer sun haha otherwise his endurance is insane.
I’ve got a red setter: They need a lot of attention and exercise. Honestly wouldn’t recommend w y’all’s situation unless you’re looking at an older adoption. My ~15 month old is stubborn and independent at times but also clingy & mischievous. High energy and short attention span. I don’t have a fenced in backyard and it’s practically every day 1-2 hours at off the leash parks + handful of walks a day + enrichment + play and it’s still constant attention seeking and neediness haha. (I had one breeder turn me down for not having a fence). Then there’s the brushing, daily pulling out twigs, seeds etc from his feathers, breaking up mats by hand.. and ear cleaning every time he swims / bathes.. He can be very mouthy during play but never bites hard, likes to play rough and will go for ankles with an ever evolving attack strategy haha.
Thank you for your honest feedback! We definitely have time for daily walks and exercise, but also have demanding day jobs and a kid in lots of after school sports so we don’t want to get a dog has exercise needs that we can’t always meet.
Mine runs vizslas and gsp’s until they’re tired and keeps on going haha. So the energy level is def higher than I expected.
I will say if you’re set on the breed and delegate / communicate responsibilities & expectations amongst the 3 of you before hand it could work out… if you factor in daycare, my setter loves other dogs and I leave him w the breeder on her farm with other boarded dogs when I fly for work trips. He can be a bit much for some dogs. Crate like the others said was why I said not ideal, and running around with a child who is busy with extracurriculars sports friends etc could make it tough… the dog would want to be with you but if it’s outside sports etc you could always bring him/her… mine goes on week long road-trips with me and hotels and does alright so they are adaptable. The first ~year and a half has been tough ngl but it’s just me and you have a team. I’d check out the AKC website for reputable breeders and reach out about what they think. There’s a couple Facebook groups also. The English and Gordon setters I’ve experienced seem to be more moderate energy breeds so that’s another option…
Exactly what this person said. Mine would run for hours a day & still have energy. It’s constant. They are clingy, mischievous, high energy, attention seeking. There’s a reason it’s a “dying” breed. They need to be brushed every day. You will find burs, twigs, etc. In their hair. Yes, they will be mouthy during play. Also I’d be very careful with off leash unless trained properly. We’ve always had our setters professionally trained because the breed is so mischievous. Unless trained properly, Irish setters are notorious for spotting a cat, birds, squirrels & bolting. They are great escape artists too & before you know it can be miles away exploring. They LOVE to be outdoors. More stubborn than other breeds who always listen to owners & have great recall.
They bolt at those things because it’s a dog bred to hunt, all of those traits you listed are why they’re great hunting dogs 😂
I honestly think your family will be better off with a different breed. Have you considered a Newfie, lol? We have a coming 2 y.o. Irish Setter - our first. We also have a standard-sized longhair Dachshund. My past dogs have included a prior Dachshund, a Doberman, a Newfoundland, and a Cairn Terrier. To provide context, we live on a small farm (4 acres). Sometimes I wonder if we need more property, LOL! My husband and I both work from home, although I'm on-site once a week. The exercise needs of the Irish Setter are just off the charts. Luckily, between the acreage and the fact that I'm extremely active when I'm not at work, we can manage his energy needs pretty well. But there is no way on God's green earth that I would ever imagine crating him for extended periods of time during the day. As the previous poster said, it would be borderline cruel. Many breeds of dogs would be content to do that, but this is not one of them. What's funny is that we had a Newfoundland who was just the kindest and mellowest dog ever. The drool and twice-yearly "blow-out" shedding was manageable (We had regular groomer appointments every 6 weeks). As a result, I thought I had sufficient "long-coated dog" experience to lean on when it came time to get our Setter. What no one could have prepared us for is the amount of MESS this dog is capable of creating! Good Lord, he's like the character "PigPen" from the Charlie Brown series. He loves nothing more than to chase a ball until he drops, but before he drops, he heads STRAIGHT for the pond, REGARDLESS OF THE TIME OF YEAR! And yet he looks so pleased with himself afterwards that we can't help but grimace and laugh! With all that said, would I get another one? ABSOLUTELY. Are we still on a massive learning curve? YES. I actually just joined this forum to seek advice from those with more Setter experience than I have to get feedback for a couple of different things I've been wondering about. But when you think of all the different breeds of dogs out there with so many different types of temperaments, be mindful to pick a breed who will fit in like a champ with your family so that you're not trying to make a square fit in a round hole.
We have two Irish Red and White Setters, the best dogs I’ve ever had. Gentle, loving, very playful. They don’t tear up the house, and haven’t killed our two cats, lol. They need alot of exercise, i take mine for one or two mile walks every day and they also run off leash at a local baseball field for 30-40 minutes a couple times a week.