Gundog · Ireland
Irish Settertemperament, daily life and costs
Open, affectionate and gloriously energetic. An Irish Setter matures slowly and needs room to run long after puppyhood.
Origin & original purpose: Bred in Ireland to locate game birds and indicate their position to hunters.
- They usually live
- 12–15 years
- Roughly, per year
- €1500–2500
Life with a Irish Setter
What people love about them
- Forms a meaningful bond with the right household
- Brings the original working character into everyday life
- Can thrive when its real needs are planned for
Things to weigh up honestly
- Daily vigorous running is unavailable
- You need a calm, quickly mature young dog
- Hip dysplasia, bloat, eye disease, epilepsy and thyroid conditions occur.
What they're like
Some breeds shed less than others, which people with allergies sometimes find easier to live with. But no dog is completely allergy-free, and reactions vary from person to person.
A typical day together
- 07:00
Morning Routine
A walk of 50–75 minutes before the day starts properly. Needs something to think about every day. Without it, walks alone won't be enough.
- 12:00
Midday & Independence
Midday is the hard part — they'd rather not be left for long stretches, so most homes need a plan for it.
- 17:30
Evening Energy Burn
A longer outing later on — 100–150 minutes across the day in total — then settling down with you.
- 21:00
Decompression & Care
Brushing most days, plus a groomer every 6–8 weeks
Estimated daily active commitment: ~2 hours
What they ask of you
- Exercise
- 100–150 min a day
- Your time
- 13–20 hours a week
- Walks, training, coat care and play together
- Space
- Really wants space — a garden and room to move suits them far better
- Coat care
- Brushing most days, plus a groomer every 6–8 weeks
- Typical yearly cost
- €1500–2500
- Food, insurance, routine vet care and grooming. Illness and emergencies come on top.
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
- The whole of that time is the commitment, not just the puppy year.
What a year with this dog costs
An honest estimate, built from this breed's size and coat. Adjust the two things that really move the number, and you'll see the range change as you go.
Where you live
Insurance included
Professional grooming
- Food
- €410–€580
- Routine vet care and insurance
- €470–€685
- Grooming
- €320–€580
- Equipment and consumables
- €135–€235
- Buffer for the unexpected
- €160–€415
Your likely year
€1,495–€2,495
about €125–€208 a month
Real costs vary by country, by the size and appetite of your own dog, and by their health. Illness, dental work and emergencies can sit well above this range, which is why the buffer is here at all.
Best suited for
- People who are outdoors every day, whatever the weather
- Family homes with children around
- Anyone who wants a dog close by, most of the day
Important things to consider
- Sheds a great deal — hair becomes part of the household
- Coat care is ongoing and adds a real cost each year
- Finds long days alone genuinely hard
- Strong on the lead until loose-lead work is solid
- Boredom shows up fast, usually as unwanted behaviour
Health considerations
Hip dysplasia, bloat, eye disease, epilepsy and thyroid conditions occur. Ask for health tests and family longevity.
A poor match if…
- Daily vigorous running is unavailable
- You need a calm, quickly mature young dog
- Regular feathering and ear care will be neglected
Key trade-offs
- Warm social nature, long exuberant adolescence
- Beautiful coat, mud and maintenance included
Questions people ask before committing to a Irish Setter
- Is a Irish Setter good with children?
- Yes — this is one of the more family-friendly dogs there is. A Irish Setter is usually tolerant and steady with children, though it still needs somewhere quiet to sleep.
- Can a Irish Setter live in an apartment?
- Possible, but demanding. A Irish Setter in a flat needs long daily outings and real work on settling quietly indoors.
- How much exercise does a Irish Setter need each day?
- Plan for around 120 minutes of real activity a day, split into more than one outing, plus something that uses its head — scent games, training, or a proper sniffing walk.
- Does a Irish Setter shed a lot?
- Yes, noticeably. Hair on clothes and floors is part of the deal, and the seasonal moults are heavy.
- Is a Irish Setter a good first dog?
- A reasonable first dog if you prepare. Read up, book a course early, and keep the daily routine simple.
- How long can a Irish Setter be left alone?
- Around 2 hours at a stretch once fully grown and gradually trained for it. Longer days need a dog walker, day care or someone dropping in — and a puppy needs far shorter stretches at first.
- What does a Irish Setter cost per year?
- Budget roughly €1500–2500 a year for food, routine vet care, insurance, grooming and everyday kit. Country, size and individual health move that figure quite a bit, and a single unlucky year can cost more.
These answers come from the same trait numbers used everywhere on DoggMatch — no marketing, no guesswork.
Read more before you decide
The guides that matter most for this breed, written in plain language.
Compare with similar breeds
Side by side on exercise, coat, time alone and cost — the things that decide how the week actually feels.
- Irish Setter
Golden Retriever
English Springer Spaniel
Labrador Retriever
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