Irish Red and White Setter Dog Breed Information

The Irish Red and White Setter is the older of the two Irish setter breeds, and a much rarer sight in NZ than the familiar solid-red Irish Setter. The breed was nearly extinct in Ireland by the 1940s, rebuilt by a small group of dedicated Irish breeders through the mid 20th century, and formally separated as a distinct NZKC and UK Kennel Club breed in the 1970s and 1989 respectively. NZ pedigrees trace mainly to UK and Australian imports, with the breed held by a handful of NZKC kennels and a small gundog following.

Adults stand 58 to 69 cm at the shoulder and weigh 23 to 32 kg, slightly shorter and noticeably stockier than the solid red. The single silky coat is feathered on legs, chest, ears, belly and tail, in pearl white with solid red or chestnut patches (not roan or ticking). Lifespan is 11 to 15 years.

The signal that defines daily life with the breed is what most experienced setter owners describe as a slightly steadier version of the Irish Setter. The wiring is the same: range wide, scent the air, freeze on point. The day-to-day temperament is a touch more grounded, with a marginally shorter mental adolescence and a stronger working-gundog pedigree than the modern show-line Irish Setter.

Personality and behaviour

Irish Red and White Setters are deeply affectionate with the household, friendly with strangers and good with other dogs. Protective instinct is low; the breed is not a guard dog. Around children the breed is patient and tolerant with primary-school-age kids and up. Around toddlers, supervise: a fast-moving adolescent can knock small children over without meaning to.

The trait that most surprises owners coming from the solid red Irish Setter is the steadier disposition. Mental adolescence runs to age two or three rather than three or four; recall comes a touch faster; the dog settles in the household earlier. This is breed temperament, not faulty individuals, and reflects the breed’s narrower working pedigree (most NZ Red and Whites trace to recent rebuilt lines bred for hunting rather than show).

The breed is sensitive. Harsh handling shuts an Irish Red and White Setter down quickly, and the dog remembers it. Reward-based training is the only sensible approach. Like the solid red, some lines carry a noticeable nervous edge; reputable NZ breeders work to breed it out and a calm, confident parent dog is a key signal when you visit.

The scenting and pointing drive is real. Off lead in paddocks, scrub or hill country, even pet-line dogs lock onto game scent and stop hearing recall for a stretch. Build recall properly from puppyhood and use a long line in unfenced country, particularly in the first two years.

Care and exercise

Plan on 75 to 120 minutes of exercise per day, with real off-lead running on safe ground. The breed needs to gallop, not just walk. Pure on-lead exercise maintains weight but does not satisfy the brain, and an under-exercised setter becomes restless, mouthy and destructive.

Grooming is the part many NZ owners underestimate. Brush two to three times a week through the feathering, book a pet clip every 8 to 10 weeks (NZ$80 to NZ$130), and daily-brush during the spring and autumn coat blow. After paddock, beach and rural walks, check ears (the long-feathered dropped ear is the classic grass-seed and moisture trap) and clear seeds from feet and behind ears in summer.

Ear care is the most important grooming detail. Recurring ear infections are a common breed claim on NZ pet insurance. Check ears after every walk, dry thoroughly after swims and rain, and act fast at any sign of head shaking, smell or scratching.

Bloat is a real risk. The deep chest and lean build predispose the breed to gastric dilatation-volvulus, a fast-onset emergency that requires surgical intervention. Feed two smaller meals a day rather than one large one, avoid heavy exercise within an hour of meals, and learn the early signs (unproductive retching, distended belly, restlessness, drooling) so you can act fast.

The single silky coat handles the full NZ climate range. The coat is less weatherproof than a Labrador’s double coat but copes with cold and wet well given a thorough towel-dry after walks. Upper North Island summer heat needs management with shade, water and earlier walks. Wellington and Canterbury wet weather is workable with longer drying time. Central Otago and Southland winter walks across hills and tussock suit the breed exactly.

Where to find an Irish Red and White Setter in New Zealand

Three reasonable paths, with honest waitlist expectations.

1. Registered NZKC breeders. The Dogs NZ breeders directory lists the very small number of registered Irish Red and White Setter breeders. Litters are infrequent at the national level. Expect a 12 to 24 month waitlist, NZ$2,500 to NZ$4,000 per puppy, and full parent health screening (hip scores, eye certificates, rcd1-PRA and CLAD DNA results). Imported semen is used regularly to widen the small NZ gene pool.
2. NZ Gundog Trial Association contacts. The breed has a stronger working pedigree than the solid red, so working litters appear occasionally through the trial and gundog community. Numbers are small.
3. Rescue. Pure Irish Red and White Setter surrenders are very rare at SPCA NZ given the breed’s low population. Setter-crosses appear more regularly. Adoption fees NZ$300 to NZ$700 for SPCA dogs.

Verify the breed through NZKC papers and a parent visit. The Red and White is sometimes confused with English Setter or Brittany puppies; a registered Red and White traces unbroken to NZKC parents on both sides. The breed’s small numbers and rebuilt-gene-pool history mean breeder accountability matters; a confident, calm parent dog with current health certificates is the strongest signal you can take from a breeder visit.