Irish Setter care in India: exercise, bloat and leaving it with a sitter
Updated By PetymFacts checked against official sources on
Quick answer
An Irish Setter is friendly with almost everyone, so it usually welcomes a sitter. What a sitter must plan is energy and safety: The Royal Kennel Club says more than 2 hours of exercise a day, which in India means long walks at dawn and after dark, and the breed is prone to bloat, so no hard exercise around meals.
Science for Animal Welfare estimates that about 24% of Irish Setters develop bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus) in their lifetime. A sitter must know the signs and go straight to a vet.
- Meet your sitter first, free
- PAN-checked, first-aid trained
- A photo every day
- Pay through Petym, never cash
- Origin
- Ireland (FCI)Fédération Cynologique Internationale
- Adult weight
- 27 to 32 kg (from the AKC standard's ideal show weights, about 60 lb for females and 70 lb for males; the FCI standard gives height only)American Kennel Club
- Height
- 55 to 67 cm (males 58 to 67 cm, females 55 to 62 cm)Fédération Cynologique Internationale
- Lifespan
- 12 to 15 yearsAmerican Kennel Club
- Coat
- Short and fine on the head and front of the legs, moderately long, flat and silky elsewhere, with feathering on the ears, legs, belly and tail. Rich chestnut with no black. It sheds.Fédération Cynologique Internationale
- Energy
- Very highThe Royal Kennel Club
- Indian heat
- Copes with carePDSA
- Flats
- Needs spaceThe Royal Kennel Club
Irish Setter snapshot for a sitter
| What | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Large, says The Royal Kennel Club. AKC gives about 27 inches and 70 pounds for males, 25 inches and 60 pounds for females. | American Kennel Club |
| Exercise need | More than 2 hours a day, says The Royal Kennel Club. AKC scores energy at 5 of 5, the top of its scale. | The Royal Kennel Club |
| Alone-time tolerance | Not scored by kennel clubs. AKC says Irish Setters love to be with their people. PDSA's general limit for any dog is 4 hours alone. | American Kennel Club |
| Coat and grooming | Medium coat that sheds; groom more than once a week (The Royal Kennel Club). AKC says brush at least twice a week. | The Royal Kennel Club |
| With people and dogs | AKC scores it 5 of 5 for openness to strangers, other dogs and young children. The FCI standard: keen, intelligent, energetic, affectionate and loyal. | Fédération Cynologique Internationale |
| Home | The Royal Kennel Club suggests a large house and a large garden. A flat can work only with a firm daily exercise plan. | The Royal Kennel Club |
Where does the Irish Setter come from?
The FCI standard says the Irish Red Setter was developed in Ireland as a working gundog for hunting game, from the Irish Red and White Setter and an unknown solid red dog, and was a clearly identifiable type by the 18th century. The AKC notes that the earliest ancestors were red and white rather than solid red, and that the solid red setter appeared in Ireland in the 19th century.
The Royal Kennel Club says selective breeding for colour, with some outcrossing for a racier build and a longer head, produced the modern dog, and that it became a great success in the show ring in the mid-19th century. The Irish Red Setter Club was founded in 1882 and issued the breed standard in 1886. The AKC recognised the breed in 1878. The FCI lists it today as a gundog and family dog: keen, intelligent, energetic, affectionate and loyal.
How did the Irish Setter come to India?
No source we could find records when or how the Irish Setter first came to India. It is a European pedigree breed, and pedigree dogs in India are registered with The Kennel Club of India on its single-dog and litter forms.
What is documented is what it needs here. The Royal Kennel Club gives it more than two hours of exercise a day and a large house with a large garden, which in an Indian city means long walks at first light and after dark. Tick-borne infection is common in Indian dogs, about half of 525 tested in four cities, and a feathered coat needs checking for ticks after every walk.
What care does a Irish Setter need?
The three things that shape a good day for this breed.
Exercise
More than two hours a day, says The Royal Kennel Club. The AKC suggests long daily walks, play and dog sports such as obedience, tracking and agility. Avoid vigorous exercise around mealtimes because of bloat, and in Indian summers keep hard exercise to the cool hours. The Royal Kennel Club
Grooming
The AKC says brush at least twice a week with a pin or soft bristle brush and comb out tangles, trim the nails monthly, bathe occasionally, check the ears regularly for infection and brush the teeth often. After walks, check the feathering and feet for ticks and grass seeds. American Kennel Club
Training
The AKC describes a happy, eager to please dog full of energy that wants a job to do. It responds to positive, reward-based training, not harsh corrections; keep sessions consistent but fun, and start socialisation and puppy classes early. The Royal Kennel Club
How much should a Irish Setter eat?
Daily calories for a healthy, neutered adult Irish Setter, worked out from its weight with the formula vets use (70 x weight in kg to the power 0.75, then AAHA's factor for a neutered adult). Divide by the kcal per kg on your food's pack for grams a day, and adjust by body shape.
| Resting need (kcal a day) | Neutered adult (kcal a day) | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 kg AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) | 830 | 1160 to 1330 |
| 29.5 kg | 890 | 1240 to 1420 |
| 32 kg | 940 | 1320 to 1510 |
The AKC advises a quality dog food suited to the dog's age and activity, and says multiple small meals and no vigorous exercise around mealtimes may help reduce the risk of bloat; ACVS recommends two to three smaller meals a day rather than one large meal for at-risk breeds. Science for Animal Welfare lists large meals, eating fast and raised bowls among risk factors. Treats should stay under about 10% of the day's calories (WSAVA). A small number of Irish Setters inherit gluten-sensitive enteropathy, which Merck says is confirmed and managed with a gluten-free diet; if your setter has chronic diarrhoea and weight loss, ask your vet before changing foods. From the Indian kitchen, keep onion, garlic, grapes and raisins, chocolate, chai and coffee away from the dog, as the ASPCA advises. Meals a day: puppy, 6 to 12 weeks, 4 a day; 3 to 6 months, 3 a day; 6 to 12 months, 2 a day; adult, 2 to 3 smaller meals a day, not one large meal. Puppies, kittens, working, pregnant and older animals need different amounts: ask your vet, or use Petym's food calculator.
Which illnesses is the Irish Setter prone to, and how are they treated?
The conditions veterinary studies and breed surveys most often report in the Irish Setter. Knowing the early signs means a vet sees it sooner.
See your vet first. This is general information from veterinary sources, not a diagnosis. Only a vet who has examined your pet can say what is wrong and prescribe treatment, and this page never gives a dose. Do not give your pet human medicine. If your pet seems very unwell, go to a 24-hour vet: find one in your city.
Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus, GDV)
Emergency: go to a vet nowThe stomach fills with gas and fluid and can twist, cutting off its blood supply. Science for Animal Welfare estimates that 24% of Irish Setters develop it in their lifetime and 7% die of it; a UK study found them 10 times more likely to suffer GDV than the average purebred. Science for Animal Welfare (formerly UFAW)
Signs to watch for
- Restlessness, agitation or a depressed look
- Retching or trying to vomit with nothing coming up
- Drooling and a swollen, painful belly
- Weakness and collapse
How a vet treats it
A vet confirms it with x-rays and checks the blood and heart rhythm. ACVS describes intravenous fluids and oxygen to stabilise the dog, a stomach tube to release gas, then surgery to untwist the stomach and gastropexy, which attaches the stomach to the body wall to stop it twisting again.
Prevention
Several smaller meals a day, no vigorous exercise around meals, and asking your vet about preventive gastropexy, often done at the same time as spaying or neutering.
Hip dysplasia
See a vet soonAn abnormal development of the hip joint in large dogs that leads to arthritis. The Royal Kennel Club lists hip and elbow screening for the breed, and the AKC lists hip evaluation. Merck Veterinary Manual
Signs to watch for
- Lameness that is worse after exercise
- A bunny-hopping gait
- Stiffness and reluctance to run or climb
How a vet treats it
A vet diagnoses it on x-rays. The Merck Veterinary Manual lists weight reduction, less exercise on hard surfaces, physical therapy and anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed by the vet, and surgery up to total hip replacement.
Prevention
Choose a puppy from hip-screened parents and keep the dog lean.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
Ask at a routine checkAn inherited disease of the retina that leads to blindness. Cornell lists Irish Setters among breeds with known PRA variants, and The Royal Kennel Club lists DNA tests for the rcd1 and rcd4 forms in the breed. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Signs to watch for
- Reluctance to enter a dark room or go out at night
- Dilated pupils
- Bumping into door frames and furniture
How a vet treats it
A vet or eye specialist diagnoses it with an eye examination of the retina, sometimes with electroretinography. Cornell says there is no cure and no approved treatment yet; most dogs adapt to their vision loss.
Prevention
DNA testing of breeding dogs. Ask the breeder for the parents' PRA results.
Canine leucocyte adhesion deficiency (CLAD)
See a vet soonAn inherited immune disorder in which white blood cells cannot leave the blood vessels to fight infection. It needs two copies of the gene; 11% of 289 Irish Red Setters tested in Germany were carriers. Merck Veterinary Manual
Signs to watch for
- Repeated bacterial infections
- Fever, poor appetite and weight loss
- Wounds that heal slowly
How a vet treats it
Blood counts may show very high white cell numbers, and a DNA test identifies affected and carrier dogs. Merck notes that the response to antimicrobials is usually poor; your vet will advise on care.
Prevention
DNA testing before breeding, which The Royal Kennel Club lists for the breed.
Gluten-sensitive enteropathy
See a vet soonAn inherited sensitivity to wheat gluten that Merck says is passed on in an autosomal recessive way in Irish Setters. Merck Veterinary Manual
Signs to watch for
- Diarrhoea that comes and goes over a long time
- Weight loss
How a vet treats it
Merck says the wheat sensitivity is both confirmed and treated by feeding a gluten-free diet, which your vet will plan with you.
Can an Irish Setter live in an Indian city flat?
It can, but only if someone commits to a lot of exercise every single day, including while you are away.
The FCI standard calls the Irish Red Setter a gun dog and family dog: keen, intelligent, energetic, affectionate and loyal. AKC adds that it is happy, eager to please and "will appreciate having a job to do", and scores its energy and playfulness at the top of its scale. The Royal Kennel Club's guide is a large house with a large garden and more than 2 hours of exercise a day. Few Indian flats have the garden, so the walks have to make up for it.
An under-exercised setter in a flat tends to show it: restless pacing, chewing, jumping on guests. For a sitter, this is the breed where a missed walk is felt the same evening. Plan two long outings in the cool hours, one before about 7:30 am and one after sunset, plus training games and fetch at home. AKC suggests canine sports and activities that use the mind as well as the legs, and a sniffing or retrieve game in a society corridor counts on a hot day.
Irish Setters love company: AKC says the breed loves to be included in anything the family is doing. PDSA's general advice is no more than 4 hours alone for any dog. A setter alone all day in a flat is a lonely, bored dog, so for a trip, plan a sitter in your home or a sitter's home, not occasional drop-ins.
Irish Setter health in figures
Three numbers a sitter and owner should know, from a welfare science body and a breed genetics study.
24 %
of Irish Setters are estimated to develop bloat (GDV) in their lifetime Science for Animal Welfare (formerly UFAW)
7 %
are estimated to die of it Science for Animal Welfare (formerly UFAW)
11 %
of 289 Irish Red Setters tested in Germany carried the gene for CLAD, an inherited immune disorder Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics (2005)study
Bloat and other emergencies: what a sitter does
Bloat kills within hours without treatment. Learn the signs before the first day.
If A swollen, tight belly, retching or trying to vomit with nothing coming up, restlessness, drooling, an arched back, or collapse, often after a big meal or exercise.
An emergency. Go straight to the nearest 24-hour vet and call the owner on the way. Do not wait to see if it settles. Science for Animal Welfare (formerly UFAW)
If Panting, pacing and looking at the belly an hour or two after eating, even without retching.
Call the 24-hour vet at once and describe the signs. Early treatment saves lives. American College of Veterinary Surgeons
If Heavy panting, drooling, stumbling or collapse after a walk or run in the heat. A large, active dog can overheat quickly.
Shade, cool water poured over the body, a breeze, then call the vet. PDSA
If Head shaking, scratching an ear or a smell from the ear. AKC says the setter's ears should be checked regularly for infection.
Call the vet; dry the ears after baths and wet walks. American Kennel Club
If Limping, stiffness or reluctance to climb stairs. AKC lists hip dysplasia among the conditions breeders screen for.
Rest from long runs and tell the owner; call the vet if it lasts. Merck Veterinary Manual
If A tick, a grass seed in the feathering or between the toes, or a limp after a walk in long grass.
Remove ticks with tweezers close to the skin and check the feet; call the vet for a seed in the ear or a swollen paw. Merck Veterinary Manual
Mealtime rules to lower the bloat risk
The causes of bloat are not fully understood, AKC says, but these habits are linked to lower or higher risk.
Do
- Feed two or more smaller meals a day rather than one large one, as AKC suggests for this breed. American Kennel Club
- Keep the time before and after meals quiet: AKC advises preventing vigorous exercise around mealtimes. American Kennel Club
- Use a slow-feeder bowl if the owner does. Eating quickly is linked to higher risk. Science for Animal Welfare (formerly UFAW)
- Keep the dog calm at meals and away from other pets' bowls; anxious or stressed dogs are at higher risk. Science for Animal Welfare (formerly UFAW)
- Measure meals with the owner's cup and keep treats under about 10% of the day's calories. WSAVA
Don’t
- Do not feed from a raised bowl unless the vet advised it; Science for Animal Welfare lists raised bowls among risk factors. Science for Animal Welfare (formerly UFAW)
- Do not set off on the long morning walk straight after breakfast. Walk first, rest, then feed.
- Do not change the food during the stay; a sudden change can upset the stomach. PDSA
- Do not give cooked bones, onion, garlic, grapes or chocolate. ASPCA Animal Poison Control
An Irish Setter's exercise plan through the Indian year
| Hot months (March to May) | Monsoon (June to September) | Winter (December to February) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main walk | At first light, on shaded lanes; carry water | Between showers; avoid flooded roads and garbage heaps | Morning or midday; the season for long outings |
| Second walk | After sunset, once the pavement passes the hand test | Evening, then a full towel-dry of the feathering | Late afternoon |
| Indoor work | Retrieve and sniffing games in the cool of the flat | Training games on rainy days | Less needed; still keep the mind busy |
| Watch for | Overheating after play | Damp ears, ticks, mats in the feathering | Stiff joints in older dogs |
Petym's practical plan, based on the sources on this page. Hot-pavement test: the back of your hand on the ground for seven seconds (The Royal Kennel Club).
Grooming a red coat in Indian weather
The Irish Setter's coat is short and fine on the head and the front of the legs, and longer with silky feathering on the ears, legs, belly and chest, according to the FCI standard. AKC advises brushing at least twice a week with a pin or soft bristle brush, working out tangles with a long-toothed comb, trimming nails monthly and an occasional bath with a gentle dog shampoo. Grooming sessions are also the time to check for lumps, skin problems and healthy eyes and ears, AKC says.
In India, the feathering is where trouble collects: burrs, grass seeds and ticks after walks along an overgrown verge, and damp tangles in the monsoon. In a survey of 525 dogs in four Indian cities, ticks were found on 53%, and about half carried at least one tick-borne infection. A quick brush and a check of the ears, armpits and between the toes after every walk, and a full dry after rain, prevents most of it. A Texas A&M vet says fully shaving a dog is not usually needed unless the coat is matted, so keep the feathering tidy rather than shaving it off for summer.
Irish Setter sitter checklist
- The daily exercise plan: times, routes, where the dog may run in a fenced space, and where it must stay on the leash.
- Meal times and amounts, the rest rule around meals, and the dog's own bowl.
- The signs of bloat written out, and the nearest 24-hour vet saved in the sitter's phone.
- Whether the dog has had a gastropexy (preventive stomach surgery), if your vet has done one.
- Brush, comb, towels and the drying routine after wet walks.
- Tick prevention: product and next due date.
- How the dog behaves when it is bored or alone, and its favourite games.
- Your vet's number and Petym's city list of 24-hour vets.
Which Petym service suits an Irish Setter?
Plenty of company and two real walks a day are the essentials.
Often the best fit
Overnight pet sitting
A sitter lives in your home, keeps the walks and meal rules exactly as you set them, and watches the dog overnight.
Dog walking
Long cool-hours walks on workdays, so the evening is calm.
Doggy day care
Company and play for a sociable setter while you work.
Pet boarding
A sitter's home that has passed Petym's video walk-through, if it has room for a large, active dog within its pet limit.
Breeds with similar care needs to the Irish Setter
Going away soon? Tell us your dates.
A checked local sitter feeds, walks and keeps your pet company at home, follows your care sheet to the letter and sends a photo every day. Petym is opening city by city: send your dates and we will tell you when a sitter can take them.
- Meet your sitter first, free
- PAN-checked, first-aid trained
- A photo every day
- Pay through Petym, never cash
Questions owners ask
How much exercise does an Irish Setter need?
- A lot. The Royal Kennel Club says more than 2 hours a day, and AKC scores its energy at 5 of 5. In India, split it into a long walk at first light and another after sunset, with training games and fetch at home. Avoid hard exercise just before and after meals.
Can an Irish Setter be left alone?
- Only for short spells. AKC says the breed loves to be with its people, and PDSA's general advice is no more than 4 hours alone for any dog. A bored, lonely setter often chews or paces. On long days, arrange a sitter, a walker or day care.
Is the Irish Setter suitable for Indian heat?
- It needs care. It is a large, active dog with a feathered coat, and exercise is the main trigger of heatstroke. Walk only in the early morning and after dark, carry water, test the ground with your hand, and keep the dog lean. Watch for heavy panting or stumbling.
What is bloat, and why does it matter for Irish Setters?
- Bloat, or gastric dilatation-volvulus, is when the stomach fills with gas and can twist. It is extremely painful and kills within hours without treatment. Science for Animal Welfare estimates about 24% of Irish Setters develop it and 7% die of it. Signs include a swollen belly and unproductive retching.
How can I lower my Irish Setter's bloat risk?
- AKC suggests several small meals a day and no vigorous exercise around mealtimes. Science for Animal Welfare lists large meals, eating fast, raised bowls and stress as risk factors. Ask your vet about preventive surgery (gastropexy), which is often done at the same time as neutering.
Are Irish Setters good with children and other dogs?
- Usually very good. AKC scores the breed 5 of 5 with young children, other dogs and strangers. Its size and energy mean a young setter can knock over small children in play, so supervise and teach calm greetings with reward-based training.
How often should an Irish Setter be groomed?
- AKC says brush at least twice a week and trim nails monthly, with an occasional bath. In India, check the feathering, ears and feet after every walk for ticks, grass seeds and burrs, and dry the coat fully after monsoon walks.
Keep reading
- Dog care hub
- Heatstroke in dogs
- Signs your pet needs a vet now
- Golden Retriever careAnother feathered gundog.
- Great Dane careA giant breed with bloat risk.
- How pet sitters handle emergencies
- Dog walking
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Sources
Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Petym checks its sources
- Fédération Cynologique Internationale: FCI-Standard No 120: Irish Red Setter (opens in a new tab)
- American Kennel Club: Official standard for the Irish Setter (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- American Kennel Club: Irish Setter dog breed information (opens in a new tab)
- The Royal Kennel Club: Irish Setter: breed information (opens in a new tab)
- PDSA: Heatstroke in dogs (opens in a new tab)
- The Kennel Club of India: KCI Form C/1: application for registration of a single dog (opens in a new tab)
Show all 26 sourcesShow fewer
- The Kennel Club of India: KCI Form C: application for registration of more than one dog from the same litter (opens in a new tab)
- American College of Veterinary Surgeons: Gastric dilatation-volvulus (opens in a new tab)
- Science for Animal Welfare (formerly UFAW): Irish Setter: gastric dilatation-volvulus syndrome (GDV) (opens in a new tab)
- WSAVA: Frequently asked questions and myths (Global Nutrition Committee) (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Congenital and inherited anomalies of the small and large intestines in animals (gluten-sensitive enteropathy in Irish Setters; full review November 2022, updated September 2024) (opens in a new tab)
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: People foods to avoid feeding your pets (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Puppy care (opens in a new tab)
- AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association): 2021 AAHA Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats: energy requirement calculations (Box 1, PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional requirements of small animals (full review November 2023, updated September 2024) (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Hip dysplasia (dog owners) (opens in a new tab)
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: Progressive retinal atrophy (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Primary immunodeficiencies in animals (leukocyte adhesion deficiency; updated June 2025) (opens in a new tab)
- PDSA: Separation anxiety in dogs (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Ticks of dogs (opens in a new tab)
- Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine (Pet Talk, 16 June 2022): Time for a summer cut? Tips for warm weather dog grooming (opens in a new tab)
- The Royal Kennel Club: The danger of hot pavements (opens in a new tab)
- PDSA: Diarrhoea after a change of food (opens in a new tab)
- Parasites & Vectors (2011): A survey of canine tick-borne diseases in India (opens in a new tab)
- Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics (2005): Frequency of the canine leucocyte adhesion deficiency (CLAD) mutation among Irish red setters in Germany (abstract read) (opens in a new tab)
- Scientific Reports (2020): Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness in UK dogs (opens in a new tab)