Fun Irish Setter Mix Facts For Kids

An Irish Setter is a large dog breed very famous for two things - for their good looks and for being great hunting companions.

Among other hunting and pointing breed dogs, the Irish Setter dog breed has a pleasant temperament, making the working dog breed an ideal family pet. These sweet-natured canines naturally make for good candidates for mixed breeding, resulting in some very interesting and rare Irish Setter mixes.

While Golden Irish, Lab Setter, and Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel mixes are great family pets, Irish Shepherds and Irish Setter Rottweiler mixes can be good family guard dogs.

Some Irish Setter mixed breeds are F1 crossbreeds. An interesting fact about F1 mixed breeds also referred to as designer dogs, is that the breeding is not random.

It is done after a lot of research in order to obtain very specific traits from both the parent dog breeds. Both the dog parents are purebreds and the resulting puppy inherits traits of both dog parents.

Irish Setter mixes (whether with a golden retriever, Boston terrier, or poodle mix) are not recognized by the American Kennel Club. However, most of the crossbreeds are registered with either International Designer Canine Registry, American Canine Hybrid Club, or Designer Breed Registry.

You may also check out Kangal facts and teacup Yorkie facts from Kidadl.

Irish Setter Mix Interesting Facts

What type of animal is an Irish setter mix?

An Irish Setter mix is a crossbreed of an Irish Setter and any other breed of dog. If the Irish Setter mix being is an F1 designer dog, then the breeding is done thoughtfully so that the pup acquires traits of both pedigreed parents.

Since one of the parents is an Irish Setter, the puppy in most cases has a reddish or a Mahogany hue in its coat.

What class of animal does an Irish setter mix belong to?

Like all other dogs, they belong to the class Mammalia.

How many Irish setter mixes are there in the world?

The population of Irish Setter mixes is not known.

Where does an Irish setter mix live?

Irish Setters were originally bred as hunting companions and gun dogs. But the Irish Setter mixes are more popular as family dogs and can thrive in families, even in apartments.

One important point to remember is that they need ample opportunities for physical activities and exercise. Some mixes like Irish Setter Rottweiler need a lot of physical stimulation for them to stay healthy.

What is an Irish setter mix habitat?

Irish Setters prefer a colder climate, but can do well in tropical and humid climates too, if well cared for. This is the main reason why Irish setter mixes are seen with families all over the world.

Who does Irish setter mix live with?

Irish Setter mixes are very social and do not like to be left alone for a long duration. They prefer company over solitude and this is the main reason why they do well with families, rather than in the outdoors.

How long does an Irish setter mix live?

The average life span of an Irish Setter mix ranges between 12-15 years, depending on the mix. An Irish Setter Great Dane mix has an average life expectancy of 10-12 years, while an Irish Dachshund mix can live for 13-14 years.

How do they reproduce?

Like other dog breeds, Irish Setter mixes are mammals and reproduce sexually. The gestation period is usually nine weeks in all dogs, irrespective of the breed. The gestation can last anywhere between 58 - 68 days. The litter size varies between 8 -12 pups. During pregnancy, the dogs need an increased amount of food and a high protein diet.

What is their conservation status?

Irish Setter mixes are classified as of Least Concern.

Irish Setter Mix Fun Facts

What does Irish setter mix look like?

Irish Setter mixes are in most cases F1 designer breeds that are bred for specific traits of both parents.

The parents are both pedigreed dogs in this case and the pups in most of the cases acquire the signature Mahogany Irish red coat or chestnut hues in their coat from the Irish Setter. The physical appearance of the mixes heavily depends on the traits of the other parent dog as well.

For example, an Irish Setter Dachshund mix is comparatively smaller than an Irish Shephard or Irish Setter Great Dane mix which is a much larger dog.

How cute are they?

Irish Setters were originally considered as very sophisticated-looking dogs, so much so that three Irish Setters were belonging to three different American Presidents. Therefore, it's no surprise that Irish Setter mixes are high on looks and cuteness quotient.

The main attraction is their brilliant Mahogany fur and their goofy playfulness. The cuter the other parent dog breed, the cuter the Irish Setter mixes turn out. For example, you can imagine how good-looking an Irish Poodle will be, provided both the parents are famous for their good looks.

How do they communicate?

Irish Setter mixes vary in the way they communicate, mainly due to the traits they inherit from the other parent dog. Overall, since Irish Setters are considered very loud by their owners, you might expect the Irish Setter mixes too to be on the louder side.

How big is an Irish setter mix?

The size of Irish Setter mixes varies largely depending on the physical attributes of the other parent. A miniature Irish Poodle might be 15-25 in (38.1-63.5 cm) inches tall at the shoulder.

On the other hand, an Irish Setter Great Dane mix might reach up to 20-27 in (50.8 - 68.5 cm) tall at the shoulder!

The interesting thing with mixed breeds is that you cannot predict which parent the pups take on the physical attributes. This makes it difficult to set a range for physically measuring Irish Setter mixes.

How fast can an Irish setter mix run?

Since Irish Setters are hunting dogs and are considered outdoorsy, they are great runners and need enough exercise. Irish Setter mixes inherit this from their Irish Setter parent. Most of the mixes perform very well outdoors and can be your cycling, hiking, or jogging companions.

Since they are descendants of hunter dogs, their running capabilities are pretty good. Irish Setter mixes crave for physical activities and exercise. They make a great jogging companion and were used in dog sports.

How much does an Irish setter mix weigh?

As you know by now, Irish Setter mixes have a wide spectrum when it comes to physical traits. You can find a miniature Irish Poodle weighing 20- 35 lb(9.07-15.8 kg). At the same time, an Irish Setter Great Dane mix can weigh up to 200 lb (90.7 kg)!

What are the male and female names of the species?

A male is called a dog and a female is called a bitch.

What would you call a baby Irish setter mix?

A baby Irish Setter is called a puppy.

What do they eat?

Most of the Irish Setter mixes will grow up to be medium-sized to large dogs and like any other large breed dogs, they have specific dietary requirements. An Irish Setter puppy must be fed good quality puppy kibble for good bone growth to avoid joint dysplasia as they grow older.

Providing good quality puppy food and ample exercise ensures extra omega fatty acids that are instrumental in keeping hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. These two diseases are very common in Irish Setter mix breeds, at bay.

Once the dog reaches adulthood, switch them to a combination of adult kibble and raw diet. Adult Irish Setter mix diet must consist of balanced amounts of carbs, protein, prebiotics, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

A well-balanced diet along with regular exercise ensures that the dogs maintain a luscious, shiny, long, and silky coat along with maintaining good health condition and energy levels.

As the Irish Setter mixes reach seniority, usually at seven or eight years, their diet needs to be modified. Senior Irish Setter mixes will need less calorific food that includes additional glucosamine and chondroitin to support aging joints and avoid health conditions.

Some Irish Setter mix owners swear by only raw food for their pooches. This again depends on the comfort and the needs of the family and puppy. The middle ground might be a combination of raw foods and high-quality kibble to ensure long silky Irish red coats and avoid health conditions like Von Willebrand's disease.

Are they slobbery?

Irish Setter mixes are generally not slobbery, but some owners have observed their male dogs being slobbery at the sight of food and female dogs being slobbery during the mating season!

Would they make a good pet?

Yes, without a doubt! Irish Setter mixes are great pets and family dogs as they love socializing and are sweet-tempered. These friendly dogs are eager to please and most mixes get along beautifully with your guests and are very friendly with kids.

It is to be noted that Irish Setters in general suffer from separation anxiety and should not be left alone for long periods of time. They require mental stimulation.

Since most Irish Setter mixes have long and luscious coats, they need to be brushed regularly, at least three times a week. Brush their teeth two times a week at least to remove tartar buildup.

They are also prone to ear infections and need to be cleaned several times a week or at least twice a week to avoid health issues.

Along with being great family dogs, Irish Setter mixes can do well in canine sports too like rally track. Regular exercise ensures that the Irish Setter mixes are physically and mentally stimulated or do not turn destructive.

Did you know...

Irish Setter mixes are preferred service dogs and therapy dogs.

Irish Setter Great Dane mix and Irish Setter Dachshund mix are very rare to find!

Irish Setter mixes are prone to health issues like progressive retinal atrophy and hip dysplasia.

How high can an Irish setter jump?

Since the jumping capacity depends on the size of the Irish Setter mix breed, the highest an Irish Setter mix can jump is up to 6 ft (1.8 m).

Is an Irish setter a good family dog?

Irish Setters and Irish Setter mixes are great family dogs. With early training and socialization of your puppy, your Irish Setter mix can become amazing companions.

It is to be noted that Irish Setter mixes might need supervision around pet birds if any. Since these dogs were basically bred to be bird hunters, instinct might take over any these dogs might see pet birds as prey.

Also since most of the Irish Setter mixes are large dogs, they might accidentally knock toddlers over, without intending any harm! They can get along with family members of all ages.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mixed breeds of dogs from our American bulldog pitbull mix and beagle lab mix pages

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Irish Setter coloring pages.