Do Irish Setters Shed? All You Need to Know!

The Irish Setter is a passionate gundog with a striking red coat and a reputation for elegance and speed. They are renowned for being excellent family pets, making gentle companions for the elderly, boisterous playmates, and tennis ball retrievers for young children. According to supporters, the Irish Setter is the most attractive dog breed.

The Irish are renowned for their bright mahogany or chestnut coats, standing over two feet at the shoulder and having a powerful yet graceful frame.

GroupSporting
Size25-27 inches
Weight60-70 pounds
Lifespan12 to 15 years

Irish are gregarious dogs who love to socialize. These boisterous redheads are really just big kids at heart, but they have a strong desire to please and will learn well from gentle, encouraging instruction.

The Shedding of Irish Setter

The Shedding of Irish Setter

All dogs shed some quantity of hair. Some shed more and some less than others. Most dogs’ skin and fur health depend on shedding in order to function. By losing their hair, dogs get rid of their worn-out or otherwise damaged hair. Whether a dog has a single or double layer of fur, the time of year and the breed all affect how much coat they shed.

The fur of Irish Setters

Irish Setters shed on average, but like most dogs with a double coat, they blow coat in the spring and fall, which causes them to shed more.

The hair will be more prominent than in other breeds with shorter, more refined, lighter hair because of the color (most often red) and length (medium to long) of the hair.

Additionally, they shed more hair overall because they are a giant breed with more surface area than a smaller breed. There is more hair to go around, not to say that larger dogs shed more than smaller dogs.

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So if you’re searching for a breed that sheds little, this is not the breed for you. Even though they are pretty controllable, they do need some grooming, especially if you want to lessen the amount of fur left around your house.

Frequency of shedding

The redhead gunned Irish Setters shed hair on average throughout the year, but more so in the spring and fall when their dense undercoat sheds more heavily. They are lovely companions, but if you’re looking for a hypoallergenic, low-shedding breed, they generally aren’t the most attractive option.

Shedding due to allergy, skin infections, or hormonal

Dogs also go through several bodily changes. And also, they can get infected or have allergies, which could also be the reason for the excessive shedding. Often, allergies in dogs are the major contributing factor to more shedding. Dermatitis is one of the most common allergies. Any parasitic infections in dogs will cause shedding, and it needs to be treated immediately.

Hormonal problems can also cause more shedding in dogs. If your furry companion has changes in their metabolic activity and dietary deficiency or hormonal fluctuations, they’ll likely shed more.

Bonus Read: Why Is My Dog Licking His Paws? (Reasons And Remedies).

How to Reduce Shedding in Irish Setters?

How to Reduce Shedding in Irish Setters

There isn’t much you can do to “stop” dogs from shedding, but you can lessen it. And regular brushing is one of the most acceptable ways to achieve this.

Skincare

Consult with your vet right away after noticing if they have any allergies or infections, or hormonal changes.

Regular Grooming

Brushing their hair consistently at least 2-3 times per week will help remove the dead hairs. Additionally, it aids in moisturizing their coat, which can reduce shedding brought on by dry skin.

Bonus Read: 10 Large Short Haired Dogs: Breeds With Lower Maintenance.

Supplements

Another effective method for reducing shedding in Irish Setters is to take supplements. It will be a good idea to add a fish oil supplement to your dog’s diet if they are eating dog food that isn’t high in omegas. Fish oil supplements are often available as pills and liquids.

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Additionally, there are many chewable supplements that might benefit the coat of your Irish Setter. Chewable supplements are great for training and enhancing coat health, which is why we love them. Omega Fatty Acids are commonly found in coat and skin health solutions, which will assist your Irish Setter’s coat to stay healthy and minimize shedding.

Balanced diet

Balanced Diet

Further, ensuring that your Setter follows a good balanced diet, exercise routine, and bathing schedule will be beneficial. Just be mindful to avoid over-bathing, as this can result in dry skin.

Brushing

In addition to helping spread the natural oils from your Irish Setter’s coat over their skin, brushing is an excellent technique to remove loose, dead hairs from their coat. This can naturally assist in preventing dry skin, a condition that, if left uncontrolled, result in excessive shedding.

They have a combination of a long, wavy top coat and a soft, thick undercoat, which makes grooming them a bit of an effort.

The hair of the Irish Setters is reasonably long in many areas, making it inclined to mats and knotting. Therefore, to maintain it in good shape and clear away dirt and tangles, you’ll need to periodically brush the top layer with a pin and bristle brush. Considering how much they like playing outside, this is quite significant. Apart from brushing, all that is required for most breeds is to maintain healthy teeth and well-trimmed nails.

De-shedding products

De-shedding tool to remove dead fur from the undercoat is beneficial since these tools can readily reach the undercoat and pull out dead skin. You should use de-shedding tools to help you manage to shed. The two times a year that your Irish Setter may “blow” their coats are when this is highly crucial. It differs from just brushing to using a de-shedding brush. These products cost around the same as a brush, making them an affordable solution for keeping pesky dog hair off your floors and furnishings.

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De-shedding brushes will remove excess fur by digging into the second layer. We advise against using de-shedding brushes more frequently than a few times annually because they can be more abrasive.

Irish Setters: Are they hypoallergenic?

No, Irish Setters are not hypoallergenic, which in this case refers to a dog less prone to trigger an allergic reaction in people.

Their shedding amount does not make them hypoallergenic. The allergies originate from dried saliva and dander, which is simply dead, flaky skin rather than the hair itself. These allergens adhere to your dog’s coat, which can become airborne and cause allergies when the hair is in contact with people.

As a result, dogs with lower hair shed rates are generally better for allergy sufferers. However, hairless dogs and those who shed very little might pose problems. As a result of more dander remaining on their body, low-shedding dogs don’t carry it around as much.

FAQ’s

1. Why do Irish Setters shed in the winter?

Ans. They shed all year, but it just gets worse before winter and spring.

2. When do Irish Setters shed the most?

Ans. They have a double coat that sheds continuously around the year and two more heavy shedding in the fall and spring. It is essential to brush your dog many times, on a weekly basis and daily at the time of shedding.

3. When do Irish Setters shed—in the summer, fall, or spring?

Ans. Fall and spring are the two seasons when the shedding occurs most frequently.

Last Thoughts

It doesn’t have to be such a difficult chore to manage to shed. The dead hair shouldn’t be too stressful if you put the advice from this article into practice and establish good routines and habits!