Best dog food for an Irish Setter
An Irish Setter is a large, elegant gundog, built with a deep chest and long legs for stamina rather than bulk, and typically settling somewhere in the mid-to-high twenties or low thirties in kilograms as an adult. That combination of size and energy means a standard large-breed adult recipe, matched to activity level, is usually the right starting point, alongside some thought about how the food is actually fed rather than just what is in it.
Feeding a Irish Setter
A large breed
An adult Irish Setter typically weighs 25–34kg, so a healthy Irish Setter eats a fair amount compared with other breeds. Every feeding guide on a bag is written per kilo of body weight, not per breed — start there, then adjust to the dog in front of you.
Life stage
A large breed is usually done growing at 15–18 months, which is roughly when a puppy food has finished its job. With a typical lifespan of 11–13 years, there is a long adult stretch in the middle; switch to a senior food when your vet thinks it is worth it rather than on a birthday.
A high-energy dog eats like one
Irish Setters sit at the top end for energy, and a dog working through a couple of hours of real exercise a day burns through the feeding guide faster than a dog on a short stroll. Feed to the dog's condition, not to the middle of the range on the bag.
Joint support is worth looking for
Their size and frame put more load through the joints than a smaller dog carries, so a food with joint support on the label is worth reading for — and keeping them lean does more for their joints than any supplement.
Weight matters more than usual here
A long back or a heavy frame makes every extra kilo count twice. Weigh portions rather than eyeballing a scoop, and reduce the food rather than the walks if the waist starts to disappear.
How much should a Irish Setter weigh?
Adult 25–34kgfully grown at 15–18 months
| Age | Stage | Typical weight | Of adult size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | Just home | 2.9–3.9 kg | 11% |
| 3 months | Young puppy | 4.6–6.3 kg | 19% |
| 6 months | Growing fast | 9.3–12.6 kg | 37% |
| 12 months | Adolescent | 18.6–25.3 kg | 74% |
| 15–18 months | Fully grown | 25–34 kg | 100% |
A guide, from the same rule of thumb our puppy growth predictor uses — each age is that share of the way to maturity for a large breed. Puppies grow fastest early, so a real puppy usually sits a little above the middle rows. Weigh yours and ask your vet if the number worries you.
Complete dog foods that suit a Irish Setter
Complete foods from our range, matched to a Irish Setter's size band and what the breed typically needs. Stock levels and delivery dates are live on each product.
Field & Trial Skinner S Field Trial Light Senior
A lower-fat dry food for older, overweight or less active dogs, including working breeds
From£9.85
Autarky Complete Grain Free Adult Turkey
Grain-free complete dry food for adult dogs, with turkey and a marine-algae joint care package
£12.79
Autarky Grain Free Tasty White Fish & Potato Complete
Grain-free dry dog food built around white fish meal rather than poultry
£12.99
Lily's Kitchen Lily S Kitchen Dog Lovely Lamb
Complete lamb-led dry dog food offered in two practical bag sizes
From£25.15
Burns Adult Large/Giant Breed Chicken and Brown Rice
Complete large-breed dry dog food with 23% chicken and brown rice
£59.99
Burgess Greyhound and Lurcher Chicken
Complete adult dry food formulated for the specific build of greyhounds and lurchers
£35.35
Naturo Senior Rice Poultry Variety 6pk
Six 400g trays across three recipes for senior dogs, with glucosamine and chondroitin
£10.29
Naturo Senior Dog Turkey with Rice and Vegetables 7pk
Turkey at 65% in a senior wet tray, with brown rice, vegetables and added joint support
£11.99
Vitalin Adult Dog Pork with Apple
Complete dry food for adult dogs of any age, led by pork, with citrus extract for dental support
From£11.99
Energy needs for an active gundog
Irish Setters were bred to work long days in the field, and even a family pet from working lines often carries a genuinely high energy level that needs feeding for, rather than the lower-calorie recipes suited to a more sedentary large breed. A protein and fat percentage on the higher side of the standard adult range generally suits a genuinely active Irish Setter better than a light or weight-management formula.
That said, not every Irish Setter is out working the fields, and a dog that gets moderate exercise does better on a standard adult recipe portioned to its actual activity rather than assuming every dog of the breed needs a high-performance food.
Why deep-chested breeds are fed differently
Irish Setters, like other deep-chested breeds, are commonly fed two or more smaller meals a day rather than one large one, a widely recommended precaution for this body shape. Slowing down a fast eater with a slow-feeder bowl, and avoiding strenuous exercise immediately before or after a meal, are also commonly suggested habits for breeds built this way.
None of this is about diagnosing or treating anything; it is standard, widely available guidance for deep-chested breeds generally, and your vet is the right person to talk to if you have any specific concerns about your own dog.
Puppies and coat condition
An Irish Setter puppy needs a large-breed puppy food that supports steady, controlled growth rather than the fastest possible weight gain, since growing too quickly can put unnecessary strain on developing joints in a large breed.
The breed's long, silky coat also benefits from a diet with decent fat content and a named animal protein, though regular grooming plays at least as large a role in keeping that coat in good condition as anything in the bowl.
Common questions
- How much should I feed an adult Irish Setter?
- This depends on your individual dog's weight, age and activity level, so start from the feeding guide on your chosen food and adjust based on body condition. A genuinely active working-line dog will typically need more than a moderately exercised family pet of the same weight.
- Why do Irish Setters need smaller, more frequent meals?
- As a deep-chested breed, Irish Setters are commonly fed two or more smaller meals rather than one large one, a widely recommended precaution for this body type. It is general good practice for the breed rather than advice specific to any one dog's condition.
- Is large-breed puppy food necessary for an Irish Setter puppy?
- Yes, a large-breed puppy formula is generally recommended, since it supports steadier, more controlled growth than a standard puppy food, which matters for a breed that reaches a substantial adult size.
- Do Irish Setters need a high-protein diet?
- Active working-line Irish Setters often do well on a higher protein and fat percentage suited to their energy output, but a less active family pet of the same breed may do better on a standard adult recipe. Match the food to your individual dog's activity level.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.