Are Irish Setters hypoallergenic?
No, Irish Setters are not hypoallergenic, and they are on the higher-shedding end of the scale rather than the lower one, thanks to a long, silky, single coat that sheds steadily throughout the year with a heavier drop in spring and autumn. Anyone with dog allergies considering the breed should be realistic about that before falling for the glossy red coat.
Why hypoallergenic is the wrong label here
Dog allergens come mainly from dander, saliva and urine rather than the hair itself, and every dog produces all three regardless of breed or coat type. A genuinely low-shedding breed can help by keeping less loose hair, and the dander it carries, circulating around the home, but Irish Setters do not fall into that category.
Their coat is long and feathered, particularly around the ears, chest, legs and tail, and while it is a single coat without a dense undercoat, the sheer length and volume of hair means a noticeable amount ends up on furniture, floors and clothing on a regular basis. This is worth remembering whenever a breed is marketed heavily on its coat alone, since coat type is only ever part of the allergy picture, not the whole of it.
What owning an Irish Setter's coat actually involves
Regular brushing, several times a week at minimum, is necessary to prevent the feathered areas matting and to keep loose hair from building up before it sheds around the home. Many owners find a proper grooming routine reduces the visible hair on furniture noticeably, even though it does not stop shedding at the source.
Regular vacuuming and keeping the dog off soft furnishings, particularly during the heavier seasonal sheds, helps manage the practical side of living with the breed. This is a genuinely higher-maintenance coat than many breeds, both for grooming and for general household upkeep. A good quality slicker brush and a wide-toothed comb are the basic tools most owners rely on, working through the feathered areas in sections rather than rushing the whole coat at once.
If you have allergies and love the breed
Given how much this breed sheds, anyone with a genuine dog allergy is likely to find an Irish Setter more challenging to live with than a genuinely low-shedding breed, and spending real time around an adult dog before committing is essential rather than optional here.
If you go ahead despite a mild allergy, a strict grooming routine, frequent cleaning, and keeping the dog out of bedrooms can all help reduce exposure, though none of it removes the allergens entirely. This is a breed better suited to households without significant allergy concerns.
Kit for this breed
Things we stock that owners commonly reach for here. Nothing on this page depends on you buying one.
Reusable Washable Puppy Training Pad
A quilted, machine-washable training pad that absorbs accidents and locks in moisture with a leak-resistant base. Reusable for puppy toilet training and senior dogs, in several bone and paw prints.
From£7.99
Microfibre Pet Drying Robe
A super-absorbent microfibre drying robe that soaks up the wet fast after baths, swims and walks.
From£10.99
Absorbent Microfibre Dog Drying Robe
A super-absorbent microfibre drying robe with a handy front pocket to dry your dog off fast.
From£13.99
Large Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Mats and Tangles
A self-cleaning slicker brush with fine, bead-tipped wire pins that gently lift loose undercoat, mats and tangles from short or long-haired pets. A one-click button releases the collected fur for fuss-free cleaning. Cat-ear shaped design.
£18.99
Common questions
- Do Irish Setters shed a lot?
- Yes, they shed a fair amount year-round from their long, silky coat, with heavier shedding typically in spring and autumn. This is one of the higher-maintenance coats in terms of both shedding and grooming.
- Are Irish Setters a good choice for someone with mild allergies?
- Generally not the easiest choice, given how much they shed compared with genuinely low-shedding breeds. Spending real time with an adult Irish Setter before committing is important to judge an individual reaction rather than relying on hope.
- How often do Irish Setters need grooming?
- Several brushing sessions a week are typically needed to prevent matting in the feathered areas and manage loose hair, with more frequent grooming during the heavier seasonal sheds in spring and autumn.
- What is the difference between shedding and being hypoallergenic?
- Shedding refers to how much loose hair a dog drops, while hypoallergenic relates to how much of the allergy-triggering dander, saliva and urine ends up affecting a person. No breed is free of allergens, but lower-shedding breeds may carry less dander into the environment.
Related
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Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
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.