Irish Setter weight chart
An adult male Irish Setter typically weighs somewhere around 29 to 34 kilograms, with adult females somewhat lighter at around 25 to 29 kilograms, though individual dogs vary within and beyond that range depending on frame size and condition. A weight chart is a general guide for spotting a dog that is significantly off track, not a target to hit exactly.
How Irish Setters grow
Like most large breeds, Irish Setters do most of their height growth in the first year but continue filling out in muscle and chest depth until around 18 months to two years old. A gangly, lean-looking Irish Setter at eight or nine months old is normal for the breed and not a sign of being underweight.
Growth rate matters more than hitting a specific weight at a specific age. A puppy gaining weight steadily on a large breed puppy formula, with visible waist and easily felt ribs, is doing fine even if they sit above or below an average figure for their age.
Using a chart properly
A weight chart works best as a rough band to compare against, not a precise target. What matters more day to day is body condition: you should be able to feel your Setter's ribs without pressing hard, see a waist from above, and see a slight tuck from the side. A dog that looks and feels right is generally fine even if a chart would call them slightly light or heavy for their exact age.
If your Irish Setter's weight is changing rapidly in either direction, or growth seems to have stalled compared with how they were tracking previously, that is worth a vet check rather than working it out from a chart alone.
Common questions
- How much should an adult Irish Setter weigh?
- Adult males typically sit around 29 to 34 kilograms and adult females around 25 to 29 kilograms, though individual dogs vary with frame size. Body condition, checked by feel, matters more than hitting an exact figure.
- When does an Irish Setter stop growing?
- Most of their height is reached by around 12 to 14 months, but they continue to fill out through the chest and muscle until roughly 18 months to two years old, which is later than many people expect for a dog that already looks fully grown.
- Why does my Irish Setter puppy look thin?
- A lean, leggy look is normal for the breed through adolescence, since they gain height faster than they fill out in muscle. As long as ribs are easily felt but not visible, and energy and appetite are normal, this is typical rather than a sign of a problem.
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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.