Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are Irish Setters Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are Irish Setters Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are Irish Setters Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are Irish Setters Afraid of Strangers?
- Are Irish Setters Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do Irish Setters Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do Irish Setters Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are Irish Setters Easy to Train?
- Do Irish Setters Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do Irish Setters Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do Irish Setters have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are Irish Setters Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are Irish Setters Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are Irish Setters Playful? What is the Energy Level of Irish Setters
- Conclusion on Irish Setter Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the Irish Setter
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Irish Setter out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Irish Setter based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Irish Setter breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of Irish Setter by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Irish Setter.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the Irish Setter for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Irish Setter.
The summary table below shows the score of the Irish Setter for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
Behavior | Score |
---|---|
Prey Drive | 64.1 percent |
Energy Level | 56.6 percent |
Attachment Attention Seeking | 53.0 percent |
Owner Directed Aggression | 4.6 percent |
Excitability | 39.1 percent |
Dog Rivalry | 34.4 percent |
Stubbornness | 30.5 percent |
Stranger Directed Aggression | 28.0 percent |
Touch Sensitivity | 23.8 percent |
Dog Directed Aggression | 20.7 percent |
Separation Related Behavior | 20.7 percent |
Dog Directed Fear | 16.4 percent |
Stranger Directed Fear | 11.7 percent |
Nonsocial Fear | 1.1 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your Irish Setter`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Irish Setter, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Irish Setter.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are Irish Setters Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
Irish Setters are a little bit aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the Irish Setter ranks low for aggression towards strangers.
The Irish Setter ranks number 74 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 47 Irish Setter owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Setter in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Setter has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 28.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit aggressive towards strangers just like the Irish Setter are listed in the table below
Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
71 | English Springer Spaniel | 28.5 % |
72 | Rhodesian Ridgeback | 28.5 % |
73 | Airedale Terrier | 28.3 % |
74 | Irish Setter | 28.0 % |
75 | Fox Terrier (Smooth) | 27.9 % |
76 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 27.7 % |
77 | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 27.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Irish Setters Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
Irish Setters are not aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the Irish Setter ranks very low for aggression towards its owner.
The Irish Setter ranks number 118 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 47 Irish Setter owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Setter in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Setter has an owner-directed-aggression score of 4.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are not owner-aggressive just like the Irish Setter are listed in the table below
Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
115 | German Wirehaired Pointer | 5.4 % |
116 | Portuguese Water Dog | 5.0 % |
117 | Bouvier des Flandres | 4.9 % |
118 | Irish Setter | 4.6 % |
119 | Scottish Terrier | 3.9 % |
120 | Italian Greyhound | 2.6 % |
121 | Rhodesian Ridgeback | 0.9 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Irish Setters Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
Irish Setters are not aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the Irish Setter ranks very low for aggression towards other dogs.
The Irish Setter ranks number 110 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 47 Irish Setter owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Setter in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Setter has a dog-directed aggression score of 20.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are not dog-aggressive just like the Irish Setter are listed in the table below
Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
107 | Basset Hound | 21.6 % |
108 | Pug | 21.4 % |
109 | English Setter | 20.8 % |
110 | Irish Setter | 20.7 % |
111 | Shetland Sheepdog | 20.3 % |
112 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 20.1 % |
113 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 19.5 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Irish Setters Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
Irish Setters are not fearful of strangers.
This is because the Irish Setter ranks very low for fear of strangers.
The Irish Setter ranks number 101 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 47 Irish Setter owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Setter in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Setter has a stranger-directed-fear score of 11.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are not stranger-fearful just like the Irish Setter are listed in the table below
Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
98 | Samoyed | 13.6 % |
99 | Collie | 13.0 % |
100 | Labrador Retriever | 12.8 % |
101 | Irish Setter | 11.7 % |
102 | Pointer | 11.5 % |
103 | German Wirehaired Pointer | 11.3 % |
104 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | 11.1 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are Irish Setters Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
Irish Setters are not fearful of other dogs.
This is because the Irish Setter ranks very low for fear of other dogs.
The Irish Setter ranks number 110 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 47 Irish Setter owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Setter in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Setter has a dog-directed-fear score of 16.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are not other-dog-fearful just like the Irish Setter are listed in the table below
Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
107 | Great Pyrenees | 16.8 % |
108 | Gordon Setter | 16.6 % |
109 | Bullmastiff | 16.5 % |
110 | Irish Setter | 16.4 % |
111 | Black and Tan Coonhound | 14.3 % |
112 | Rottweiler | 13.6 % |
113 | Siberian Husky | 13.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do Irish Setters Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
Irish Setters are not fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the Irish Setter ranks very low for non-social fear.
The Irish Setter ranks number 122 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 47 Irish Setter owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Setter in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Setter has a nonsocial-fear score of 1.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are not nonsocial-fearful just like the Irish Setter are listed in the table below
Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
119 | Eurasier | 5.7 % |
120 | Borzoi | 4.0 % |
121 | Kuvasz | 1.2 % |
122 | Irish Setter | 1.1 % |
123 | Siberian Husky | 0.0 % |
124 | Giant Schnauzer | 0.0 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do Irish Setters Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
Irish Setters are somewhat competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the Irish Setter ranks average on dog rivalry.
The Irish Setter ranks number 70 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 47 Irish Setter owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Setter in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Setter has a dog-rivalry score of 34.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat competition-driven just like the Irish Setter are listed in the table below
Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
---|---|---|
67 | Shih Tzu | 36.4 % |
68 | Maltese | 35.4 % |
69 | Australian Shepherd | 34.5 % |
70 | Irish Setter | 34.4 % |
71 | Belgian Sheepdog | 34.2 % |
72 | Siberian Husky | 34.2 % |
73 | English Setter | 34.1 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are Irish Setters Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
Irish Setters are somewhat easy to train.
This is because the Irish Setter ranks average for trainability.
The Irish Setter ranks number 56 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 47 Irish Setter owners reported on the trainability of their Irish Setter in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Setter has a trainability score of 69.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat easy to train just like the Irish Setter are listed in the table below
Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
---|---|---|
53 | Norwegian Elkhound | 71.2 % |
54 | Great Dane | 70.9 % |
55 | Gordon Setter | 70.5 % |
56 | Irish Setter | 69.5 % |
57 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 68.6 % |
58 | Mastiff (English) | 68.6 % |
59 | Pit Bull | 68.0 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Learn more about how intelligent the Irish Setter is and how the intelligence of the Irish Setter affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Irish Setter is.
Do Irish Setters Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
Irish Setters are quite a bit into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the Irish Setter ranks high for small-pet-chasing.
The Irish Setter ranks number 31 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 47 Irish Setter owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Setter in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Setter has a chasing score of 64.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit into chasing after smaller pets just like the Irish Setter are listed in the table below
Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
---|---|---|
28 | Weimaraner | 64.8 % |
29 | Irish Water Spaniel | 64.6 % |
30 | Doberman Pinscher | 64.5 % |
31 | Irish Setter | 64.1 % |
32 | Standard Schnauzer | 63.7 % |
33 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 63.3 % |
34 | Alaskan Husky | 63.0 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do Irish Setters Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
Irish Setters are somewhat attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the Irish Setter ranks average for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The Irish Setter ranks number 59 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 47 Irish Setter owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Setter in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Setter has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 53.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat attachment/attention-seeking just like the Irish Setter are listed in the table below
Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
---|---|---|
56 | Basenji | 54.7 % |
57 | Shih Tzu | 54.5 % |
58 | Lhasa Apso | 54.4 % |
59 | Irish Setter | 53.0 % |
60 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 52.7 % |
61 | Great Dane | 52.6 % |
62 | Bullmastiff | 52.2 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do Irish Setters have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
Irish Setters are not prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the Irish Setter ranks very low for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The Irish Setter ranks number 106 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 47 Irish Setter owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Setter in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Setter has a separation anxiety score of 20.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are not prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Irish Setter are listed in the table below
Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
---|---|---|
103 | Gordon Setter | 23.1 % |
104 | Airedale Terrier | 23.0 % |
105 | Irish Water Spaniel | 21.8 % |
106 | Irish Setter | 20.7 % |
107 | Cairn Terrier | 17.9 % |
108 | Rottweiler | 17.3 % |
109 | English Setter | 16.6 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are Irish Setters Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
Irish Setters are a little bit touch-sensitive.
This is because the Irish Setter ranks low for touch sensitivity.
The Irish Setter ranks number 81 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 47 Irish Setter owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Setter in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Setter has a touch-sensitivity score of 23.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit touch-sensitive just like the Irish Setter are listed in the table below
Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
---|---|---|
78 | Tibetan Terrier | 24.2 % |
79 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 24.0 % |
80 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 23.8 % |
81 | Irish Setter | 23.8 % |
82 | Belgian Malinois | 23.5 % |
83 | Ibizan Hound | 23.1 % |
84 | Labrador Retriever | 22.9 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are Irish Setters Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
Irish Setters are a little bit hyper (excitable).
This is because the Irish Setter ranks low for excitability.
The Irish Setter ranks number 82 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 47 Irish Setter owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Setter in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Setter has an excitability score of 39.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit excitable just like the Irish Setter are listed in the table below
Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
---|---|---|
79 | Bouvier des Flandres | 40.6 % |
80 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 40.1 % |
81 | Standard Schnauzer | 39.3 % |
82 | Irish Setter | 39.1 % |
83 | Tibetan Terrier | 38.7 % |
84 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 38.7 % |
85 | Dalmatian | 38.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are Irish Setters Playful? What is the Energy Level of Irish Setters
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
Irish Setters are somewhat energetic.
This is because the Irish Setter ranks average for energy level.
The Irish Setter ranks number 65 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 47 Irish Setter owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Setter in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Setter has an energy-level score of 56.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat energetic just like the Irish Setter are listed in the table below
Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
---|---|---|
62 | Shetland Sheepdog | 57.3 % |
63 | Labrador Retriever | 57.1 % |
64 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 56.8 % |
65 | Irish Setter | 56.6 % |
66 | Siberian Husky | 55.7 % |
67 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | 55.1 % |
68 | Rottweiler | 55.0 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on Irish Setter Temperament
The temperament of your Irish Setter comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Irish Setter is exposed to.
You cannot change your Irish Setter`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Irish Setter to.
Exposing your Irish Setter to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Irish Setter to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your Irish Setter`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Irish Setter.
If you think the Irish Setter is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Irish Setters cost and Irish Setter puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable Irish Setter breeders in the United States and the prices of their Irish Setter puppies.