How Many Puppies Do Irish Setters Have? Calculator for Predicting Irish Setter Litter Size

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Average Litter Size of Irish Setter

Researchers from the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science did a study where they counted the numbers of puppies in 145 different Irish Setter birth litters.

From this study, the researchers found that the average number of puppies that Irish Setters can have is 7 puppies. Also, the Irish Setter can have as few as 1 puppies per litter and as many as 13 puppies per litter.

See how the litter size of the Irish Setter compares to that of other dog breeds below:

The average litter size of the Irish Setter (in green) compared to the litter sizes of other dog breeds (in red)
Dog Breed Average Litter Size
Weimaraner Average Litter Size 8.8
Perro de Presa Canario Average Litter Size 8.4
Afghan Hound Average Litter Size 8.0
Curly-Coated Retriever Average Litter Size 7.5
Irish Setter Average Litter Size 7.1
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Average Litter Size 6.6
Hamiltonstovare Average Litter Size 6.5
Lancashire Heeler Average Litter Size 5.5
Keeshond Average Litter Size 5.5
Bearded Collie Average Litter Size 5.4
Dachshund Average Litter Size 5.4
Cirneco dell`Etna Average Litter Size 4.5
Chinese Crested Average Litter Size 4.3
Smooth Fox Terrier Average Litter Size 4.3
Shih Tzu Average Litter Size 4.2
Puli Average Litter Size 4.0
Shetland Sheepdog Average Litter Size 3.9
Finnish Spitz Average Litter Size 3.7
Yorkshire Terrier Average Litter Size 3.5
Volpino Italiano Average Litter Size 3.3

Read this article to learn about how many puppies dogs have.

Calculator to Predict How Many Puppies Irish Setter Will Have

Irish Setter Litter Size Predictor

Your Irish Setter`s Current Age:




Method of Pregnancy

Number of Puppies to Expect:

According to the result of the research carried out by researchers from the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, the number of puppies a Irish Setter will have depends on the following main factors:

  • The size of the breed (most important factor): Giant dog breeds tend to have a bigger litter size, while smaller breeds give birth to a smaller number of puppies
  • The method of mating: Natural mating results in a larger litter size than artificial insemination.
  • The age of the female dog: Check out the chart below to see how many puppies a female Irish Setter is likely to have at different ages.

According to research, the following factors do not affect litter size:

  • The time of the year of the litter was born (season of birth): Although, from the study, litters born in the Spring seem to be larger than litters from other seasons, however, the difference was not of significance.
  • The number of times a female dog has given birth in the past (known as parity): The age of the female dog is more important to the extent that it makes parity insignificant.

Based on the important factors that affect litter size, the researchers from the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science developed formulas for predicting the litter size of dogs.

We have developed the Irish Setter litter size calculator above based on their formulas. Use the calculator to predict how many puppies a Irish Setter will have based on the age, and method of pregnancy for a Irish Setter

The calculator tells you how many puppies your Irish Setter will have if your Irish Setter gets pregnant today. The calculator assumes that the length of pregnancy will be two months.

Note that we are NOT in any way encouraging you to breed your Irish Setter. Dog breeding requires expertise. If you want to be breeding dogs, get the necessary training. Also, work closely with a veterinarian when breeding a dog.

The table below shows the average litter size to expect from a Irish Setter at different ages. This table applies to a Irish Setter that conceives through natural mating.

Age (Years) Average Litter Size Litter Size Range
2 8 puppies 6 to 9 puppies
3 7 puppies 6 to 9 puppies
4 7 puppies 5 to 9 puppies
5 7 puppies 5 to 9 puppies
6 7 puppies 4 to 10 puppies
7 7 puppies 4 to 10 puppies
8 6 puppies 3 to 10 puppies
9 6 puppies 2 to 9 puppies

How Big Will a Irish Setter Puppy Get?

A Irish Setter puppy will grow up to weigh around 60 to 70 pounds. Furthermore, a Irish Setter puppy will grow up to be 2 feet, 1 inch to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the sho.

Learn more about Irish Setter weight and how big Irish Setters grow here

Irish Setter Growth Chart

How Much is a Irish Setter Puppy

How Much Irish Setters Cost

The average price of a Irish Setter puppy is $1680. The price of a Irish Setter puppy ranges from $1200 to $2200.

Since the Irish Setter has an average litter size of 7, therefore a Irish Setter litter birth is worth $11760.

To learn more about the price of Irish Setter puppy, check our review on how much Irish Setter puppy cost, and Irish Setter buying advice.

How Much Irish Setters Cost

How Long is a Irish Setter Pregnant?

Irish Setters are pregnant for 63 days on average (2 months) after conception. However, this is an average value. The length of pregnancy in Irish Setters can range from 58-68 days.

However, note that it is difficult to know the exact day that your Irish Setter conceives because conception may not happen at the same time that mating happens.

Sperm can live inside a female Irish Setter for several days after mating before conception occurs.

How to Ensure a Successful Pregnancy in Irish Setter

To ensure that your Irish Setter successfully gets pregnant and deliver its puppies, here at the things you can do:

  • Feed your Irish Setter well: A good diet will ensure that your Irish Setter has the nutrients and the energy it needs to get pregnant and maintain the pregnancy.
  • Make sure your Irish Setter is in good health: Ensure you take your Irish Setter to the Vet care regularly for checkups, make sure your Irish Setter gets regular exercise. Also, make sure that your is not overweight or underweight.
  • To learn how to check if your Irish Setter is overweight or underweight, check out this resource.

Conclusion on Irish Setter Litter Size

Irish Setters can have 7 puppies per litter birth on average. The number of puppies that a Irish Setter will have depends on factors such as the age of the Irish Setter and the method of pregnancy (natural or artificial insemination).

Breeding Irish Setters the right way requires expertise and should be done after sufficient training.

Also, you should work closely with a veterinarian when breeding a Irish Setter. There are a lot of nuances involved in breeding a dog, which we do not have the time or the space to discuss here.

However, working with a veterinarian will ensure that your Irish Setter gets the right treatment necessary to make healthy puppies.

The litter size research study that we used for this article was conducted on Irish Setters in Norway. However, the authors of the research believe that the results can be generalized to other countries that have similar dog management systems as Norway.