Original Article: https://www.dogster.com/dog-breeds/irish-setter-cocker-spaniel-mix

Finding the dog breed that is best for you and your family when looking for a pet can be challenging. There are so many dog breeds (and so little time to research them all). If you’ve been looking for a working dog or just a fairly high-energy pup, though, we have the canine for you!

The Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel mix is a rarer designer breed, but if you can manage to find one, you’ll have a pup who is active, lively, sweet, and affectionate on your hands. Before making a final decision about adopting this breed or any other, though, you should know much more about them. That’s why we’ve gathered all the information you need about the Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel mix below. Take a look to see if this adorable pup is the one for you!

Breed Overview

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As the name suggests, this breed is a mix of the Cocker Spaniel and Irish Setter. As such, the Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel mix is one adorable canine! It’s also a dog who both loves to have fun and adores having a job to do.

Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel Mix Characteristics

Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel Mix Puppies

The Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel mix is a fairly rare designer breed, so you may have trouble locating a puppy. You will absolutely have to go through a breeder to get one of these pups, as the chances of them being found in a shelter are slim. Ensure any breeder you speak with is reputable and be sure to ask plenty of questions regarding the puppy’s family history and the sort of health and genetic tests that have been run. This way, you can be sure you’re receiving a healthy dog.

Also, be prepared to shell out some money for an Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel mix puppy. Because this breed is so rare, breeders may charge a pretty penny for these dogs!

Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel Mix Origin & History

We don’t know when or how exactly the Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel mix came about, but we do know the origins and histories of their parent breeds.

The Cocker Spaniel originated in the United Kingdom as a hunting dog where they hunted the woodcock. By the end of the 19th century, the breed had arrived in America, where it went through physical changes to become the dog known and loved today. As such, there are two kinds of Cocker Spaniels—the English Cocker Spaniel and the American Cocker Spaniel. Cocker Spaniels eventually became more well-known as companion dogs than hunting dogs (although they are still happiest when they have work to do!).

The Irish Setter originated in Ireland, as you might suspect from the name, though when exactly the Irish Setter breed we know today came about is unclear. There are mentions of “setters” going as far back as the 1500s, but those are most likely in reference to a breed that no longer exists. The Irish Setter is another hunting dog, specifically a gun dog, but is also known for making a terrific family pet due to their lively and rambunctious nature.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel Mix

Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel mixes will have some variations in temperament and personality depending on which parent breed they take after more. Overall, though, this designer breed is sweet, affectionate, and loving, making them fantastic companions. They are particularly loving and affectionate towards their family and favored people but will be friendly when meeting strangers, too.

This pup is also incredibly energetic! You’ll find yourself playing and going on walks often with an Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel mix. Plus, because of their background as hunting dogs, this breed greatly enjoys doing work, so training them to do tasks or for something like agility will leave them happy and fulfilled.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

The Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel mix is a fabulous family dog, though they will do best with families on the more active side. These canines are incredibly family-oriented and love nothing more than spending time with their loved ones. They’re excellent with children of all ages (though you should still always supervise when dogs and kids are playing together). If you have children who love to play games, such as catch, they and the Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel mix will likely end up forming a tight bond.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?

Irish Setter Cocker Spaniels should get along with the majority of other canines and may be friendly with felines, too. However, there is a danger when it comes to smaller animals since both parent breeds of this pup were hunting dogs. Because of this, the Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel may end up giving chase after animals smaller than it, so be careful if this dog and a cat are in the same room. Animals such as birds and rodents may also not fare well due to the breed’s hunting background.

Things to Know When Owning an Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel Mix

When owning one of these lovely canines, there are plenty more things to know, like how well they take to training, how to groom them, and whether they are prone to certain health conditions.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Like all dog breeds, the Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel mix requires high-quality dog food containing real meat as the first ingredient. Because the breed is so energetic, they may need a bit more protein to help them keep up with the amount of activity they do. Feeding your pup a dog food specifically designed for a medium-sized breed should have them receiving all the nutrients they need to stay healthy.

How much you should feed your Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel mix is something to be discussed with your dog’s vet. This breed can vary a bit in size, and larger dogs may require more food than smaller ones. This breed may also need more food to keep up with their energetic natures. However, the parent breeds of these pups tend to have hearty appetites, so the Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel mix could have a tendency to overeat. Be careful not to give them too much food!

Exercise 🐕

Exercise is crucial for the Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel mix, as they are energetic working dogs. Aim for 60–90 minutes of exercise per day; this exercise shouldn’t be intense, though. Longer walks with your pup or a quick romp around the backyard, along with some playtime, will help them release their energy.

You may also want to look into training your Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel mix for some kind of canine sport, like agility. Because this breed enjoys having a job to do, they’ll be quite happy getting the chance to train for something like this, and the sport itself will help provide not only physical but mental stimulation for them. You can even set up an agility course or something similar in your backyard for your dog if you don’t want to fully get involved in canine sports and still keep them entertained!

Training 🎾

This hybrid breed should be fairly easy to train because of their background as hunting dogs and people-pleasing nature. These dogs want to please their owners, and they’re intelligent, so they should quickly pick up on new commands. Keep training positive, though; these dogs can be sensitive, so if there’s any negativity to be found, they’ll be affected, making training them more difficult.

Don’t forget socialization, either! All dogs need socialization beginning from an early age, so they can get used to being around new people, animals, sights, smells, and sounds. Enroll your pup in an obedience class or take them to the dog park to help them learn how to get along with others.

Grooming ✂️

With the Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel mix, you should expect to brush their coat once a day to keep hair from tangling or matting. When it comes to cutting hair, you’ll likely want to invest in the help of a groomer to get the perfect cut and look for your pup.

Baths should only be given on occasion (like when your dog is especially dirty) using a moisturizing shampoo. The parent breeds of this mix both have sensitive skin, so the Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel mix likely does, too. Over-bathing will dry out and irritate the skin. Using pet-safe wash wipes helps clean them without worrying about their skin.

You should also check your dog’s ears on a weekly basis. Long ears tend to collect dirt and grime, which can lead to ear infections, so wiping your pet’s ears down with a cotton ball or pad soaked in a dog-specific pH-balanced ear solution will help keep ears healthy.

Other than that, you should brush your pup’s teeth regularly and trim their nails every couple of months.

Health and Conditions 🏥

The Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel mix is rare enough that knowing exactly what health issues they may face is a bit of a guessing game. However, we do know what health conditions the parent breeds of this designer dog are prone to, and it’s likely some of them may be inherited by the Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel mix.

Male vs Female

Other than possible minute differences in size, males and females of this breed shouldn’t have significant differences. Both sexes will be affectionate, loving, and energetic.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel Mix

Here’s a bit more you should know about this designer dog and their parent breeds!

1. The Cocker Spaniel and Irish Setter share the same breed group.

Both the parent breeds of the Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel mix come from the gun dog breed group. However, they differ in their sub-groups, as the Irish Setter is a “setter,” and the Cocker Spaniel is from the “flushing” sub-group.

2. Irish Setters mature slowly.

The Irish Setter stays puppy-like for far longer than most dog breeds. This means the Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel mix could take longer to mature if it takes after the Irish Setter more than the Cocker Spaniel.

3. The Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel mix isn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Unfortunately, the AKC doesn’t recognize hybrid dog breeds, so it doesn’t recognize the Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel mix. However, the AKC recognizes both parent breeds.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been searching for a fun and lively companion canine, the Irish Setter Cocker Spaniel mix might be right for you. This breed is a delightful mix of two hunting dogs that also make wonderful pets, leaving this hybrid with a sweet, loving, and energetic personality. These pups are best for those who are more active, though, as they have energy to spare. The only downside to this breed is that it is rare, so locating one may be a challenge.

Featured Image Credit: (L) TMArt, Shutterstock | (R) chrisukphoto, Shutterstock

Source: Dogster