Irish Red and White Setter cost of ownership
Cost of ownership in Texas · 42–60 lb (m) · 35–50 lb (f) · 12.7-year median lifespan · AKC rank #162 (2025)
Photo: Pleple2000 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Source · 8 sources · Updated 2026-09-21estimate
Getting an Irish Red and White Setter
This is the one-off, and it is not in any figure above — the yearly and lifetime numbers on this page are the cost of keeping the dog, not of getting one.
No breed rescue publishes a fee schedule for the Irish Red and White Setter, so there is no breed-specific figure here — only what any dog costs to adopt, which 18 shelters do publish.
| Puppy from a general shelter | $269 ($30–$600) |
| Adult from a general shelter | $161 ($25–$500) |
| Senior from a general shelter | $93 ($0–$500) |
Read off the fee pages of 18 US shelters and animal-control agencies across all four census regions. Breeder prices are not collected publicly anywhere credible, so this page does not quote one — the adoption guide explains why and lists all 18 shelters.
Source · pawdget · Updated 2026-10-03
Where the money goes
| Category | per year | Share | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food & treats1385 kcal/day × $1.42 per 1,000 kcal + 30% treats | $932 | 27% | PetSmart · est. |
| Vet & preventive1 exam, core vaccines, heartworm test, dental every 3 yrs, 12 months of parasite prevention | $787 | 23% | CareCredit / Synchrony · est. |
| InsuranceAccident & illness plan, US average, adjusted for state | $812 | 24% | North American Pet Health Insurance Association · est. |
| Grooming7 salon visits × $77 | $523 | 15% | Industry price guides · est. |
| Supplies & gearReplacement toys, waste bags, treats | $58 | 2% | PetSmart · est. |
| Training & boardingUS average yearly boarding spend, adjusted for state | $313 | 9% | American Pet Products Association · est. |
An Irish Red and White Setter — 42–60 lb for males and 35–50 lb for females, sporting group, ranked No. 162 of 202 by 2025 AKC registrations — costs a typical owner in Texas about $3,425 a year, or $2,142 to $4,231 depending on food, grooming and insurance. That is 17% above the $2,924 average for medium breeds; the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje is the cheapest in the group and the Portuguese Water Dog the dearest.
Food is the largest line at 27%. At 46.8 lb this dog needs about 1,385 kcal a day — roughly 25 lb of kibble a month — so brand and tier matter more than for a smaller dog: $819 to $997 a year across the standard kibbles we priced ($932 at the median), and several times that on fresh food. Insurance is the next line at 24%.
At No. 162 of 202 it is a rare breed in the US; the yearly figures here come from its size and coat, not from breed-specific price data, which does not exist for breeds this uncommon. Males run about 9 lb heavier than females, which is enough to move a male into a higher parasite-prevention band — the panel's weight setting matters here. The AKC rates its energy at the top of the scale, so the calorie factor is 2× resting energy — a working-dog appetite in a medium body. No breed-level survival study covers it, so the 12.7-year figure is the US life expectancy for medium dogs; the AKC quotes 11–15 years.
Long, silky hair needs a trim every six to eight weeks unless kept in a short "puppy cut", plus daily combing to prevent mats. The estimate assumes 7 salon visits × $77, $523 a year; owners who clip at home spend a fraction of that.
First-year total: $4,378. Beyond the running costs that includes spay or neuter ($457 at Texas prices) and the puppy vaccine series with its extra visits. Medium dogs are the sweet spot for gear — $160 covers a crate, bed and walking kit, and none of it needs replacing as the puppy grows.
Over a 12.7-year median lifespan (the US life-expectancy figure for its size group) the total is $44,310; the final 5 years run about $3,395 each once senior exams and bloodwork are added.
Food
Calories from RER = 70 × kg^0.75 scaled for a 46.8 lb very high-activity dog; price per 1,000 kcal is the median of our recorded SKUs in this tier.
Source · 2 sources · Updated 2026-09-21estimate
Dog food in bulk at Sam's Club · partner link
First-month shopping list
- Crate Top Paw · 42″L x 30″H, Large $65
- Bed Top Paw · Medium $15
- Bowls ×2 Top Paw · 12 fl oz $3
- Leash PetSafe · 3/8 in $5
- Collar KONG · Large $25
- Harness PetSafe · Small $21
- Brush Top Paw $9
- Nail Clipper Top Paw · Large $8
- Pee Pads Great Choice · 23″ x 24″ $10
- Total$160
Source · PetSmart (recorded by pawdget) · Updated 2026-09-21
partner link · As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices above are our own recorded PetSmart samples, not Amazon's.
Health conditions commonly recorded in Irish Red and White Setters
We have not yet found a peer-reviewed, openly licensed prevalence study for this breed, so this section stays empty rather than quoting unsourced lists.
Informational only — not veterinary advice. Talk to your veterinarian about your own dog.
Breed data
| Weight | 42–60 lb (m) · 35–50 lb (f) |
| Median lifespansize-group estimate | 12.7 yrs |
| Breed-club life expectancy | 11–15 yrs |
| Coat | long silky |
| Activity | very high |
| AKC group | sporting |
Source · 3 sources · Updated 2026-09-21estimate
Questions about Irish Red and White Setter costs
How much does an Irish Red and White Setter cost per year?
About $3,425 a year in Texas for an adult on a standard kibble with an accident-and-illness policy, ranging from $2,142 to $4,231. Food & treats is the largest category at 27%.
How much does it cost to feed an Irish Red and White Setter?
A 46.8 lb Irish Red and White Setter needs roughly 1,385 kcal a day, about 25 lb of dry food a month. On a standard kibble that is $78 a month treats included ($68–$83 depending on brand); budget kibble costs about half, fresh food several times more — use the food tier switch to see exact figures.
What is the lifetime cost of an Irish Red and White Setter?
Around $44,310 over the breed's 12.7-year median lifespan, including $953 of first-year set-up costs and higher senior-care spending after age 8.
Last updated September 21, 2026. Figures are estimates built from the sources listed above; your own costs will differ. How we calculate.