Golden Irish Dog Breed

Below are the details and specs for the Golden Irish dog breed.

The Golden Irish is considered a medium sized dog breed. The breed weighs normally 55-70 pounds and stands 22 - 26 inches from ground to shoulder. However, the weight and the height of hybrid dogs can vary depending on the size of the parent dogs.

Members of this breed are very affable, affectionate dogs. This makes them excellent dogs for families with children, but poor guard dogs. They love human interaction and will likely greet strangers with enthusiasm. As long as they are properly socialized, Golden Irish should not have issues with other pets.

You can expect the Golden Irish to be a low to medium maintenance dog breed. Their luxurious coat will need to be brushed regularly in order to maintain its sheen, but they are a low-shedding dog due to their lack of undercoat. These dogs are active and need daily exercise, but their energy requirements can usually be met with a 30 minute to one hour walk.

The Golden Irish is a fairly new dog breed and because of this the breed does not have a very detailed history. It is likely that this type of dog was first intentionally bred in the 1980s when the popularity of hybrid dogs increased.

As a crossbreed, the Golden Irish will inherit physical traits from both parent breeds. Not all will inherit the same traits, and therefore some may exhibit more Golden Retriever characteristics, while others may have more Irish Setter characteristics.

You can expect your Golden Irish to have a long and silky coat, floppy ears, and deep almond-shaped eyes. The head of the Golden Irish is round and wide between the ears.

The coat of the Golden Irish typically comes in shades of red or yellow. Some variations include light brown, golden brown, and chocolate.

Red

This is a medium sized dog. Its weight is typically between 55-70 pounds, and it will reach a height of 22 to 26 inches tall.

As with all hybrids, the temperament of the Golden Irish is dependent on the behavioral traits inherited from its parents. Some puppies will inherit traits from the Irish Setter, others the Golden Retriever, and some will have a mix of behaviors inherited from both parent breeds.

These dogs are intelligent and even tempered. Additionally, they are very loyal and affectionate, and love to be around humans. Golden Irish are generally good around other pets, but socialization is still required. Due to their exceptional friendliness and their lack of self-confident behavior, they do not make for good guard dogs. Golden Irish make up for this with their playful energy and loving attitude, making them great companions and family dogs.

Golden Irish are very friendly and do well with children. Like most dogs, they will do best with children if they are socialized with kids while they are still a puppy.

Members of this breed generally get along with other pets without issues as long as socialization occurs. However, they will behave best if introduced to other animals at a young age. Since both the Golden Retriever and the Irish Setter have hunting instincts, they may see small animals such as birds, rabbits, etc. as prey and want to chase them.

Golden Irish, affable as they are, will typically treat strangers with enthusiasm. These dogs will view your guests and unfamiliar people as new friends so it is not recommended that you put him or her on guard duty!

Below are pictures of the Golden Irish dog breed.

You can expect the these dogs to be a low to medium maintenance breed. They will need daily exercise and their coats require frequent care to stay in pristine shape, however, they are a low-shedding dog due to their lack of undercoat.

Golden Irish dogs will need to be brushed daily with a solid hair brush to prevent mats and tangles and preserve their silky coat. A bi-monthly shampoo bath is also recommended, and the ears should be checked occasionally for signs of infection.

This breed is an energetic breed and should be exercised daily to prevent their excess energy from being used to fuel unwanted habits such as chewing, digging, and barking. A 30 minute to one hour walk each day along with a play session or two will allow the Golden Irish to burn off extra energy.

This breed adapts to a wide variety of environments. While they should be comfortable in an apartment as long as their daily exercise requirements are met, they will most likely feel best with at least a yard to play in due to their hunting ancestry.

Golden Irish's can tolerate a wide range of temperatures making them suitable for most climates. However, if it is below freezing they should be provided with a warm shelter and if it is hot they will need ample water and shade to stay comfortable.

The Golden Irish life expectancy is 10 to 15 years. As a hybrid dog breed, the they will have more genetic diversity than its purebred parents, which helps with the breed's health and hardiness. However, your pet can suffer from health issues common in both the Irish Setter and the Golden Retriever, most notably hip dysplasia.

• Bloat
• Epilepsy
• Hip Dysplasia
• Hypothyroidism
• Osteochondrosis Dissecans
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy
• View all 6...

The following dog breed registries and organizations recognize the Golden Irish as a dog breed:

• American Canine Hybrid Club
• Designer Breed Registry
• Designer Dogs Kennel Club
• Dog Registry of America Inc.
• International Designer Canine Registry

• Sources
• http://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/golden-retriever
• http://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/irish-setter
• http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/irish-setter/
• http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/Golden-Retriever/
• http://www.dogbreedplus.com/dog_breeds/golden_irish.php
• http://dogs.petbreeds.com/compare/75-85/Golden-Retriever-vs-Irish-Setter