Irish Setter vs English Setter – Which one is a better dog breed for you?
"Find similarities and differences between Irish Setter vs English Setter"
Compare Irish Setter and English Setter. Which is better: Irish Setter or English Setter?
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Name | Irish Setter | English Setter |
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Origins | ![]() | ![]() |
Group | Gun Dog | Gun Dog |
Popularity Rank | 72 | 95 |
Reviews | 1 | 2 |
Rate |
Other Names | Red Setter, Irish Red Setter | Lawerack, Laverack, Llewellin (or Llewellyn) Setter |
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Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
AKC Group | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1878 as a Sporting breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1878 as a Sporting breed. |
FCI Group | Recognized by FCI in the Pointing Dogs group, in the British and Irish Pointers and Setters section. | Recognized by FCI in the Pointing Dogs group, in the British and Irish Pointers and Setters section. |
Breed Recognition |
American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Canadian Canine Registry | Unknown |
Price | $800-$1000 | $400-$600 |
General Appearance - Irish Setter vs English Setter
Size | Large | Large |
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Weight | Male: 65-75 pounds (29-34 kg), Female: 55-65 pounds (25-29 kg) | Male: 55-80 pounds (25-36 kg), Female: 45-70 pounds (20-32 kg) |
Avg. Weight | Male: 70 pounds (31.5 kg), Female: 60 pounds (27 kg) | Male: 67.5 pounds (30.5 kg), Female: 57.5 pounds (26 kg) |
Height | Male: 26-28 inches (66-71 cm), Female: 24-26 inches (61-66 cm) | Male: 24-27 inches (61-69 cm), Female: 23-26 inches (58-66 cm) |
Avg. Height | Male: 27 inches (68.5 cm), Female: 25 inches (63.5 cm) | Male: 25.5 inches (65 cm), Female: 24.5 inches (62 cm) |
Hair & Care - Irish Setter vs English Setter
Coat | Fine | Feathered |
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Colors |
Mahogany Red |
Blue Belton Lemon Orange Tan Tricolor Liver |
Grooming | Advanced: The Irish Setter requires a lot of grooming. | Average: The English Setter requires average grooming effort. |
Shedding Level | Irish Setters shed moderately. | English Setters shed moderately. |
Characteristics - Irish Setter vs English Setter
Temperament |
Affectionate Energetic Lively Intelligent Companionable Independent Playful |
Strong Willed Gentle Intelligent Mischievous Energetic |
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Intelligent Rank | Smart: Irish Setter's has great intelligence. | Smart: English Setter's has great intelligence. |
Trainability | Irish Setters are very easy to train. | English Setters are easy to train. |
Playfulness | The Irish Setter is a highly playful breed. | The English Setter is a playful breed. |
Sensitivity Level | They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds. | They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds. |
Affection Level | Irish Setters are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. | English Setters are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. |
Social Needs | Irish Setters need a lot of social interaction. | English Setters are a social breed. |
Barking | Low: The Irish Setter barks none to minimal. | Average to high: The English Setter is a vocal breed. |
Watchdog Ability | Irish Setters are average watchdogs. | English Setters are average watchdogs. |
Territorial | Irish Setters are not the best to protect their territory. | English Setters are not the best to protect their territory. |
Biting Potential |
Low The Irish Setter has a low chance of biting somebody. |
Low The English Setter has a low chance of biting somebody. |
Mouthiness | Irish Setters have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. | English Setters have a higher than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. |
Impulse to Wander or Roam | Irish Setters have high wanderlust potential, which means that this breed has a strong desire for exploring the world. | English Setters have high wanderlust potential, which means that this breed has a strong desire for exploring the world. |
Prey Drive | Irish Setters have a high impulse to chase and catch something. | English Setters have a high impulse to chase and catch something. |
Apartment Friendly | Irish Setters are not apartment-friendly dogs. | English Setters are not apartment-friendly dogs. |
Adaptability | Irish Setters adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. | English Setters adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually. |
Tolerates Being Left Alone | Irish Setters tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them. | English Setters do best when a family member is at home during the day or if their workplace is dog-friendly so they can take the dog at work. |
Fighting Dog |
Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog. |
Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog. |
Good With - Irish Setter vs English Setter
Stranger Friendly | Irish Setters are very stranger friendly dogs. | English Setters are very stranger friendly dogs. |
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Child Friendly | Irish Setters are very kid-friendly dogs. | English Setters are very kid-friendly dogs. |
Cat Friendly | Irish Setters are very cat-friendly dogs. | English Setters are cat-friendly dogs. |
Dog Friendly | Irish Setters are very dog-friendly dogs. | English Setters are very dog-friendly dogs. |
Office Friendly |
No Irish Setter is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No English Setter is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
Senior Citizens Friendly | Irish Setters are one of the best breeds for elderly people. | English Setters are one of the best breeds for elderly people. |
Pet Friendly | Irish Setters are one of the friendliest dog breeds. | English Setters are usually friendly towards other pets. |
Good For First Time Owners |
No Irish Setters are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality. |
No English Setters are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality. |
Service Dog |
Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog. |
Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog. |
Therapy Dog |
Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. |
Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog. |
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog |
Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones. |
Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones. |
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR) |
Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people. |
Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people. |
Boat Dog |
Yes Irish Setter breed usually likes being on a boat. |
Yes English Setter breed usually likes being on a boat. |
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog |
Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. |
Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. |
Health Factors - Irish Setter vs English Setter
Health Issues | The Irish Setter is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly. | The English Setter is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly. |
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Health Problems |
Bloat Cancer Canine Leukocyte Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy Hypothyroidism Osteochondrosis Dissecans Panosteitis Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) | No set |
Life Expectancy | 12-14 years | 10-12 years |
Hypoallergenic | No | No |
Energy Level | Irish Setters are high energy dogs. | English Setters have a higher energy level than other dog breeds. |
Exercise Need | Irish Setters need a lot of exercises. | English Setters need a lot of exercises. |
Sleeping Need | Irish Setters don't need too much sleep. | English Setters are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping. |
Avg. daily food consumption | 3 to 4 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. | 4 to 5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. |
Weight Gain Potential | Average. | High: The English Setter breed has a strong tendency to overweight. |
Weather & Climate |
Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Irish Setter can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog. |
Prefers average to cold weather conditions The English Setter can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog. |
Stinkiness |
High The Irish Setter has a high chance of bad smell. |
Medium The English Setter has an average chance of bad smell. |
Drooling tendency | The Irish Setter is a perfect example for low drooling tendency. | The English Setter is a perfect example for low drooling tendency. |
Reproducibility - Irish Setter vs English Setter
Gestation Length | 60-64 days | 60-64 days |
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How often can the have a litter? |
Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. |
Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. |
Litter Size | 7-10 puppies | 4-6 puppies |
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