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English Setter vs Irish Setter

Two feathered setters for active homes with room to run; the English Setter is gentler and better with children, the Irish Setter livelier with more stamina.

English Setter profileIrish Setter profile

Verdict

The English Setter and the Irish Setter are large, feathered sporting dogs with friendly, affectionate natures and moderate trainability. Both need a good deal of exercise and brushing, and both are poor choices for people who are away all day.

The English Setter is the gentler and more easygoing, scores the top rating with children, and needs 60 to 90 minutes a day, which makes it a more manageable family dog. The Irish Setter is the livelier, outgoing and playful, calls for 90 minutes or more and a long adolescence, and is rated poorly for apartments and for first-time owners. It tends to live a little longer on the listed ranges. Neither suits someone who wants a strong guarding instinct.

Choose the English Setter if

  • You have children and want a mellow, sensitive companion
  • You want a dog for walks and some hunting
  • You can set aside time for brushing
  • You have room to run, though a bit less than the Irish needs

Choose the Irish Setter if

  • You hike or run and want a spirited partner
  • You can offer 90 minutes or more every day
  • You have a secure yard and patience for slow maturing
  • You like a showy, playful dog

Side by side

English Setter Irish Setter
AKC group Sporting Group Sporting Group
Size class Large Large
Typical weight 45 to 80 lb 60 to 70 lb
Height 23 to 27 in at the shoulder 25 to 27 in at the shoulder
Typical lifespan 10 to 12 years 12 to 15 years
AKC popularity, 2025 89 of 202 73 of 202
Shedding Moderate Moderate
Grooming needs High High
Energy High Very high
Trainability Average Average
Barking Seldom barks Barks sometimes
With children Excellent Very good
Apartment living Fair Poor
First-time owners Manageable Challenging
Heat tolerance Below average Below average
Cold tolerance Average Average
Temperament
  • gentle
  • friendly
  • easygoing
  • sensitive
  • outgoing
  • playful
  • affectionate
  • spirited
Health concerns to know about
  • hip and elbow dysplasia
  • congenital deafness
  • hypothyroidism
  • allergies
  • bloat
  • bloat
  • hip dysplasia
  • progressive retinal atrophy
  • hypothyroidism
  • epilepsy
Suits
  • families with a yard
  • hunters
  • walkers who want a gentle sporting dog
  • active families
  • hunters
  • owners who like a showy
  • playful dog

Facts and ratings come from each breed's profile. They describe a breed as a whole, and individual dogs vary, so meet the dog before you choose.

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

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