Comparator

English Setter or Irish Red Setter: which breed to choose?

English Setter and Irish Red Setter are two dog breeds often compared by future adopters. Here is a point-by-point comparison to help you decide: size, temperament, purchase price, monthly budget, and compatibility with your lifestyle.

English Setter

Large25–30 kg1,000–1,500 €

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Irish Red Setter

Medium18–25 kg800–1,000 €

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Key takeaways

English Setter is larger: 25–30 kg vs 18–25 kg for Irish Red Setter.
Irish Red Setter is cheaper to buy: 800–1,000 € vs 1,000–1,500 € for English Setter.
Day to day, Irish Red Setter costs less: about 119 € per month vs 170 € for English Setter.
English Setter needs less daily activity (4/5 vs 5/5 for Irish Red Setter).
English Setter is rated higher for “Family & children”: 4/5 vs 3/5 for Irish Red Setter.
For “Apartment living”, both breeds are tied (1/5).
English Setter is rated higher for “First-time owner”: 3/5 vs 2/5 for Irish Red Setter.
Irish Red Setter lives longer on average: 12–15 years vs 10–14 years for English Setter.

Our verdict

Choose English Setter if you’re looking for…

Active families : He integrates well into a present and dynamic household that enjoys regular outings.
Nature lovers : Wide open spaces and varied walks perfectly match his temperament.
Hunters or canine sports enthusiasts : His natural qualities of endurance and nose are valuable in field activities.

Choose Irish Red Setter if you’re looking for…

Sporty owners : They can meet its need for movement, endurance and frequent outings.
Country living : Wide open spaces suit its temperament as an active hunting dog.
Available families : It fits well into family life if time is devoted to exercise and training.

Detailed comparison

	English Setter	Irish Red Setter
General information
Origin	United Kingdom	Ireland
FCI group	7	7
Size	Large	Medium
Height at withers	61–68 cm	55–67 cm
Weight	25–30 kg	18–25 kg
Coat	Long, slightly wavy	Medium-long, fine and flat
Life expectancy	10–14 ans	12–15 ans
Average price	1,000–1,500 €	800–1,000 €
Monthly budget	≈ 170 €	≈ 119 €
Compatibility
Family & children	Very good	Good
Daily activity required	High	Very high
Apartment living	Limited	Limited
First-time owner	Good	Fairly good
Other pets	Very good	Very good
Tolerance for being alone	Fairly good	Fairly good
Guarding instinct	Limited	Fairly good
Pros & Cons
	Obedient Low escape risk Not destructive Good health Drools little High exercise needs Not very adaptable Barks a lot High-maintenance grooming Sheds a lot	Obedient Low escape risk Barks little Good health Drools little High exercise needs Not very adaptable Tends to destroy High-maintenance grooming Sheds a lot

Add a third breed Which dog to choose

English Setter or Irish Red Setter: which breed to choose?

English Setter

Irish Red Setter

Key takeaways

Our verdict

Detailed comparison

English Setter

Irish Red Setter

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