Breed comparison

English Setter or Irish Red Setter: Which breed should you choose?

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

English Setter

Large25–30 kg€1,000 – €1,500

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Irish Red Setter

Medium18–25 kg€800 – €1,000

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Key takeaways

English Setter is larger: 25–30 kg compared with 18–25 kg for Irish Red Setter.
Irish Red Setter costs less to buy: €800 – €1,000 compared with €1,000 – €1,500 for English Setter.
Irish Red Setter costs less day to day: about €119 per month compared with €170 for English Setter.
English Setter needs less daily activity (4/5 compared with 5/5 for Irish Red Setter).
English Setter scores higher for “Families and children”: 4/5 compared with 3/5 for Irish Red Setter.
For “Apartment living,” both breeds are tied (1/5).
English Setter scores higher for “First-time owners”: 3/5 compared with 2/5 for Irish Red Setter.
Irish Red Setter lives longer on average: 12–15 years compared with 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.
Families with plenty of time: It integrates 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
Build	Large	Medium
Height at the 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 years	12–15 years
Average price	€1,000 – €1,500	€800 – €1,000
Monthly budget	≈ €170	≈ €119
Compatibility
Families and children	Very good	Good
Daily exercise needs	High	Very high
Apartment living	Limited	Limited
First-time owners	Good	Fair
Other pets	Very good	Very good
Tolerance of being alone	Fair	Fair
Guarding instinct	Limited	Fair
Strengths and weaknesses
	Obedient Low risk of running away Not very destructive Good health Rarely drools High exercise needs Not very adaptable Barks a lot High-maintenance coat Sheds a lot	Obedient Low risk of running away Rarely barks Good health Rarely drools High exercise needs Not very adaptable Prone to destructive behavior High-maintenance coat Sheds a lot

Add a third breed Which dog should you choose?

English Setter or Irish Red Setter: Which breed should you choose?

English Setter

Irish Red Setter

Key takeaways

Our verdict

Detailed comparison

English Setter

Irish Red Setter

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