Breed Comparison: Chinook Versus Irish Setter

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Chinook Versus Irish Setter: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Chinook and the Irish Setter? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Chinook and the Irish Setter better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Chinook and the Irish Setter.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Chinook and the Irish Setter is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Chinook and for the Irish Setter. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Chinook and the Irish Setter.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Chinook or the Irish Setter.

Chinook versus Irish Setter

Chinook versus Irish Setter: Overview

Both the Chinook and the Irish Setter are similar in size. The Chinook and the Irish Setter are both large-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Chinook belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

On the other hand, the Irish Setter belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

Chinook versus Irish Setter: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Chinook to the Irish Setter based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Chinook and the Irish Setter

Factor Chinook Irish Setter
Good For Novice Owners 1/5 3/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 4/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 11 to 15 years
Easy To Groom 2/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 4/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 1/5
Height 21 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder 2 feet, 1 inch to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the sho
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 1/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 1/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 5/5
General Health 4/5 2/5
Easy To Train 4/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 2/5
Intelligence 5/5 5/5
Weight 55 to 70 pounds 60 to 70 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.0 years
Price Range No Data $1200 – $2200
Average Price No Data $1680
Temperament Score 77.8 percent 90.9 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 177 74

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Chinook in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Irish Setter. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Chinook is 87 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Irish Setter is 73 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Chinook is a better pet than the Irish Setter. So, you should get the Chinook!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Chinook and the Irish Setter so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chinook and the Irish Setter

    Below is a list of where the Chinook and the Irish Setter are most different:

  • Chinooks have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets. However, Irish Setters have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Chinooks do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them. However, Irish Setters have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Chinooks adapt well to apartment living. However, Irish Setters do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • The Similarities Between the Chinook and the Irish Setter

    The Chinook and the Irish Setter are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Chinook and the Irish Setter are most similar:

  • Both the Chinook and the Irish Setter do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Chinook and the Irish Setter do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Chinook and the Irish Setter require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Chinook and the Irish Setter can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Chinook and the Irish Setter are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Chinook and the Irish Setter are very easy to train.
  • Both the Chinook and the Irish Setter are very playful.
  • Both the Chinook and the Irish Setter are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Chinook and the Irish Setter can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Chinook and the Irish Setter are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Chinook and the Irish Setter get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Chinook and the Irish Setter get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Chinook and the Irish Setter shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Chinook and the Irish Setter are highly intelligent.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Chinook versus Irish Setter

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Chinook and the Irish Setter.

    Chinooks weigh 55 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Chinooks are 21 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Irish Setters weigh 60 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Irish Setters are 2 feet, 1 inch to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the sho when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Chinook versus Irish Setter

    The lifespan of Chinooks is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Chinooks is 13.5 years.

    The lifespan of Irish Setters is between 11 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Irish Setters is 13.0 years.

    Chinooks live longer than Irish Setters.

    Temperament of the Chinook Versus the Irish Setter

    The Irish Setter has a better temperament than the Chinook.

    This is because the temperament score for the Irish Setter is 90.9 percent while the temperament score for the Chinook is 77.8 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 77.8 percent, the Chinook has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 90.9 percent, the Irish Setter has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Chinook and the Irish Setter by measuring the temperaments of 9 Chinooks and 154 Irish Setters.

    The Popularity of Chinook versus Popularity of Irish Setter

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Chinook and the Irish Setter over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Irish Setter is more popular with dog owners than the Chinook. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Irish Setter is 74 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Chinook is 177 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Chinook

    Popularity of Chinook

    Popularity of Irish Setter

    Popularity of Irish Setter

    Year Chinook Popularity Rank Irish Setter Popularity Rank
    2013 156 72
    2014 171 73
    2015 177 72
    2016 175 76
    2017 179 72
    2018 190 77
    2019 184 79
    2020 186 75

    Health Problems of Chinook versus Health Problems of Irish Setter

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Chinook and the Irish Setter are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Irish Setter is prone to the same number of genetic health problems as the Chinook.

    3 health tests are recommended for Chinook while 3 tests are recommended for the Irish Setter.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Chinooks and in Irish Setters.

    Chinook Health Problems

    Chinooks are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Chinook puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Chinook puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Chinook breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Chinooks for:

  • Clear By Parentage
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Chinooks here.

    Irish Setter Health Problems

    Irish Setters are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Irish Setter puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Irish Setter puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Irish Setter breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Irish Setters for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Irish Setters here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Chinooks and Irish Setters

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Chinook Breed is Patella problems.

    This is because the Chinook ranks 5 out of 145 dog breeds for Patella problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 52 Chinooks, 5 of them had Patella problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Chinooks, and how common these diseases are in Chinooks relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Patella problems: Rank 5 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 63 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 82 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Irish Setter Breed is Thyroid problems.

    This is because the Irish Setter ranks 13 out of 115 dog breeds for Thyroid problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1455 Irish Setters, 139 of them had Thyroid problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Irish Setters, and how common these diseases are in Irish Setters relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Thyroid problems: Rank 13 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 35 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 67 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 92 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 99 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Chinook and in Irish Setter and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Chinook and the Irish Setter:

    Disease Chinook Rank Irish Setter Rank
    Patella problems 5 out of 145 dog breeds Not Common
    Hips problems 63 out of 198 dog breeds 99 out of 198 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 82 out of 182 dog breeds 67 out of 182 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems Not Common 13 out of 115 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems Not Common 35 out of 70 dog breeds
    Elbow problems Not Common 92 out of 144 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Chinook versus Irish Setter

    Chinooks do not like to be left alone.

    Irish Setters do not like to be left alone.

    Do Chinooks shed more than Irish Setters?

    Chinooks shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Irish Setters shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Chinook or the Irish Setter

    Chinooks do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Irish Setters do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Chinook or the Irish Setter?

    Chinooks require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Irish Setters are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the Chinook Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish Setter?

    Chinooks have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Irish Setters have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Do Chinooks Bark and Howl? What about Irish Setters?

    Chinooks are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Irish Setters are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Chinooks Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Setters Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Chinooks can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Irish Setters can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Chinook vs. Irish Setter

    Chinooks do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Irish Setters have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Chinooks Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Setters Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Chinooks can tolerate hot weather.

    Irish Setters can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Chinook or the Irish Setter?

    Chinooks get along very well with other dogs.

    Irish Setters get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Chinooks good family dogs? What about Irish Setters?

    Chinooks are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Irish Setters are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Chinooks and Irish Setters?

    Chinooks get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Irish Setters get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Chinook Easier to Train than the Irish Setter?

    Chinooks are very easy to train.

    Irish Setters are very easy to train.

    Is the Chinook Better for Apartment Owners than the Irish Setter?

    Chinooks adapt very well to apartment living.

    Irish Setters do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Chinook or the Irish Setter?

    Chinooks are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Irish Setters are OK for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Chinook

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Chinook that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Chinook:

  • Keeshond (76 percent match with Chinook). Here is our comparison of the Irish Setter vs Keeshond.
  • King Shepherd (75 percent match with Chinook). Here is our comparison of the Irish Setter vs King Shepherd.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Irish Setter

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Irish Setter that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Irish Setter:

  • Curly-Coated Retriever (82 percent match with Irish Setter). Here is our comparison of the Chinook vs Curly-Coated Retriever.
  • English Setter (83 percent match with Irish Setter). Here is our comparison of the Chinook vs English Setter.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Chinook and how the Irish Setter compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Chinook and of the Irish Setter to other breeds:

    Chinook Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Chinook versus Cavachon     Chinook versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     Chinook versus Shetland Sheepdog     Chinook versus Cocker Spaniel     Chinook versus Komondor     Chinook versus Vizsla     Chinook versus Catahoula Bulldog     Chinook versus Boerboel     Chinook versus Dachshund     Chinook versus Catahoula Bulldog     Chinook versus Dutch Shepherd     Chinook versus Pyredoodle     Chinook versus Italian Greyhound     Chinook versus English Setter     Chinook versus Australian Terrier     Chinook versus Akita Chow     Chinook versus Standard Schnauzer     Chinook versus Biewer Terrier     Chinook versus Cavachon     Chinook versus Redbone Coonhound     Chinook versus Puli     Chinook versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Chinook versus Bracco Italiano     Chinook versus Affenhuahua     Chinook versus Whippet     

    Irish Setter Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Irish Setter versus Whoodle     Irish Setter versus Affenpinscher     Irish Setter versus Collie     Irish Setter versus Afador     Irish Setter versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever     Irish Setter versus Manchester Terrier     Irish Setter versus Giant Schnauzer     Irish Setter versus American Bulldog     Irish Setter versus Spinone Italiano     Irish Setter versus Bouvier des Flandres     Irish Setter versus Borzoi     Irish Setter versus Irish Terrier     Irish Setter versus King Shepherd     Irish Setter versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever     Irish Setter versus Afador     Irish Setter versus Portuguese Pointer     Irish Setter versus Maremma Sheepdog     Irish Setter versus Shih Tzu     Irish Setter versus Chinook     Irish Setter versus Keeshond     Irish Setter versus Dutch Shepherd     Irish Setter versus Clumber Spaniel     Irish Setter versus Fila Brasileiro     Irish Setter versus Vizsla     

    Conclusion: Chinook versus Irish Setter. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Chinook and the Irish Setter better suits you and your family.