Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Chow Chow Versus English Setter: Introduction
- Chow Chow versus English Setter: Overview
- Chow Chow versus English Setter: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chow Chow and the English Setter
- The Similarities Between the Chow Chow and the English Setter
- Size (Weight and Height) of Chow Chow versus English Setter
- Temperament of the English Setter Versus the Chow Chow
- Price of Chow Chow versus Price of English Setter
- Adopting the Chow Chow versus Adopting the English Setter
- The Intelligence of the Chow Chow versus the Intelligence of the English Setter
- The Popularity of Chow Chow versus Popularity of English Setter
- Health Problems of Chow Chow versus Health Problems of English Setter
- How Kid-friendly are Chow Chows and English Setters?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Chow Chow or the English Setter?
- Do Chow Chows shed more than English Setters?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Chow Chow or the English Setter?
- Do Chow Chows Bark and Howl? What about English Setters?
- Can Chow Chows Tolerate Hot Weather? Can English Setters Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Are Chow Chows good family dogs? What about English Setters?
- Is the Chow Chow Easier to Train than the English Setter?
- Does the Chow Chow Have a Higher Prey Drive than the English Setter?
- Wanderlust Potential: Chow Chow vs. English Setter
- Which one drools more, the Chow Chow or the English Setter
- Tolerates Being Alone: Chow Chow versus English Setter
- Can Chow Chows Tolerate Cold Weather? And can English Setters Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Chow Chow
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the English Setter
- Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
- Conclusion: Chow Chow versus English Setter. Which One is a Better Pet?
Chow Chow Versus English Setter: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Chow Chow and the English Setter? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Chow Chow and the English 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 Chow Chow and the English Setter.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Chow Chow and the English 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 Chow Chow and for the English Setter. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Chow Chow and the English Setter.
Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Chow Chow or the English Setter
Chow Chow versus English Setter: Overview
A very important difference between the Chow Chow and the English Setter is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Chow Chow is a large-sized dog while the English Setter is a medium-sized dog.
Furthermore, the Chow Chow 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 English 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.
Chow Chow versus English Setter: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Chow Chow to the English 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.
| Factor | Chow Chow | English Setter |
|---|---|---|
| Kid-Friendly | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Intelligence | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| Life Span | 12 to 15 years | 11 to 15 years |
| Height | 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder | 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the |
| Good For Novice Owners | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Easygoing | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| General Health | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Easy To Train | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| Weight | 40 to 70 pounds | 45 to 80 pounds |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 5/5 | 1/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Average Lifespan | 13.5 years | 13.0 years |
| Average Price | $1750 | $1020 |
| Price Range | $1000 – $2500 | $800 – $1200 |
| Temperament Score | 71.7 percent | 81.3 percent |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
|
|
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 74 | 95 |
| Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) | 76 | 37 |
*Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)
Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Chow Chow 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 English 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 a Chow Chow is 69 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a English Setter is 74 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the English Setter is a better pet than the Chow Chow. So, you should get the English Setter!
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 Chow Chow and the English Setter so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chow Chow and the English Setter
Below is a list of where the Chow Chow and the English Setter are most different:
The Similarities Between the Chow Chow and the English Setter
The Chow Chow and the English Setter are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Chow Chow and the English Setter are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Chow Chow versus English Setter
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Chow Chow and the English Setter.
Chow Chows weigh 40 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Chow Chows are 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
On the other hand, English Setters weigh 45 to 80 pounds when fully grown. English Setters are 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the when fully grown.
Temperament of the English Setter Versus the Chow Chow
The English Setter has a better temperament than the Chow Chow.
This is because the temperament score for the English Setter is 81.3 percent while the temperament score for the Chow Chow is 71.7 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 they 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 71.7 percent, the Chow Chow has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
With its temperament score of 81.3 percent, the English Setter has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Chow Chow and the English Setter by measuring the temperaments of 99 Chow Chows and 32 English Setters.
Price of Chow Chow versus Price of English Setter
The average price of the Chow Chow puppy is $1750. The price of the Chow Chow typically ranges from $1000 – $2500. However, the price of a Chow Chow can be as low as $400 and as high as $4125. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 156 Chow Chow puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The average price of the English Setter puppy is $1020. The price of the English Setter typically ranges from $800 – $1200. However, the price of a English Setter can be as low as $450 and as high as $2500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 114 English Setter puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The Chow Chow is more expensive than the English Setter.
| Chow Chow | English Setter | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Price | $1750 | $1020 |
| Price Range | $1000 to $2500 | $800 to $1200 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the Chow Chow and English Setter. For different price points, the charts show how many Chow Chow puppies or how many English Setter puppies are listed for sale at those price points.
A breakdown of the prices of Chow Chows. The typical price range is shaded Green.
A breakdown of the prices of English Setters
Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Chow Chow puppy or the English Setter puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.
Nevertheless, when looking from a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from one of those puppy mills that mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.
You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.
Adopting the Chow Chow versus Adopting the English Setter
You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Chow Chows and many English Setters are currently available for adoption.
These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.
Below is an adorable Male Chow Chow named King that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Chow Chows like King on pefinder.com.
Also, like Chow Chows, English Setters are also available for adoption. For example, Rio is a Male English Setter that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more English Setters like Rio that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.
A500139 is the name of another Chow Chow (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.
Also Champ- Foster To Adopt, an adorable Male English Setter on petfinder.com that you can adopt.
You can find more Chow Chows and English Setters that are available for adoption on petfinder.
The Intelligence of the Chow Chow versus the Intelligence of the English Setter
| Chow Chow | English Setter | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 76 out of 130 dog breeds | 37 out of 130 dog breeds |
| Trainability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 80 To 100 Repetitions Or More! | Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 Repetitions |
Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.
According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:
Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.
This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.
To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.
Prof. Coren found that the Chow Chow has an obedience intelligence rank of 76 out of 130 dog breeds. The Chow Chow belongs to the `Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Chow Chows tend to learn new commands after 80 to 100 repetitions or more!.
The English Setter has an obedience intelligence rank of 37 out of 130 dog breeds. The English Setter belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that English Setters tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.
The English Setter is more intelligent than the Chow Chow.
However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.
The Popularity of Chow Chow versus Popularity of English 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 Chow Chow and the English Setter over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Chow Chow is more popular with dog owners than the English Setter. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Chow Chow is 74 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the English Setter is 95 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of Chow Chow
Popularity of English Setter
| Year | Chow Chow Popularity Rank | English Setter Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 70 | 91 |
| 2014 | 70 | 89 |
| 2015 | 73 | 96 |
| 2016 | 74 | 102 |
| 2017 | 76 | 95 |
| 2018 | 75 | 94 |
| 2019 | 77 | 98 |
| 2020 | 84 | 101 |
Health Problems of Chow Chow versus Health Problems of English Setter
Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. Therefore, there is nothing like a perfect puppy.
Both the Chow Chow and the English 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 Chow Chow is prone to more genetic health problems than the English Setter.
This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Chow Chow than for the English Setter.
6 health tests are recommended for Chow Chow while 4 tests are recommended for the English Setter.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Chow Chows and in English Setters.
Chow Chow Health Problems
Chow Chows are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Chow Chow 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 Chow Chow puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Chow Chow 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 Chow Chows for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Chow Chows here.
English Setter Health Problems
English Setters are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing English 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 English Setter puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your English 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 English Setters for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for English Setters here.
More Discussions on Health Problems in Chow Chows and English 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 Chow Chow Breed is Elbow problems.
This is because the Chow Chow ranks 1 out of 144 dog breeds for Elbow problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1393 Chow Chows, 693 of them had Elbow problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Chow Chows, and how common these diseases are in Chow Chows relative to other dog breeds, are given below:
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 English Setter Breed is Baer Hearing (Es) problems.
This is because the English Setter ranks 1 out of 1 dog breeds for Baer Hearing (Es) problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 4303 English Setters, 4 of them had Baer Hearing (Es) problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in English Setters, and how common these diseases are in English Setters relative to other dog breeds, are given below:
The table below lists the common health problems in Chow Chow and in English Setter and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Chow Chow and the English Setter:
| Disease | Chow Chow Rank | English Setter Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Elbow problems | 1 out of 144 dog breeds | 28 out of 144 dog breeds |
| Eyes problems | 3 out of 182 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Patella problems | 15 out of 145 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Hips problems | 36 out of 198 dog breeds | 70 out of 198 dog breeds |
| Thyroid problems | 88 out of 115 dog breeds | 1 out of 115 dog breeds |
| Baer Hearing (Es) problems | Not Common | 1 out of 1 dog breeds |
| Baer Hearing Test problems | Not Common | 4 out of 21 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.
How Kid-friendly are Chow Chows and English Setters?
Chow Chows do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
English Setters get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Chow Chow or the English Setter?
Chow Chows do not get along well with other dogs.
English Setters get along very well with other dogs.
Do Chow Chows shed more than English Setters?
Chow Chows do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
English Setters shed moderately.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Chow Chow or the English Setter?
Chow Chows require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
English Setters are moderately easy to groom.
Do Chow Chows Bark and Howl? What about English Setters?
Chow Chows are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
English Setters are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Chow Chow or the English Setter?
Chow Chows are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
English Setters are OK for new dog owners.
Can Chow Chows Tolerate Hot Weather? Can English Setters Tolerate Hot Weather?
Chow Chows cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
English Setters can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Are Chow Chows good family dogs? What about English Setters?
Chow Chows are not affectionate with family. They are not good family dogs.
English Setters are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Is the Chow Chow Easier to Train than the English Setter?
Chow Chows are not easy to train.
English Setters are fairly easy to train.
Does the Chow Chow Have a Higher Prey Drive than the English Setter?
Chow Chows 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.
English 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.
Wanderlust Potential: Chow Chow vs. English Setter
Chow Chows do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
English Setters have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
Is the Chow Chow Better for Apartment Owners than the English Setter?
Chow Chows adapt moderately well to apartment living.
English Setters do not adapt well to apartment living.
Which one drools more, the Chow Chow or the English Setter
Chow Chows drool moderately.
English Setters do have a very low tendency to drool.
Tolerates Being Alone: Chow Chow versus English Setter
Chow Chows can be left alone for some time without problems.
English Setters do not like to be left alone.
Can Chow Chows Tolerate Cold Weather? And can English Setters Tolerate Cold Weather?
Chow Chows can very well tolerate cold weather.
English Setters can very well tolerate cold weather.
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Chow Chow
Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Chow Chow 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 Chow Chow:
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the English Setter
Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the English 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 English Setter:
Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
You may also be interested in how the Chow Chow and how the English Setter compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Chow Chow and of the English Setter to other breeds:
Chow Chow Versus Other Dog Breeds
Chow Chow versus Shetland Sheepdog Chow Chow versus Lagotto Romagnolo Chow Chow versus German Longhaired Pointer Chow Chow versus Dutch Shepherd Chow Chow versus Mudi Chow Chow versus Shetland Sheepdog Chow Chow versus Newfoundland Chow Chow versus Irish Terrier Chow Chow versus Dutch Shepherd Chow Chow versus Carolina Dog
English Setter Versus Other Dog Breeds
English Setter versus Chi-Poo English Setter versus Kuvasz English Setter versus Pyredoodle English Setter versus Briard English Setter versus Bouvier des Flandres English Setter versus Boxerdoodle English Setter versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde English Setter versus Fila Brasileiro English Setter versus German Shorthaired Pointer English Setter versus Doberman Pinscher
Conclusion: Chow Chow versus English 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 Chow Chow and the English Setter better suits you and your family.