Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Collie Versus English Setter: Introduction
- Collie versus English Setter: Overview
- Collie versus English Setter: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Collie and the English Setter
- The Similarities Between the Collie and the English Setter
- Size (Weight and Height) of Collie versus English Setter
- Temperament of the Collie Versus the English Setter
- Price of Collie versus Price of English Setter
- Adopting the Collie versus Adopting the English Setter
- The Intelligence of the Collie versus the Intelligence of the English Setter
- The Popularity of Collie versus Popularity of English Setter
- Health Problems of Collie versus Health Problems of English Setter
- Which one drools more, the Collie or the English Setter
- Wanderlust Potential: Collie vs. English Setter
- Tolerates Being Alone: Collie versus English Setter
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Collie or the English Setter?
- Can Collies Tolerate Hot Weather? Can English Setters Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Can Collies Tolerate Cold Weather? And can English Setters Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Collie or the English Setter?
- Is the Collie Easier to Train than the English Setter?
- Does the Collie Have a Higher Prey Drive than the English Setter?
- Do Collies Bark and Howl? What about English Setters?
- Are Collies good family dogs? What about English Setters?
- How Kid-friendly are Collies and English Setters?
- Do Collies shed more than English Setters?
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Collie
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the English Setter
- Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
- Conclusion: Collie versus English Setter. Which One is a Better Pet?
Collie Versus English Setter: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Collie 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 Collie 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 Collie and the English Setter.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Collie 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 Collie 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 Collie 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 Collie or the English Setter
Collie versus English Setter: Overview
Both the Collie and the English Setter are similar in size. The Collie and the English Setter are both medium-sized dogs.
Furthermore, the Collie belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.
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.
Collie versus English Setter: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Collie 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 | Collie | English Setter |
|---|---|---|
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 5/5 | 1/5 |
| Life Span | 10 to 14 years | 11 to 15 years |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Height | 22 to 26 inches all at the shoulder | 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the |
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| General Health | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Good For Novice Owners | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Easy To Train | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Intelligence | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Weight | 50 to 70 pounds | 45 to 80 pounds |
| Average Lifespan | 12.0 years | 13.0 years |
| Average Price | $1480 | $1020 |
| Price Range | $1000 – $1800 | $800 – $1200 |
| Temperament Score | 80.8 percent | 81.3 percent |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
|
|
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 37 | 95 |
| Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) | 16 | 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 Collie 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 Collie is 83 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a English Setter is 74 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Collie is a better pet than the English Setter. So, you should get the Collie!
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 Collie 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 Collie and the English Setter
Below is a list of where the Collie and the English Setter are most different:
The Similarities Between the Collie and the English Setter
The Collie and the English Setter are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Collie and the English Setter are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Collie versus English Setter
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Collie and the English Setter.
Collies weigh 50 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Collies are 22 to 26 inches all 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 Collie Versus the English Setter
The English Setter has a better temperament than the Collie.
This is because the temperament score for the English Setter is 81.3 percent while the temperament score for the Collie is 80.8 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 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 80.8 percent, the Collie 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 Collie and the English Setter by measuring the temperaments of 896 Collies and 32 English Setters.
Price of Collie versus Price of English Setter
The average price of the Collie puppy is $1480. The price of the Collie typically ranges from $1000 – $1800. However, the price of a Collie can be as low as $300 and as high as $15000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 356 Collie 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 Collie is more expensive than the English Setter.
| Collie | English Setter | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Price | $1480 | $1020 |
| Price Range | $1000 to $1800 | $800 to $1200 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the Collie and English Setter. For different price points, the charts show how many Collie puppies or how many English Setter puppies are listed for sale at those price points.
A breakdown of the prices of Collies. 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 Collie 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 Collie versus Adopting the English Setter
You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Collies 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 Collie named Dog that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Collies like Dog on pefinder.com.
Also, like Collies, English Setters are also available for adoption. For example, Charley is a Male English Setter that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more English Setters like Charley that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.
Sparkie is the name of another Collie (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.
Also Cooper, an adorable Male English Setter on petfinder.com that you can adopt.
You can find more Collies and English Setters that are available for adoption on petfinder.
The Intelligence of the Collie versus the Intelligence of the English Setter
| Collie | English Setter | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 16 out of 130 dog breeds | 37 out of 130 dog breeds |
| Trainability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions | 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 Collie has an obedience intelligence rank of 16 out of 130 dog breeds. The Collie belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Collies tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.
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 Collie is more intelligent than the English Setter.
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 Collie 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 Collie and the English Setter over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Collie is more popular with dog owners than the English Setter. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Collie is 37 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the English Setter is 95 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of Collie
Popularity of English Setter
| Year | Collie Popularity Rank | English Setter Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 35 | 91 |
| 2014 | 36 | 89 |
| 2015 | 36 | 96 |
| 2016 | 37 | 102 |
| 2017 | 40 | 95 |
| 2018 | 38 | 94 |
| 2019 | 38 | 98 |
| 2020 | 40 | 101 |
Health Problems of Collie 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 Collie 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 English Setter is prone to the same number of genetic health problems as the Collie.
4 health tests are recommended for Collie while 4 tests are recommended for the English Setter.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Collies and in English Setters.
Collie Health Problems
Collies are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Collie 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 Collie puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Collie 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 Collies for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Collies 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 Collies 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 Collie Breed is Collie Eye Anomaly problems.
This is because the Collie ranks 1 out of 7 dog breeds for Collie Eye Anomaly problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 114 Collies, 16 of them had Collie Eye Anomaly problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Collies, and how common these diseases are in Collies 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 Collie and in English Setter and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Collie and the English Setter:
| Disease | Collie Rank | English Setter Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Collie Eye Anomaly problems | 1 out of 7 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Eyes problems | 1 out of 182 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Multiple Drug Resistance (Mdr1) problems | 1 out of 7 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Dentition Database problems | 13 out of 49 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Degenerative Myelopathy problems | 16 out of 70 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Thyroid problems | 65 out of 115 dog breeds | 1 out of 115 dog breeds |
| Elbow problems | 107 out of 144 dog breeds | 28 out of 144 dog breeds |
| Hips problems | 182 out of 198 dog breeds | 70 out of 198 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.
Which one drools more, the Collie or the English Setter
Collies do have a very low tendency to drool.
English Setters do have a very low tendency to drool.
Wanderlust Potential: Collie vs. English Setter
Collies 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.
Tolerates Being Alone: Collie versus English Setter
Collies do not like to be left alone.
English Setters do not like to be left alone.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Collie or the English Setter?
Collies require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
English Setters are moderately easy to groom.
Is the Collie Better for Apartment Owners than the English Setter?
Collies adapt moderately well to apartment living.
English Setters do not adapt well to apartment living.
Can Collies Tolerate Hot Weather? Can English Setters Tolerate Hot Weather?
Collies can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
English Setters can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Collie or the English Setter?
Collies are very good for new dog owners.
English Setters are OK for new dog owners.
Can Collies Tolerate Cold Weather? And can English Setters Tolerate Cold Weather?
Collies can very well tolerate cold weather.
English Setters can very well tolerate cold weather.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Collie or the English Setter?
Collies get along very well with other dogs.
English Setters get along very well with other dogs.
Is the Collie Easier to Train than the English Setter?
Collies are very easy to train.
English Setters are fairly easy to train.
Does the Collie Have a Higher Prey Drive than the English Setter?
Collies 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.
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.
Do Collies Bark and Howl? What about English Setters?
Collies are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
English Setters are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Are Collies good family dogs? What about English Setters?
Collies are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
English Setters are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
How Kid-friendly are Collies and English Setters?
Collies get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
English Setters get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Do Collies shed more than English Setters?
Collies shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
English Setters shed moderately.
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Collie
Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Collie 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 Collie:
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 Collie and how the English Setter compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Collie and of the English Setter to other breeds:
Collie Versus Other Dog Breeds
Collie versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne Collie versus Swedish Vallhund Collie versus Catahoula Bulldog Collie versus Australian Kelpie Collie versus Toy Fox Terrier Collie versus Toy Fox Terrier Collie versus Chorkie Collie versus Kerry Blue Terrier Collie versus Norwich Terrier
English Setter Versus Other Dog Breeds
English Setter versus Siberian Husky English Setter versus German Wirehaired Pointer English Setter versus Shih Tzu English Setter versus French Spaniel English Setter versus Gordon Setter English Setter versus Miniature Pinscher English Setter versus Standard Poodle English Setter versus Papillon English Setter versus Sussex Spaniel English Setter versus Sloughi
Conclusion: Collie 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 Collie and the English Setter better suits you and your family.