Which is Better between the English Setter and the Golden Retriever? A Very Detailed Review.

English Setter versus Golden Retriever

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English Setter Versus Golden Retriever: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the English Setter and the Golden Retriever? 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 English Setter and the Golden Retriever 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 English Setter and the Golden Retriever.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the English Setter and the Golden Retriever 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 English Setter and for the Golden Retriever. 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 English Setter and the Golden Retriever.

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

English Setter versus Golden Retriever

English Setter versus Golden Retriever: Overview

Both the English Setter and the Golden Retriever are similar in size. The English Setter and the Golden Retriever are both medium-sized dogs.

Furthermore, both the English Setter and the Golden Retriever are Sporting Dogs. This means both the English Setter and the Golden Retriever 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.

English Setter versus Golden Retriever: Comparison Table

The table below compares the English Setter to the Golden Retriever 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 English Setter Golden Retriever
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Height 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the 21 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 11 to 15 years 10 to 12 years
Does NOT Drool 4/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 1/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 2/5
General Health 3/5 2/5
Easy To Train 3/5 5/5
Easygoing 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 1/5
Weight 45 to 80 pounds 55 to 75 pounds
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 1/5 1/5
Intelligence 5/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 11.0 years
Average Price $1020 $1870
Price Range $800 – $1200 $1500 – $2200
Temperament Score 81.3 percent 85.6 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination (evaluations annually for the dog`s lifetime)
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 95 3
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 37 4

    *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 English Setter 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 Golden Retriever. 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 English Setter is 74 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Golden Retriever is 73 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the English Setter is a better pet than the Golden Retriever. 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 English Setter and the Golden Retriever so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    English Setter versus Golden Retriever

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the English Setter and the Golden Retriever

    Below is a list of where the English Setter and the Golden Retriever are most different:

  • English Setters have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects. However, Golden Retrievers do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • The Similarities Between the English Setter and the Golden Retriever

    The English Setter and the Golden Retriever are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the English Setter and the Golden Retriever are most similar:

  • Both the English Setter and the Golden Retriever do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the English Setter and the Golden Retriever do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the English Setter and the Golden Retriever do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the English Setter and the Golden Retriever 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 English Setter and the Golden Retriever can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the English Setter and the Golden Retriever are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the English Setter and the Golden Retriever are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the English Setter and the Golden Retriever have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the English Setter and the Golden Retriever are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the English Setter and the Golden Retriever get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the English Setter and the Golden Retriever get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the English Setter and the Golden Retriever are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the English Setter and the Golden Retriever gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the English Setter and the Golden Retriever are highly intelligent.
  • Both the English Setter and the Golden Retriever require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the English Setter and the Golden Retriever are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of English Setter versus Golden Retriever

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the English Setter and the Golden Retriever.

    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.

    On the other hand, Golden Retrievers weigh 55 to 75 pounds when fully grown. Golden Retrievers are 21 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Golden Retriever Versus the English Setter

    The Golden Retriever has a better temperament than the English Setter.

    This is because the temperament score for the Golden Retriever is 85.6 percent while the temperament score for the English Setter is 81.3 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 81.3 percent, the English Setter has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 85.6 percent, the Golden Retriever has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the English Setter and the Golden Retriever by measuring the temperaments of 32 English Setters and 813 Golden Retrievers.

    Price of English Setter versus Price of Golden Retriever

    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 reviewing the prices of 114 English Setter puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Golden Retriever puppy is $1870. The price of the Golden Retriever typically ranges from $1500 – $2200. However, the price of a Golden Retriever can be as low as $100 and as high as $6500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 2668 Golden Retriever puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Golden Retriever is more expensive than the English Setter.

    English Setter Golden Retriever
    Average Price $1020 $1870
    Price Range $800 to $1200 $1500 to $2200

    The charts below show the price distribution for the English Setter and Golden Retriever. For different price points, the charts show how many English Setter puppies or how many Golden Retriever puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of English Setters. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of English Setters. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Golden Retrievers

    A breakdown of the prices of Golden Retrievers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the English Setter puppy or the Golden Retriever 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.

    English Setter versus Golden Retriever

    Adopting the English Setter versus Adopting the Golden Retriever

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many English Setters and many Golden Retrievers 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 English Setter named Sawyer that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable English Setters like Sawyer on pefinder.com.

    Also, like English Setters, Golden Retrievers are also available for adoption. For example, Rocky is a Male Golden Retriever that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Golden Retrievers like Rocky that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The English Setter and the Golden Retriever can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Porter is the name of another English Setter (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also 21-097 Max, an adorable Male Golden Retriever on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    English Setters and Golden Retrievers are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more English Setters and Golden Retrievers that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the English Setter versus the Intelligence of the Golden Retriever

    English Setter Golden Retriever
    Intelligence Rank 37 out of 130 dog breeds 4 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 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:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.
  • 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 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 Golden Retriever has an obedience intelligence rank of 4 out of 130 dog breeds. The Golden Retriever belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Golden Retrievers tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 repetitions.

    The Golden Retriever 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.

    English Setter versus Golden Retriever

    The Popularity of English Setter versus Popularity of Golden Retriever

    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 English Setter and the Golden Retriever over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Golden Retriever is more popular with dog owners than the English Setter. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Golden Retriever is 3 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the English Setter is 95 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of English Setter

    Popularity of English Setter

    Popularity of Golden Retriever

    Popularity of Golden Retriever

    Year English Setter Popularity Rank Golden Retriever Popularity Rank
    2013 91 3
    2014 89 3
    2015 96 3
    2016 102 3
    2017 95 3
    2018 94 3
    2019 98 3
    2020 101 4

    Health Problems of English Setter versus Health Problems of Golden Retriever

    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 English Setter and the Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever is prone to the same number of genetic health problems as the English Setter.

    4 health tests are recommended for English Setter while 4 tests are recommended for the Golden Retriever.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in English Setters and in Golden Retrievers.

    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:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for English Setters here.

    Golden Retriever Health Problems

    Golden Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retrievers for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination (evaluations annually for the dog`s lifetime)
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Golden Retrievers here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in English Setters and Golden Retrievers

    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:

  • Baer Hearing (Es) problems: Rank 1 out of 1 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 1 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Baer Hearing Test problems: Rank 4 out of 21 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 28 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 70 out of 198 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 Golden Retriever Breed is Ichthyosis problems.

    This is because the Golden Retriever ranks 1 out of 1 dog breeds for Ichthyosis problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1770 Golden Retrievers, 33 of them had Ichthyosis problems.

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

  • Ichthyosis problems: Rank 1 out of 1 Dog Breeds
  • Shoulder problems: Rank 11 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 17 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 33 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 36 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 39 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 40 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 45 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 56 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 56 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 58 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 112 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in English Setter and in Golden Retriever and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the English Setter and the Golden Retriever:

    Disease English Setter Rank Golden Retriever Rank
    Baer Hearing (Es) problems 1 out of 1 dog breeds Not Common
    Thyroid problems 1 out of 115 dog breeds 33 out of 115 dog breeds
    Baer Hearing Test problems 4 out of 21 dog breeds Not Common
    Elbow problems 28 out of 144 dog breeds 36 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems 70 out of 198 dog breeds 45 out of 198 dog breeds
    Ichthyosis problems Not Common 1 out of 1 dog breeds
    Shoulder problems Not Common 11 out of 22 dog breeds
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems Not Common 17 out of 32 dog breeds
    Dentition Database problems Not Common 39 out of 49 dog breeds
    Advanced Cardiac problems Not Common 40 out of 71 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems Not Common 56 out of 159 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems Not Common 56 out of 70 dog breeds
    Eyes problems Not Common 58 out of 182 dog breeds
    Patella problems Not Common 112 out of 145 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.

    Is the English Setter Better for Apartment Owners than the Golden Retriever?

    English Setters do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Golden Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Tolerates Being Alone: English Setter versus Golden Retriever

    English Setters do not like to be left alone.

    Golden Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

    Which one drools more, the English Setter or the Golden Retriever

    English Setters do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Golden Retrievers have a very high tendency to drool.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the English Setter or the Golden Retriever?

    English Setters are OK for new dog owners.

    Golden Retrievers are OK for new dog owners.

    Can English Setters Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Golden Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Golden Retrievers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Do English Setters shed more than Golden Retrievers?

    English Setters shed moderately.

    Golden Retrievers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the English Setter or the Golden Retriever?

    English Setters are moderately easy to groom.

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

    Is the English Setter Easier to Train than the Golden Retriever?

    English Setters are fairly easy to train.

    Golden Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Can English Setters Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Golden Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    English Setters can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Golden Retrievers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Do English Setters Bark and Howl? What about Golden Retrievers?

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

    Golden Retrievers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Are English Setters good family dogs? What about Golden Retrievers?

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

    Golden Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are English Setters and Golden Retrievers?

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

    Golden Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the English Setter or the Golden Retriever?

    English Setters get along very well with other dogs.

    Golden Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Does the English Setter Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Golden Retriever?

    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.

    Golden Retrievers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Wanderlust Potential: English Setter vs. Golden Retriever

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

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

    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:

  • Irish Setter (83 percent match with English Setter). Here is our comparison of the Golden Retriever vs Irish Setter.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Golden Retriever

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever:

  • Aussiedoodle (74 percent match with Golden Retriever). Here is our comparison of the English Setter vs Aussiedoodle.
  • Irish Setter (72 percent match with Golden Retriever). Here is our comparison of the English Setter vs Irish Setter.
  • Labrador Retriever (75 percent match with Golden Retriever). Here is our comparison of the English Setter vs Labrador Retriever.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    English Setter Versus Other Dog Breeds

    English Setter versus Black Russian Terrier     English Setter versus Affenhuahua     English Setter versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever     English Setter versus Alaskan Klee Kai     English Setter versus Bull Terrier     English Setter versus Yorkipoo     English Setter versus Saluki     English Setter versus French Bulldog     English Setter versus Irish Wolfhound     English Setter versus Pomapoo     

    Golden Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Golden Retriever versus American Staffordshire Terrier     Golden Retriever versus Bichon Frise     Golden Retriever versus Havanese     Golden Retriever versus Australian Cattle Dog     Golden Retriever versus Skye Terrier     Golden Retriever versus American Foxhound     Golden Retriever versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Golden Retriever versus Bouvier des Flandres     Golden Retriever versus Schipperke     Golden Retriever versus Lowchen     

    Conclusion: English Setter versus Golden Retriever. 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 English Setter and the Golden Retriever better suits you and your family.