English Setter versus Plott. Final Verdict on Which is a Better Pet.

Quick Links: Table of Contents

English Setter Versus Plott: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the English Setter and the Plott 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 Plott. 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 Plott.

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 Plott

English Setter versus Plott: Overview

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

Furthermore, 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.

On the other hand, the Plott belongs to the Hound Dogs group. Hound Dogs were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.

English Setter versus Plott: Comparison Table

The table below compares the English Setter to the Plott 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 Plott
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 1/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Height 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the 20 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 11 to 15 years 12 to 14 years
Does NOT Drool 4/5 5/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 2/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 5/5
General Health 3/5 5/5
Easy To Train 3/5 4/5
Easygoing 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 5/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 2/5
Weight 45 to 80 pounds 40 to 75 pounds
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 1/5 3/5
Intelligence 5/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 1/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 3/5
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 13.0 years
Average Price $1020 $600
Price Range $800 – $1200 $480 – $700
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 95 161

    *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 Plott. 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 Plott is 74 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Plott is not better or worse than the English Setter. So, you can get the Plott or 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 Plott so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the English Setter and the Plott

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

  • English Setters are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl. However, Plotts are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • The Similarities Between the English Setter and the Plott

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

  • Both the English Setter and the Plott do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the English Setter and the Plott do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the English Setter and the Plott do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the English Setter and the Plott 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 Plott are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the English Setter and the Plott have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the English Setter and the Plott are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the English Setter and the Plott get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the English Setter and the Plott have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the English Setter and the Plott have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the English Setter and the Plott require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of English Setter versus Plott

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

    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, Plotts weigh 40 to 75 pounds when fully grown. Plotts are 20 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Price of English Setter versus Price of Plott

    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 Plott puppy is $600. The price of the Plott typically ranges from $480 – $700. However, the price of a Plott can be as low as $300 and as high as $800. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 17 Plott puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The English Setter is more expensive than the Plott.

    English Setter Plott
    Average Price $1020 $600
    Price Range $800 to $1200 $480 to $700

    The charts below show the price distribution for the English Setter and Plott. For different price points, the charts show how many English Setter puppies or how many Plott 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 Plotts

    A breakdown of the prices of Plotts

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the English Setter puppy or the Plott 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 English Setter versus Adopting the Plott

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

    Also, like English Setters, Plotts are also available for adoption. For example, Duke is a Male Plott that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Plotts like Duke that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

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

    Champ- Foster To Adopt is the name of another English Setter (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also Tyson, an adorable Male Plott on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

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

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

    The Popularity of English Setter versus Popularity of Plott

    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 Plott over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the English Setter is more popular with dog owners than the Plott. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the English Setter is 95 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Plott is 161 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of English Setter

    Popularity of English Setter

    Popularity of Plott

    Popularity of Plott

    Year English Setter Popularity Rank Plott Popularity Rank
    2013 91 149
    2014 89 154
    2015 96 149
    2016 102 158
    2017 95 166
    2018 94 171
    2019 98 177
    2020 101 167

    Is the English Setter Better for Apartment Owners than the Plott?

    English Setters do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Plotts do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Tolerates Being Alone: English Setter versus Plott

    English Setters do not like to be left alone.

    Plotts do not like to be left alone.

    Which one drools more, the English Setter or the Plott

    English Setters do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Plotts do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    English Setters are OK for new dog owners.

    Plotts are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Can English Setters Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Plotts Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Plotts can tolerate hot weather.

    Do English Setters shed more than Plotts?

    English Setters shed moderately.

    Plotts do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the English Setter or the Plott?

    English Setters are moderately easy to groom.

    Plotts are very easy to groom.

    Is the English Setter Easier to Train than the Plott?

    English Setters are fairly easy to train.

    Plotts are very easy to train.

    Can English Setters Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Plotts Tolerate Cold Weather?

    English Setters can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Plotts cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Do English Setters Bark and Howl? What about Plotts?

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

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

    Are English Setters good family dogs? What about Plotts?

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

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

    How Kid-friendly are English Setters and Plotts?

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

    Plotts get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

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

    English Setters get along very well with other dogs.

    Plotts get along very well with other dogs.

    Does the English Setter Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Plott?

    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.

    Plotts 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: English Setter vs. Plott

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

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

    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 Plott vs Irish Setter.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Plott

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

  • Patterdale Terrier (77 percent match with Plott). Here is our comparison of the English Setter vs Patterdale Terrier.
  • Rhodesian Ridgeback (77 percent match with Plott). Here is our comparison of the English Setter vs Rhodesian Ridgeback.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    English Setter Versus Other Dog Breeds

    English Setter versus Chihuahua     English Setter versus Miniature Schnauzer     English Setter versus Briard     English Setter versus Skye Terrier     English Setter versus Bulldog     English Setter versus Dachshund     English Setter versus Kerry Blue Terrier     English Setter versus Irish Water Spaniel     English Setter versus Shiranian     English Setter versus Bracco Italiano     

    Plott Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Plott versus Norwegian Buhund     Plott versus Belgian Malinois     Plott versus Tibetan Terrier     Plott versus Bearded Collie     Plott versus American Eskimo Dog     Plott versus Estrela Mountain Dog     Plott versus Coton de Tulear     Plott versus American Water Spaniel     Plott versus Maltese     Plott versus Japanese Spitz     

    Conclusion: English Setter versus Plott. 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 Plott better suits you and your family.