Is the Flat-Coated Retriever Better than the Gordon Setter as a Pet? Answer…

Flat-Coated Retriever versus Gordon Setter

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Flat-Coated Retriever Versus Gordon Setter: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and for the Gordon 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter.

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

Flat-Coated Retriever versus Gordon Setter

Flat-Coated Retriever versus Gordon Setter: Overview

Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter are similar in size. The Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter are both medium-sized dogs.

Furthermore, both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter are Sporting Dogs. This means both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter 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.

Flat-Coated Retriever versus Gordon Setter: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Flat-Coated Retriever to the Gordon 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 Flat-Coated Retriever Gordon Setter
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Height 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the
Life Span 10 to 12 years 10 to 12 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 1/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 2/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 1/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 4/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 3/5
Intelligence 5/5 5/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Weight 55 to 70 pounds 45 to 80 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 11.0 years
Average Price $1350 $1360
Price Range $1150 – $1800 $1250 – $1500
Temperament Score 92.0 percent 83.6 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • approved laboratory
  • DNA Repository (new requirement effective 7/1/13)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • rcd4 PRA (new requirement effective 7/1/13)
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 94 106
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 18 34

    *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 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Gordon 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 Flat-Coated Retriever is 78 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Gordon Setter is 70 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Flat-Coated Retriever is a better pet than the Gordon Setter. So, you should get the Flat-Coated Retriever!

    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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Flat-Coated Retriever versus Gordon Setter

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter

    Below is a list of where the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter are most different:

  • Flat-Coated Retrievers get along well with other dogs. However, Gordon Setters do not get along well with other dogs.
  • The Similarities Between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter

    The Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter are most similar:

  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter are very easy to train.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Gordon Setter

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter.

    Flat-Coated Retrievers weigh 55 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Flat-Coated Retrievers are 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Gordon Setters weigh 45 to 80 pounds when fully grown. Gordon Setters are 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Gordon Setter Versus the Flat-Coated Retriever

    The Flat-Coated Retriever has a better temperament than the Gordon Setter.

    This is because the temperament score for the Flat-Coated Retriever is 92.0 percent while the temperament score for the Gordon Setter is 83.6 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 92.0 percent, the Flat-Coated Retriever has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 83.6 percent, the Gordon Setter has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter by measuring the temperaments of 87 Flat-Coated Retrievers and 67 Gordon Setters.

    Price of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Price of Gordon Setter

    The average price of the Flat-Coated Retriever puppy is $1350. The price of the Flat-Coated Retriever typically ranges from $1150 – $1800. However, the price of a Flat-Coated Retriever can be as low as $100 and as high as $2500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 8 Flat-Coated Retriever puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Gordon Setter puppy is $1360. The price of the Gordon Setter typically ranges from $1250 – $1500. However, the price of a Gordon Setter can be as low as $600 and as high as $1500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 17 Gordon Setter puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Gordon Setter is more expensive than the Flat-Coated Retriever.

    Flat-Coated Retriever Gordon Setter
    Average Price $1350 $1360
    Price Range $1150 to $1800 $1250 to $1500

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Flat-Coated Retrievers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Flat-Coated Retrievers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Gordon Setters

    A breakdown of the prices of Gordon Setters

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Flat-Coated Retriever puppy or the Gordon 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.

    Flat-Coated Retriever versus Gordon Setter

    Adopting the Flat-Coated Retriever versus Adopting the Gordon Setter

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Flat-Coated Retrievers and many Gordon 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 Flat-Coated Retriever named Palisade that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Flat-Coated Retrievers like Palisade on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Flat-Coated Retrievers, Gordon Setters are also available for adoption. For example, Bocce is a Male Gordon Setter that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Gordon Setters like Bocce that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Clarence is the name of another Flat-Coated Retriever (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    You can find more Flat-Coated Retrievers and Gordon Setters that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Flat-Coated Retriever versus the Intelligence of the Gordon Setter

    Flat-Coated Retriever Gordon Setter
    Intelligence Rank 18 out of 130 dog breeds 34 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:

  • 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 Flat-Coated Retriever has an obedience intelligence rank of 18 out of 130 dog breeds. The Flat-Coated Retriever belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Flat-Coated Retrievers tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Gordon Setter has an obedience intelligence rank of 34 out of 130 dog breeds. The Gordon Setter belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that Gordon Setters tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.

    The Flat-Coated Retriever is more intelligent than the Gordon 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 Flat-Coated Retriever versus Popularity of Gordon 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Flat-Coated Retriever is more popular with dog owners than the Gordon Setter. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Flat-Coated Retriever is 94 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Gordon Setter is 106 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Gordon Setter

    Popularity of Gordon Setter

    Year Flat-Coated Retriever Popularity Rank Gordon Setter Popularity Rank
    2013 94 105
    2014 92 100
    2015 86 105
    2016 89 104
    2017 96 104
    2018 91 115
    2019 104 113
    2020 102 107

    Health Problems of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Health Problems of Gordon 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon 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 Gordon Setter is prone to more genetic health problems than the Flat-Coated Retriever.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Gordon Setter than for the Flat-Coated Retriever.

    3 health tests are recommended for Flat-Coated Retriever while 6 tests are recommended for the Gordon Setter.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Flat-Coated Retrievers and in Gordon Setters.

    Flat-Coated Retriever Health Problems

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

  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Flat-Coated Retrievers here.

    Gordon Setter Health Problems

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

  • approved laboratory
  • DNA Repository (new requirement effective 7/1/13)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • rcd4 PRA (new requirement effective 7/1/13)
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Gordon Setters here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Flat-Coated Retrievers and Gordon 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 Flat-Coated Retriever Breed is Thyroid problems.

    This is because the Flat-Coated Retriever ranks 28 out of 115 dog breeds for Thyroid problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 241 Flat-Coated Retrievers, 14 of them had Thyroid problems.

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

  • Thyroid problems: Rank 28 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 85 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 129 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 129 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 172 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 Gordon Setter Breed is Rcd4 Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems.

    This is because the Gordon Setter ranks 2 out of 8 dog breeds for Rcd4 Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 574 Gordon Setters, 9 of them had Rcd4 Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems.

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

  • Rcd4 Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 2 out of 8 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 10 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 32 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 46 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 50 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 83 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Flat-Coated Retriever and in Gordon Setter and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter:

    Disease Flat-Coated Retriever Rank Gordon Setter Rank
    Thyroid problems 28 out of 115 dog breeds 83 out of 115 dog breeds
    Patella problems 85 out of 145 dog breeds Not Common
    Elbow problems 129 out of 144 dog breeds 32 out of 144 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 129 out of 182 dog breeds 46 out of 182 dog breeds
    Hips problems 172 out of 198 dog breeds 50 out of 198 dog breeds
    Rcd4 Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems Not Common 2 out of 8 dog breeds
    Dentition Database problems Not Common 10 out of 49 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 Flat-Coated Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the Gordon Setter?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Gordon Setters do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Flat-Coated Retriever versus Gordon Setter

    Flat-Coated Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

    Gordon Setters do not like to be left alone.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Gordon Setter?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Gordon Setters are OK for new dog owners.

    Which one drools more, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Gordon Setter

    Flat-Coated Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Gordon Setters drool moderately.

    Do Flat-Coated Retrievers shed more than Gordon Setters?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers shed moderately.

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

    Does the Flat-Coated Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Gordon Setter?

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

    Gordon 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.

    Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Gordon Setters Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Gordon Setters can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Gordon Setters Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Gordon Setter?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are very easy to groom.

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

    Is the Flat-Coated Retriever Easier to Train than the Gordon Setter?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Gordon Setters are very easy to train.

    Do Flat-Coated Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Gordon Setters?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Flat-Coated Retriever vs. Gordon Setter

    Flat-Coated Retrievers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

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

    Are Flat-Coated Retrievers good family dogs? What about Gordon Setters?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    How Kid-friendly are Flat-Coated Retrievers and Gordon Setters?

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

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Gordon Setter?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Gordon Setters do not get along well with other dogs.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Flat-Coated Retriever

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Flat-Coated 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 Flat-Coated Retriever:

  • Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (81 percent match with Flat-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Gordon Setter vs Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Gordon Setter

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

  • Belgian Tervuren (78 percent match with Gordon Setter). Here is our comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever vs Belgian Tervuren.
  • Giant Schnauzer (79 percent match with Gordon Setter). Here is our comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever vs Giant Schnauzer.
  • Mudi (75 percent match with Gordon Setter). Here is our comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever vs Mudi.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Flat-Coated Retriever and how the Gordon Setter compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever and of the Gordon Setter to other breeds:

    Flat-Coated Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Flat-Coated Retriever versus Saluki     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Beagle     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Cane Corso     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Morkie     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Lhasapoo     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Belgian Sheepdog     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Papipoo     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Labrador Retriever     

    Gordon Setter Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Gordon Setter versus Flat-Coated Retriever     Gordon Setter versus Vizsla     Gordon Setter versus Spinone Italiano     Gordon Setter versus Bedlington Terrier     Gordon Setter versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Gordon Setter versus Cairn Terrier     Gordon Setter versus Akita     Gordon Setter versus Norwegian Buhund     Gordon Setter versus Pomeranian     Gordon Setter versus Norwich Terrier     

    Conclusion: Flat-Coated Retriever versus Gordon 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Gordon Setter better suits you and your family.