Is the English Setter good with children?

Yes — the English Setter is known for being very good with children and makes an excellent family dog.

Does the English Setter shed a lot?

The English Setter has high shedding.

How much exercise does the English Setter need?

With high energy, the English Setter needs plenty of daily exercise and mental stimulation — long walks, runs or active play.

How long does the English Setter live?

The English Setter typically lives around 12 years.

Can the English Setter live in an apartment?

The English Setter is a larger breed and does better in a home with more space, though it can adapt with enough daily exercise.

Is the English Setter easy to train?

The English Setter takes to training fast and works willingly. Consistency, early socialization and reward-based methods work best.

Can the English Setter be left alone during the day?

The English Setter would rather have company and manages only brief spells alone. Build up alone time gradually and provide enrichment to prevent boredom.

English Setter: Temperament, Size & Care

English Setter characteristics

Trait	Rating	How common
Size	Large	32% of breeds
Energy level	High	—
Trainability	High	30% of breeds
Friendliness	Very High	22% of breeds
Good with children	Very High	—
Grooming needs	Very High	18% of breeds
Shedding	High	15% of breeds
Barking	Low	32% of breeds
Protectiveness	Very Low	2% of breeds
Adaptability	High	31% of breeds
Typical lifespan	12 years	—
Hypoallergenic	No	—

“How common” is the share of the 321 breeds we score that sit in the same band. Ratings describe the breed, not any individual dog.

Is the English Setter right for you?

The English Setter is a large dog that wants a roomier home and ideally a yard to move around in. In terms of temperament, it has a reputation for being wonderfully tolerant with kids and shows little guarding drive and treats strangers as friends. Day to day, the English Setter demands substantial daily activity, from long walks to hard play, which is the single biggest factor in whether it will suit your routine.

Exercise and daily routine

The English Setter demands substantial daily activity, from long walks to hard play. With high energy and high athleticism, a consistent daily routine keeps this breed physically and mentally satisfied. Skipping exercise is the most common cause of problem behaviour, so match the English Setter to a lifestyle you can realistically maintain.

Grooming, shedding and upkeep

The English Setter demands daily coat care plus professional grooming to stay in shape and sheds enough that regular cleaning becomes routine. It is not considered hypoallergenic, so allergy sufferers should spend time around the breed first.

Temperament and training

The English Setter takes to training fast and works willingly and keeps fairly quiet, barking occasionally. It would rather have company and manages only brief spells alone, so plan for company or gradual alone-time training if you work away from home. Early socialization and positive, reward-based training bring out the best in this breed.

What stands out about the English Setter

Most breed descriptions call everything “loyal and intelligent”. These are the ratings where the English Setter genuinely differs from the rest of the catalogue — the things worth knowing before you commit.

Protectiveness: Very low — the English Setter is unusually unguarded — friendly to strangers, and no kind of watchdog. Only 2% of breeds we score share this rating.
Shedding: High — the English Setter sheds more than most breeds, year-round rather than just seasonally. Only 15% of breeds we score share this rating.
Grooming needs: Very high — the English Setter needs more coat work than almost any breed here — this is a standing weekly commitment. Only 18% of breeds we score share this rating.
Friendliness: Very high — the English Setter is among the most sociable breeds we score. Only 22% of breeds we score share this rating.

What a week with a English Setter actually costs you

Exercise	Around an hour to ninety minutes of daily exercise, and it will notice when a day is skipped.
Coat	Daily brushing plus regular professional grooming. Skipping it does not just look bad — coats in this class mat, and matting hurts.
Time alone	Wants company. Long days alone are where the problems start.
Noise	Quieter than most breeds.

Where the English Setter fits — and where it does not

Each verdict below comes from the ratings in the table above, so you can check the reasoning rather than take it on trust.

Household	Verdict	Why
Apartment living	Depends	Size alone rules out small flats, though the temperament can suit one.
Families with young children	Good fit	Very high child tolerance, and sociable with people generally.
First-time owners	Good fit	High trainability without an unusually strong will makes the learning curve forgiving.
Homes with cats	Depends	High prey drive. Introductions need managing, and a bolting cat triggers exactly the instinct this breed was selected for.
Long working days	Depends	Low independence — this breed wants company and shows it when it does not get any.
Allergy households	Poor fit	High shedding and no low-allergen coat recorded.

Perfect for

Gentle families
Show enthusiasts
Calm households
Grooming lovers

Things to consider

Requires regular grooming
Moderate exercise needs
Can be sensitive

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Frequently asked questions

Is the English Setter good with children?: Yes — the English Setter is known for being very good with children and makes an excellent family dog.
Does the English Setter shed a lot?: The English Setter has high shedding.
How much exercise does the English Setter need?: With high energy, the English Setter needs plenty of daily exercise and mental stimulation — long walks, runs or active play.
How long does the English Setter live?: The English Setter typically lives around 12 years.
Can the English Setter live in an apartment?: The English Setter is a larger breed and does better in a home with more space, though it can adapt with enough daily exercise.
Is the English Setter easy to train?: The English Setter takes to training fast and works willingly. Consistency, early socialization and reward-based methods work best.
Can the English Setter be left alone during the day?: The English Setter would rather have company and manages only brief spells alone. Build up alone time gradually and provide enrichment to prevent boredom.

English Setter