Is the Bearded Collie or the English Setter better for families with children?

Both the Bearded Collie and the English Setter are considered good with children when properly socialized and supervised.

Which sheds more, the Bearded Collie or the English Setter?

The Bearded Collie and English Setter shed a similar amount (high).

Which is easier to train, the Bearded Collie or the English Setter?

The English Setter is generally the easier of the two to train, making it a better pick for less experienced owners.

Is Bearded Collie or English Setter bigger?

English Setter is the larger breed; Bearded Collie is smaller and more compact.

Which barks more, Bearded Collie or English Setter?

Bearded Collie tends to be the more vocal of the two, so English Setter is the quieter choice.

Which is better for apartment living, Bearded Collie or English Setter?

For apartment or apartment living, Bearded Collie and English Setter are an even match — either can work well.

Bearded Collie vs English Setter: Which Trains Easier?

Bearded Collie vs English Setter: full comparison

Trait	Bearded Collie	English Setter
Size	Medium	Large
Energy level	High	High
Trainability	Medium	High
Friendliness	Very High	Very High
Good with children	Very High	Very High
Grooming needs	Very High	Very High
Shedding	High	High
Barking	Medium	Low
Protectiveness	Low	Very Low
Adaptability	High	High
Typical lifespan	13 years	12 years
Hypoallergenic	No	No

Key differences at a glance

The English Setter is a larger dog than the Bearded Collie, which affects space, food and exercise needs.

Size and living space

The Bearded Collie is a moderately built dog that is comfortable in most homes, though a bit of space and a yard are welcome. By comparison, the English Setter is a large and powerful breed that does best in a larger home with room to stretch out, ideally with access to a yard. If space, transport or budget are tight, the smaller of the two is the more practical choice.

Exercise and energy needs

The Bearded Collie demands substantial daily activity, from long walks to hard play. The English Setter demands substantial daily activity, from long walks to hard play. Their exercise needs are broadly the same, so this is unlikely to be a deciding factor.

Grooming and shedding

The Bearded Collie is high-maintenance to groom, needing regular professional grooming and daily brushing and sheds enough that regular cleaning becomes routine. The English Setter is high-maintenance to groom, needing regular professional grooming and daily brushing and sheds enough that regular cleaning becomes routine. Grooming upkeep is similar for both.

Temperament, training and family life

The Bearded Collie picks things up at a fair pace with steady practice, barks a moderate amount, usually with reason and is famously gentle and patient with children. The English Setter takes to training fast and works willingly, is generally quiet, barking only occasionally and is famously gentle and patient with children. On guarding instinct, Bearded Collie shows limited protectiveness and is friendly to callers, whereas English Setter has almost no watchdog instinct and welcomes everyone.

Which is better for…

For apartment or apartment living, Bearded Collie and English Setter are an even match — either can work well.
For families with young children, Bearded Collie and English Setter are an even match — either can work well.
For first-time dog owners, English Setter has the edge, as it is easier to train and more forgiving of beginner mistakes.
For being left alone during the workday, Bearded Collie has the edge, coping better with independence and being quieter when unsupervised.
For allergy sufferers, Bearded Collie and English Setter are an even match — either can work well.

Which should you choose?

Choose the Bearded Collie if you want a more protective, watchful guardian, you want a smaller, more apartment-friendly dog, or you want a longer-lived breed.

Choose the English Setter if you want an easier dog to train, you prefer a quieter dog, or you want a bigger, more substantial dog.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the Bearded Collie or the English Setter better for families with children?: Both the Bearded Collie and the English Setter are considered good with children when properly socialized and supervised.
Which sheds more, the Bearded Collie or the English Setter?: The Bearded Collie and English Setter shed a similar amount (high).
Which is easier to train, the Bearded Collie or the English Setter?: The English Setter is generally the easier of the two to train, making it a better pick for less experienced owners.
Is Bearded Collie or English Setter bigger?: English Setter is the larger breed; Bearded Collie is smaller and more compact.
Which barks more, Bearded Collie or English Setter?: Bearded Collie tends to be the more vocal of the two, so English Setter is the quieter choice.
Which is better for apartment living, Bearded Collie or English Setter?: For apartment or apartment living, Bearded Collie and English Setter are an even match — either can work well.

Bearded Collie vs English Setter