Golden RetrieverVSIrish Setter
Both the Golden Retriever and Irish Setter are gorgeous, friendly sporting dogs with exuberant personalities. The Irish Setter is often higher-energy and more stubborn, while the Golden's gentle eagerness to please makes it one of the world's top family dogs.
Last reviewed: June 2026
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | Golden Retriever | Irish Setter |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 55–75 lbs, 21–24 in | 60–70 lbs, 25–27 in |
| Energy Level | High | Very High |
| Shedding | Heavy | ✓Moderate |
| Trainability | ✓Excellent | Good (can be distracted) |
| Good With Kids | ✓Excellent | Very Good |
| Apartment Friendly | ✓Moderate | Poor |
| Average Lifespan | 10–12 years | ✓12–15 years |
| Monthly Cost (est.) | $150–$275 | ✓$120–$220 |
✓ indicates advantage in this category. Tie = comparable.
Which Breed Is Right for You?
Choose a Golden Retriever if…
Families who want a gentle, highly trainable companion that bonds with all family members equally.
Choose a Irish Setter if…
Active owners who want a strikingly beautiful, high-energy sporting companion and have plenty of outdoor space.
Grooming & Shedding: Golden Retriever vs Irish Setter
Golden Retrievers have a dense, water-repellent double coat with feathering on the chest, legs, and tail. They shed heavily year-round with dramatic blowouts in spring and fall. Brushing three to four times per week is essential to manage shedding and prevent matting in the feathered areas. Irish Setters have a long, silky mahogany coat with feathering on the ears, chest, belly, and legs. They shed moderately — less than Goldens — but their coat is prone to picking up burrs and debris outdoors. Brushing two to three times per week and occasional professional trims keep the coat tidy. Irish Setters require ear cleaning regularly as their floppy ears can trap moisture. Overall, the Golden produces more hair in the home; the Irish Setter requires more trimming attention to its longer feathering.
Temperament & Family Compatibility
Golden Retrievers are gentle, patient, and universally warm — one of the most reliably family-friendly breeds in the world. They adapt well to children of all ages, bond with every family member equally, and rarely exhibit reactivity. Their food motivation and eagerness to please make them exceptionally easy to train for beginners and experts alike. Irish Setters are exuberant, affectionate, and fun-loving but maintain a more boisterous, attention-seeking personality well into adulthood — they are famously slow to mature. They can be easily distracted and harder to focus during training. Both breeds are social, friendly with strangers, and deeply devoted to their families. For consistent gentleness and trainability, the Golden has the edge; for elegance and athletic flair, the Irish Setter is unmatched.
Compare pet insurance for Golden Retriever and Irish Setter
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Compare Pet Insurance QuotesFrequently Asked Questions
Are Irish Setters as friendly as Golden Retrievers?
Irish Setters are friendly and exuberant but can be more boisterous and attention-seeking. Goldens are often calmer and more consistent in their gentleness with all people. Both are very sociable breeds that dislike isolation.
Which is easier to train?
Golden Retrievers are easier to train. They are food-motivated, attentive, and eager to please. Irish Setters have an energetic, easily distracted nature that makes training more of a challenge — they respond best to fun, upbeat sessions.
Which breed lives longer?
Irish Setters typically live longer, averaging 12–15 years compared to 10–12 years for Goldens. Golden Retrievers have a higher cancer rate which contributes to their shorter average lifespan.
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