Old English Sheepdog vs Irish Setter
Compare Old English Sheepdog and Irish Setter side by side and get a clear picture of what sets the breeds apart. Explore differences in size, weight, temperament, activity level, and other key traits to more easily decide which breed best fits your lifestyle and circumstances.
Characteristic
Old English Sheepdog
Irish Setter
Breed type
Purebred
Purebred
Height
56 – 70 cm
55 – 67 cm
Weight
25 – 50 kg
24 – 32 kg
Life expectancy
10 – 12 years
10 – 15 years
Child friendly
5/5
5/5
Energy level
5/5
4/5
Intelligence
3/5
4/5
Trainability
4/5
4/5
Health
3/5
5/5
Grooming needs
5/5
1/5
Shedding
1/5
3/5
Barking level
4/5
2/5
Aggressiveness
2/5
1/5
Characteristics
Old English Sheepdog
Great with kids
High energy
Easy to train
Giant
Irish Setter
Great with kids
High energy
Super smart
Low grooming
Quiet
Easy to train
Large
Summary
About Old English Sheepdog
The Old English Sheepdog is a large, shaggy, athletic herding breed with a dense double coat needing regular grooming or a shorter pet clip. Affectionate, clownish, and people focused, it’s intelligent but sometimes stubborn, thriving with consistent training and daily mental and physical exercise.
About Irish Setter
Graceful Irish gundog with a mahogany red, feathered coat needing regular grooming. Medium‑large, athletic and high‑energy, it thrives on daily vigorous exercise and mental work. Affectionate, people‑oriented and playful, it’s good with families but needs consistent, positive training.
Similar breeds
More breeds