The breeds · side by side
for big country
Pointer or English Setter.
The two big-running pointing breeds of the prairie and the rimrock. Heat in September, the coat in the burrs, and how far the dog reaches out are the lines that separate them.
Every value below shows its source and how sure we are. Breed sets the odds; the parents set the dog. Nothing here is a prediction about one dog.
What the question turns on
Range
Big. 'Famous for their speed and range'; a '200-yards-and-change dog on the prairies but closer ranging in the grouse woods'; the breed that 'set the gold standard for pointing dog performance in North America'
field lineBig. Field-bred dogs 'are smaller and wider ranging than show-bred dogs and can cover the enormous amounts of ground with high speed required in field trialing'
show lineClose to medium: the ESAA asks for a range 'suitable for a handler on foot', working 'far enough out in open cover to check distance objectives' but never 'too distant or out of sight for a length of time'
Heat tolerance
4 of 5 · Short dense coat: 'Short, dense, smooth with a sheen'
3 of 5 · Medium flat coat with feathering: 'Flat without curl or wooliness. Feathering on ears, chest, abdomen, underside of thighs, back of all legs and on the tail of good length'; AKC tags the coat double
Coat
Short, dense, smooth with a sheen; liver, lemon, black or orange, solid or with white
field lineLess coat than show stock: field-bred setters 'carry less coat than Setters from show stock'
show lineFlat without curl or wooliness; feathering of good length on ears, chest, abdomen, underside of thighs, back of all legs and tail; white ground with belton markings
Primary game
Upland game birds in open country: the prairies and the grouse woods in North America (Carty); 'particularly grouse and partridge' in Britain (Gundog Journal)
Upland game birds: historically the setting dog of partridge and quail (Caius, 1570, quoted by the AKC); the ESAA hunt tests specify 'Upland game birds must be used in all tests'
Field trial standard
American Field / AFTCA All-Age: a dog that 'runs off - but not quite', fills up all the available country, shows at distant forward points, backs a bracemate on sight, steady to wing and shot, finishes with range and speed undiminished. Shooting Dog: finds and handles all game on the course with lofty style on point, steady to wing and shot, adopting the pace and range most effective on the ground. AKC Gun Dog and All-Age stakes ask the same core: point staunchly, steady to wing and shot, honor
field lineAmerican Field / AFTCA Shooting Dog and All-Age stakes: find and handle all game on the course, staunch and stylish on point, steady to wing and shot, back a bracemate on sight; the All-Age dog 'runs off - but not quite' and shows at distant forward points
show lineESAA hunt tests for bench setters: the dog 'must find and point game', a firm point ('A flash point is not acceptable'), range suitable for a handler on foot, 'an attractive style of running' with intensity; retrieving optional. Purpose: 'to show the usefulness of our bench setters as hunting dogs, not to qualify them as AKC field trial dogs'
The rest, read the same way
Height at the shoulder
dogs 26.5 in (25 to 28) · bitches 24.5 in (23 to 26)
show linedogs 25 in · bitches 24 in
Weight
dogs 65 lb (55 to 75) · bitches 54.5 lb (44 to 65)
field line'Field-bred Setters are a little smaller and carry less coat than Setters from show stock.' No published numbers.
show linedogs 72.5 lb (65 to 80) · bitches 50 lb (45 to 55)
Shedding
Sheds; AKC breed page shedding level 3 of 5 ('Moderate'), RKC 'Sheds: yes'
Sheds; AKC breed page shedding level 3 of 5 ('Moderate'), RKC 'Sheds: yes'
Median lifespan
11.2 years
13.1 years (12.7 to 13.6)
Exercise need
More than 2 hours per day
More than 2 hours per day
Exercise need
More than 2 hours per day
More than 2 hours per day
Energy
AKC breed page energy level 4 of 5; 'the high-energy Pointer is an excellent runner's companion'
AKC breed page energy level 3 of 5; RKC: more than 2 hours of exercise a day
field lineHigher drive and ground speed than show-bred dogs: 'wider ranging ... high speed required in field trialing'
Grooming load
2 of 5 · Once a week (RKC grooming band); coat length short
3 of 5 · More than once a week (RKC grooming band); coat length medium
Grooming
Once a week
More than once a week
Role
Pointing dog: 'bred primarily for sport afield' - finds upland birds with a high head and holds point until the gun arrives
Pointing (setting) gun dog: 'an elegant, substantial and symmetrical gun dog suggesting the ideal blend of strength, stamina, grace, and style' - finds upland birds and holds point
Water work
No water test and no retrieving stake requirement for the Pointer in AKC pointing-breed field trials; AKC Senior and Master hunting tests require land retrieves of shot birds, Master 'promptly, tenderly and absolutely to hand'
No water test and no retrieving stake requirement for the English Setter in AKC pointing-breed field trials; AKC Senior and Master hunting tests require land retrieves of shot birds
Cold water
1 of 5 · Short single-layer coat and no water work in the breed's trial life
2 of 5 · Medium feathered coat; no water work in the breed's trial life
Hip dysplasia
6.9% · 2,369 OFA hip evaluations on file (all evaluations on file, read Oct 2026; the service prints no start year): 92.4% normal (17.3% excellent, 63.6% good, 11.6% fair), 6.9% dysplastic (4.5% mild, 2.2% moderate, 0.2% severe); rank 160 of the breeds listed
15.3% · 13,448 OFA hip evaluations on file (all evaluations on file, read Oct 2026; the service prints no start year): 83.3% normal (12.2% excellent, 56.9% good, 14.2% fair), 15.3% dysplastic (8.9% mild, 5.6% moderate, 0.8% severe); rank 84 of the breeds listed
Elbow dysplasia
5.4% · 771 OFA elbow evaluations on file: 94.6% normal, 5.4% abnormal (4.4% grade 1, 1.0% grade 2, 0.0% grade 3)
14.7% · 4,966 OFA elbow evaluations on file: 85.0% normal, 14.7% abnormal (11.1% grade 1, 3.4% grade 2, 0.3% grade 3); rank 35 of the breeds listed
Most common disorders
UK Kennel Club 2014 survey, 241 live Pointers (34.9% with at least one condition): lipoma 7.9%, hypersensitivity (allergic) skin disorder 3.7%, skin lump 2.5%, skin cyst 2.5%, food allergy 1.7%, chronic itching 1.7%, arthritis 1.7%. Deaths (n = 50, Lewis 2018): old age 16%, cancer-unspecified 8%, heart failure 8%, old-age combinations 8%, bone tumour 6%, brain tumour 6%, epilepsy 6%, kidney failure 6%
UK Kennel Club 2014 survey, 183 live English Setters: lipoma 10.9%, otitis externa 9.3%, hypersensitivity (allergic) skin disorder 8.7%, skin cyst 8.7%, umbilical hernia 4.4%. 2004 survey (633 dogs): otitis externa, colitis and benign neoplasia most reported; atopy 4.3%, hypothyroidism 3.0%. 2004 deaths (n = 384): cancer 32.8%, old age 18.8%, cardiac 7.0%, urologic 4.7%. The BHCP's priorities: atopic dermatitis, hypothyroidism, fertility, hip dysplasia
What to ask a breeder for
Clearances
- Hip scoring · UK
- Thyroid evaluation (autoimmune thyroiditis) · US
- Eye examination by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist · US
- Elbow evaluation · US
- Hip evaluation · US
- Thyroid evaluation (required for CHIC from January 1, 2014) · US
- Hearing test (BAER), at about 7 weeks or older · US
- Elbow evaluation · US
- Hip evaluation · US
- Hearing testing including litter screening (Best Practice) · UK
- Elbow grading (Best Practice) · UK
- Hip scoring (Good Practice) · UK
The health clearances each breed’s own club and registry name. Reference only: what to ask for, never a statement about any dog’s health.
The selector
Which one, for your life?
A few minutes of honest answers: the birds, the ground, the water, the house, the week. The selector ranks both of these against what you said, explains every rank, and shows exactly where the one you came in wanting lands.
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