How much does an English Setter cost per year?

After the first year, an English Setter costs approximately $3,685 per year on average, covering food ($945), vet care ($635), grooming ($1,070), and insurance ($740).

largedog12 yr lifespan

How Much Does an English Setter Cost?

Q: Is an English Setter expensive to own?

English Setters have a lifetime ownership cost of approximately $46,425 over 12 years. Annual running costs average $3,685/yr, placing them among the higher-cost breeds to own.

The English Setter's typical 12-year lifespan and large size both factor into its long-term cost of ownership. Routine trips to a professional groomer are common, so factor that into the annual budget. Routine preventive care — vaccinations, parasite control, and annual check-ups — makes up most of the ongoing vet budget. High energy levels mean a larger food budget and more spending on toys, exercise gear, and enrichment.

Get My Personalised Estimate

$5,890

First Year Total

inc. one-time setup

$3,685

Annual Ongoing

per year from year 2

$46,425

Lifetime Estimate

over 12 years

What these figures assume: US national average pricing, own home (no pet deposit), standard food, grooming at the breed's typical frequency, insurance and professional training included, no daycare, routine dental care only. See how this is calculated or change these assumptions.

First Year Costs (inc. setup)

Purchase / Adoption Fee

Varies by breeder vs rescue

$375

Initial Vet Visit & Vaccinations

Spay/neuter, microchip, health check

$580

Starter Supplies

Bed, crate, collar, bowls, toys

$875

Training Classes

Basic obedience recommended

$375

First Year Food

$945

First Year Vet Care

$635

First Year Grooming

$1,070

First Year Insurance

$740

Total$5,890

Annual Ongoing Costs (Year 2+)

Food

$945

Vet Care

$635

Grooming

$1,070

Pet Insurance

$740

Supplies & Toys

$220

Total$3,685

Budget for emergencies

We recommend keeping $3,000 in a dedicated emergency fund for unexpected vet bills.

What English Setter costs actually look like

The English Setter is a large-sized dog breed living an average of 12 years. Grooming is its largest running cost at $1,070 a year, or 29% of the annual total — well above the 16% a typical large dog spends on it, and the line most worth planning around.

At $3,685 a year it is dearer to keep than 77% of the 79 large dog breeds costed here. Across 12 years that compounds to about $46,425.

These figures are US national averages — your actual costs will vary based on your city, lifestyle, and whether you use a breeder or rescue organisation. Use our calculator above to get a personalised estimate.

What drives English Setter costs

The English Setter has the highest grooming cost of the 35 breeds profiled in this guide at about $1,070 a year, and third highest of all 218 dogs costed here. The long silky feathering on the ears, chest, legs and tail is what the breed is admired for and what generates the bill: it needs frequent brushing plus regular trimming, and it mats readily, particularly behind the ears and under the elbows where owners rarely look.

Grooming is not the only heavy line. As a large field dog it eats about $945 a year, and vet care at $635 and insurance at $740 both sit in the upper third. Together they produce a $3,685 annual total — third highest among the breeds in this guide, behind only the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Japanese Akita — and a lifetime figure of roughly $46,425 across 12 years. This is not an economical breed by any measure, and prospective owners should see that clearly before committing.

Congenital sensorineural deafness is the hereditary condition most worth asking a breeder about, and it is testable: BAER testing identifies affected and unilaterally affected puppies before they are sold, and responsible setter breeders do it as a matter of course. Hip dysplasia and hypothyroidism are the other recognised concerns. A deaf or unilaterally deaf dog is not an expensive dog medically, but it changes training and containment requirements substantially, so knowing before purchase matters more than budgeting for it afterwards.

Written by Darren Newland. Health information here summarises published veterinary and breed-health sources for cost-planning purposes and is not clinical advice — we do not have a veterinarian on staff. Talk to your vet about your own animal.

How to save on English Setter costs

→Learn to maintain the coat yourself. At $1,070 a year, grooming is one of this breed's largest running costs. Booking a professional groom quarterly instead of monthly, and brushing and bathing at home in between, is the single biggest saving available on an English Setter — typically $428–$535 a year.
→Buy food in bulk. A large dog gets through about $945 of food a year, so unit price matters more here than for smaller breeds. Buying 15–20kg bags rather than supermarket sizes, and comparing brands on cost per kilo rather than per bag, typically cuts 20–30% — around $236 a year.
→Insure early, before anything is pre-existing. At $740 a year, insurance is one of the larger predictable costs — but English Setters insured as puppies see lower premiums and, more importantly, no pre-existing-condition exclusions. Every condition that appears before cover starts is excluded for life, which is why waiting is the expensive option.
→Use a wellness plan for routine care. Routine veterinary care runs about $635 a year for this breed — high enough that many practices' annual wellness plans, which bundle vaccinations, checks and parasite control, work out cheaper than paying per visit. Ask your practice for the itemised comparison before signing up.
→Build an emergency fund. We suggest $3,000 in a dedicated pet savings account for a large breed. A single emergency surgery runs $3,000–$8,000 without insurance, and four in five owners face an unexpected veterinary bill at some point.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an English Setter cost?

An English Setter typically costs $5,890 in the first year, including the purchase or adoption fee ($375), initial vet visits ($580), supplies ($875), and the first year of food, grooming, and insurance. Annual ongoing costs from year two are approximately $3,685/year.

How much does an English Setter cost per month?

After the first year, an English Setter costs approximately $307/month on average. This covers food ($79/month), vet care ($53/month), grooming ($89/month), and insurance ($62/month).

Is an English Setter expensive to own?

English Setters cost approximately $3,685/year to maintain — among the higher-cost breeds to own. Over their 12-year lifespan, total costs come to around $46,425.

How much does an English Setter puppy cost?

An English Setter puppy from a reputable breeder typically costs $375. Rescue or shelter adoption fees are usually $150–$400 and often include initial vaccinations and desexing. Remember the purchase price is just one part of the first-year cost of $5,890.

Why is the English Setter so expensive to keep?

Because several lines are high at once. Grooming is about $1,070 a year — the highest of the 35 breeds in this guide and third of all 218 dogs here — driven by the long feathering that mats readily. Food adds $945 for a large field dog, with vet care at $635 and insurance at $740 both in the upper third. That gives $3,685 a year, third highest in this guide, and roughly $46,425 across a 12-year life.

What health test should an English Setter breeder have done?

BAER testing for congenital sensorineural deafness, which identifies both fully and unilaterally deaf puppies before sale. Responsible setter breeders do it routinely. A deaf dog is not medically expensive, but it needs different training and much more careful containment, so this is information you want before buying rather than a cost to budget for afterwards. Hip dysplasia and hypothyroidism are the other recognised concerns in the breed.