How Much Does a English Setter Cost? (2026 Full Cost Breakdown)

As a large sporting dog the English Setter carries big-dog running costs. Food is US$284–568 a year and routine veterinary care US$600–900. Fold in the US$420–1,675 of setup and the first year comes to about US$3,213–6,604 before the pattern settles into the steady annual figure.

The medium, feathered coat needs steady but not extreme care. Regular brushing to keep the feathering free of tangles, plus occasional trimming, puts grooming at US$300–450 a year. It's a middle-of-the-road grooming cost, more than a smooth coat but far less than a heavy double one.

Health risk is moderate. The breed has a well-documented rate of autoimmune thyroiditis and hypothyroidism, congenital deafness, hip and elbow dysplasia, and recurring ear infections and atopic dermatitis. That lifts adult insurance to US$809–1,511 a year, with puppies at US$647–1,208 and seniors at US$2,050–3,237. Ear and skin problems tend to recur, which is part of why premiums rise steadily with age.

Treating a chronic ear or skin condition, or a hip surgery, would sit outside these figures, since the annual and lifetime totals cover predictable care and keep emergencies separate. For an English Setter the costs are fairly balanced across food, vet, grooming and insurance, with no single line dominating, which is why its yearly figure lands in the mid-range for a large breed. Because no one line stands out, the main variables are the food quality you feed and the level of insurance cover you choose, both of which move the figure within its stated range.