Gordon Setter: The Most Graceful Dog

Breed Characteristics:

The Gordon Setter is often described as one of the best-looking dogs within the canine world. This breed is a well-muscled, serious, alert, and graceful dog that isn’t afraid to use his power when needed.

This is a true outdoor lover since Gordon Setter enjoys hiking, biking, and morning running.

If you are a dog owner already, who love running you know that in the hot days you should stick to morning doggy walks and running, due to heatstroke which occurs in dogs when the temperature is high.

This is a one-person dog because they thrive the most on one-on-one attention, which is why they can be jealous sometimes of other pets and even people.

They may show aggressiveness toward other dogs, so make sure that you truly understand the dog psychology, and that you understand what their body means and which sign could be troublesome.

They have long memories: what they learn, or what you do to them, will stay forever. So, never pushing harshly your dog, and never try to enforce harsh training methods or any negative training.

With a dog with so long memory, you need to be careful and full of patience because bad habits can be difficult to break.

Quick Facts

Real name: Gordon Setter
Origin: Scotland
Breed type: Sporting Dogs
Weight: 55-80 pounds (male), 45-70 pounds (female)
Height: 24-27 inches (male), 23-26 inches (female)
Lifespan: 12-13 years
Litter Size: 6-8 puppies
Color: Black, brown, fawn
Coat:Soft and shining, straight or slightly wave

Gordon Setter Introduction

The Gordon Setter, known as the black avenger of the Highlands, is a bird dog who was named after a Scottish aristocrat.

Gordons are truly athletic and outdoorsy dogs with a unique temperament: they are bold, packed with confidence, and affectionate toward those that they love.

They are also the largest and most substantial of the setters – males can grow up to 27 inches in height and can weigh up to 80 pounds. As expected, females are smaller in size and overall appearance.

They have a longer coat which adds to their royal appearance. Like other Scots breeds, Gordons were bred and built to withstand their homeland’s tough terrain and foul weather.

Gordon Setter History

Gordon Setters are an old breed. They first started to hunt game birds almost 200 years ago. They were originally bred to be quiet when locating birds.

This was the original style of hunting at the time, and Gorgon Setters were perfect for these games.

The 19th century saw a divergence of Setters into different breeds when they evolved based on their location and the terrain in which they spend days hunted.

All in, the Gordon Setter was a more than a useful dog in the hard landscape of Scotland.

One of the most important, if not the most important person, for the breed’s development was Alexander Gordon.

Alexander was the Fourth Duke of Gordon – a huge fancier of the breed founded a kennel of “Black and Tan Setters” at Gordon Castle.

In the early days of the breed, Gordon Castle looked more like the English Setter, and a cross between the flat-coated black and tan collie, Bloodhounds, and even black Pointers – these varieties helped created the breed of Gordon Setter as we know it today.

This breed was first imported in 1872 into the States when George Blunt of New York brought a male and female named Rake and Rachael.

AKC recognized the breed in 1884, while the British Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1872.

Eight years once the breed was officially recognized, the AKC changed the breed’s name from the Gordon Castle Setter to the Gordon Setter.

On January 1, 1924, the Kennel Club accepted the Gordon Setter name as well.

Gordon Setter Physical Appearance

The Gordon Setter is a well-built dog of good size and black and tan dog.

He has a strong posture, a short back, well-sprung ribs, and a short tail. The head is nicely shaped, rather deep than broad.

Eyes are expressive, or fair size, usually dark brown and wise. The shape is oval rather than round. Ears are set low. The neck is long, lean, and without throatiness.

Forelegs are big-boned, straight, and not bowed. Dewclaws may be removed.

The coat is soft and shining, and usually straight. The coat may be slightly waved, but not curly.

Ears are covered with long hair. The hind legs are long, flat, and muscular.

Dog fanciers love this breed’s copal-black coat with distinctive markings of rich chestnut or mahogany color.

An extremely small amount of white is allowed on the chest. In some rare cases, red Gordons are born to normal-colored parents.

This is the result of the expression of a recessive red gene. Chest, stomach, ear, leg, and tail are feathered.

They are the heaviest of the setter breeds, with males reaching 27 inches (69 cm) at the withers and up to 80 pounds (36 kg) in weight.

Gordon Setter Personality

The Gordon Setter is a gentle and sensitive dog which makes him a great family dog.

This breed is suitable even for first time dog owners, although he will need proper training and socialization to learn to live with humans and other pets.

The Gordon Setter enjoys vigorous walks, so make sure that you spend one to two hours a day for exercise and walks – regular exercise keeps your dog both happy and healthy.

This isn’t a great guarding dog. This is a working breed, so he likes being busy.

He can run all day, and if not entertained or given a task, he may become easily distracted. Some dogs may even suffer from separation anxiety and have difficulties staying alone.

Always be honest when getting a dog and ask yourself just how much time and energy do you have for the canine.

This is an intelligent, confident, and alert dog according to AKC. He is also loyal and affectionate, and strong-minded sometimes, which is why training should be conducted properly.

Living With Gordon Setter

They are strongly loyal to their owners, and they thrive in loving surroundings and positive environments. Setters are extremely loyal to their humans and are great family dogs.

Puppies and adult dogs can have a mind of their own, but thats common for any breed, so just make sure that you have enough endurance to go through different phases stress-free.

They are sensitive and empathic, and eager to learn. They need firm but gentle handling.

Like with any other breed, never apply any kind of harsh training or methods. The breed is slowest to mature, and they usually reach prime around three years of age or even more.

Simply said, expect puppy-like traits and behavior into their older years. They were bred to run, and require between 60 to 80 minutes of exercise daily.

Be careful with young dogs not to over-exercise them, or choose to begin agility training around 18 months of age to avoid any joint-related issues later in life.

They have strong hunting instincts, and as such, they shouldn’t be allowed to walk without a leash on or unsupervised, because they would always ignore any traffic situation while following a scent.

Gordon Setter Training

Training starts as soon as you bring your Gordon Starter home.

Make sure that you follow through puppy vaccination schedule, so you can socialize your dog properly when possible by exposing him to new places, smells, and people.

Dogs can start learning commands at only 8 weeks of age.

They can easily master basic commands as long as you are willing to invest your time and energy into the training process.

Gordons may be stubborn, but they are also gentle and soft and love to learn.

In fact, they are fast learners, as long as they trust you enough to learn from you. They live to please their owner.

Still, make sure that you create fun and well-organized training sessions, otherwise your Gordon will get bored.

Early socialization and puppy training classes can ensure that your Gordon Setter turns into a well-mannered companion.

Gordon Setter Grooming

No matter how low maintenance a dog might be, there should always be some time for grooming sessions.

Brushing at least once a week is mandatory to prevent matting.

If you provide weekly brushing, you can expect minimal shedding. As with other breeds, you can expect heavier shedding during the shedding season – during these days you should have a vacuum cleaner on hand and clean hair more often.

The rest is regular grooming:

• Check gums weekly
• Learn how to trim or how to grind dog’s nails
• Check ears for any sign of infection
• Learn how to clean dog’s ears
• Bath only when mandatory – dogs don’t need a frequent bath as humans do
• Check ears and skin for any sign of fleas or ticks

Gordon Setter Health

Gordons are generally healthy dogs, but just like in humans there are few things that you should care about.

First of all, when getting a dog or adopting, make sure that you take him to the veterinarian’s office immediately.

This is a good practice, and your Gordon won’t have fears from a veterinarian further on if he is a puppy.

If you are dealing with responsible breeders you should know how the right practice looks and that you will et medical documentation on the dog’s overall health.

Responsible breeders will also show you the facilities, puppies’ parents and tell you that if you ever cannot afford to have a dog anymore to return the dog to them.

This is why it’s so important to be sure that you can afford to have a dog because being a responsible dog owner will cost you money.

Responsible breeders will test dogs for conditions that the breed can be prone to, including:

• Hip and elbow dysplasia
• Eye conditions
• DNA testing for various health-related issues

Is Gordon Setter The Best Choice For You?

The Gordon Setter is one of a kind dog. There is no doubt that this breed can be a great pet to someone ready to have a dog with the above-listed traits.

So, if you want a dog that is large, but sturdy, and has a coat that you will have to brush at least once a week, then the Gordon Seteerr is for you.

This dog is also for you if you want a dog who is most alert and friendly.

On the other hand, if you cannot provide enough time for exercise and training, especially when young, then this breed may not be the right for you.

Make sure that you know what type of dog you need and if you have enough time to raise a dog.

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