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Gordon Setter

confident / affectionate / bold
Sporting Group >>

Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.

Height

24-27 inches (male)

23-26 inches (female)

Weight

55-80 pounds (male)

45-70 pounds (female)

Life Expectancy

12-13 years

Breed Traits & Characteristics

Affectionate With Family
  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    100% 100%
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    60% 60%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    60% 60%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    60% 60%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    40% 40%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    80% 80%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    60% 60%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    60% 60%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    80% 80%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    90% 90%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    100% 100%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    100% 100%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    60% 60%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    80% 80%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

Affectionate With Family

  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    100% 100%

How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.

Good With Young Children

  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    60% 60%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.

GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS

  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    60% 60%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    60% 60%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    40% 40%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    80% 80%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    60% 60%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    60% 60%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    80% 80%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    90% 90%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    100% 100%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    100% 100%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    60% 60%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    80% 80%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

About the Breed

The Gordon Setter, often known as the black avenger of the Highlands, is a large bird dog with a Scottish aristocrat as its namesake. Gordons are physically fit and love the outdoors. They are courageous, resolute, and affectionate on the field and by the fire. Gordons are the biggest and heaviest breed of setters; a big male maybe 80 pounds in weight and stand 27 inches tall at the shoulder. Long hair may be found on the ears, belly, legs, chest, and tail, and the gorgeous coat is a gleaming black with tan patterns. Brown eyes with tan splotches above them have a willing and wise gaze. Gordons were bred to resist the harsh terrain and inclement weather of their native Scotland, just like other Scots breeds like the little Scottish Terrier and stately Scottish Deerhound.

What To Expect When Caring For a Gordon Setter

Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.

Health

Although Gordons are mostly healthy dogs, there are a few things to be cautious of, including the possibility of bloat, a sudden, potentially fatal stomach illness. Owners of Gordons should become familiar with the symptoms of bloat and what to do in their case. All breeds of older dogs are most frequently killed by cancer. There is no one specific type of cancer that affects Gordons more frequently; young dogs passing away from cancer are infrequent. Responsible breeders will test their stock for ailments the breed may be predisposed to, such as eye disorders, elbow and hip dysplasia, and DNA testing for a variety of medical diseases.
Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:
  • Hip Evaluation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) rcd4 DNA Test
  • Elbow Evaluation
  • Ophthalmologist Evaluation
 

Grooming

Matting can be avoided by brushing at least once a week. If the dog is brushed frequently, it sheds very little. clipping the hair on the feet, clipping the nails, trimming inside and around the ears, trimming around the vent/tail area, and cleaning the teeth for plaque are all examples of monthly grooming that is advised for health. Monthly bathing is advised. Bathing and conditioning can help prevent dry skin and dandruff.    

Exercise

Gordons were bred to be nannies as well as personal hunting dogs. They enjoy nothing more than lying by your side or lying at your feet and running through a field. They do require exercise since their innate desire to run is part of their genetic makeup. They are able to live in apartments, but if they do, they will need to get daily activities. They can do this by riding, walking, or running with their dog. A Gordon will exercise on their own if they have a yard to run in, but they are always happiest when they are with their bonded owner. They only want to be with their owner. Precaution: Never exercise the dog 30 minutes before or 30 minutes after feeding to avoid bloat.      

Training

A few, simple lifesaving training commands are mandatory. A puppy or dog must be trained to know the command 'come,' and to come when called; to know his name and respond; and to obey the word 'no.' Gordons are stubborn yet very soft and loving, and they live to please their owner. They are very smart and learn quickly. The best training is for them to have a job to do, and the best job they can have is spending time with their owner'¿whether being trained or having fun. They are closely bonded to their family and live to be with them, but they are fine being alone when family is away. Early socialization and puppy training classes are recommended for Gordon puppies and help to ensure they grow into well-adjusted, well-mannered companions.

Nutrition

Feeding the Gordon Setter a diet high in protein (over 26 percent) is not recommended, as health issues can result by forcing rapid growth. The fiber content of at least four percent is best to ensure firm stool. Feed high-quality dry dog food, wet food, and, if desired, small amounts of healthy additives such as chicken and salmon, fruits, and cooked fresh vegetables, provided they are listed as safe foods on the AKC website. Sodium can be dangerous'¿always feed 'no salt.' Gordons should be lean, not overweight so that a clearly defined 'waist' can be seen. Bloat can be a risk in the breed, and owners should never exercise the dog one-half hour before or after feeding.

History

Game bird hunting was initially practiced by Gordon Setters over 200 years ago. The setter was created to silently lay down, or “set,” when they discovered birds. In order to flush and harvest the birds that were caught there, this method of hunting at the time required the hunter to cast a net in the area, sometimes covering the dog as well. Setters split into various breeds in the 19th century as a result of changes in their habitat and hunting grounds. The Gordon Setter’s hefty bone and square frame point to its suitability in Scotland’s challenging, rocky terrain.

Alexander Gordon, the Fourth Duke of Gordon and a setter enthusiast (d. 1827), had a significant role in the growth of this breed when he established a kennel of “Black and Tan Setters” at Gordon Castle. Although his early dogs resembled the English Setter more, crosses with Bloodhounds, Black Pointers, Flat-Coated Black and Tan Collie, and Solid-Black Setters helped shape the Gordon Setter breed into what it is today.

When George Blunt of New York brought Rake and Rachael, a male and female Gordon Setter, to the United States in 1842, it was the first time the breed had ever been imported.