Gordon Setter

General Information - Gordon Setter

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History

The Gordon Setter was originally developed in Scotland in the 1600's and was later made popular by Duke Alexander the 4th of Gordon in the late 1700's. This breed has an outstanding sense of smell and makes a fine bird dog, pointing when it finds a bird scent and then retrieving the felled bird to hand. The Gordon Setter is not fast compared with other hunting dogs, but he has good stamina and can hunt in adverse weather on both land and water. It is one of the most conscientious and intelligent of the standing breeds. The Gordon Setter is a methodical, dependable hunter, and a fine one-man shooting dog. The beautiful and loyal Gordon Setter has also achieved success as a show dog and home companion. Among the Gordon's good qualities are excellent health and its adaptability to guarding and to family life.

Temperament

Obedient and loyal, the Gordon Setter makes a loving companion. The Gordon Setter is distinguished both for its loyalty and obedience. A devoted, polite, gentle and sensible dog, they are pleasant dogs that are excellent with children. Because of its large adult size, it should be well trained and exercised.

Upkeep

The Gordon needs much strenuous exercise every day in order to stay in shape. It can live outdoors in temperate climates, but it must be able to spend ample time with people and does best dividing its time between inside and outside. Its coat needs regular brushing and combing every two to three days. In addition, some clipping and trimming is needed for optimal good looks.

Gordon Setter

A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be careful to avoid obvious conditions and exaggerations, as well as being mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

Breed Standard - Gordon Setter

General Appearance: A stylish dog, built on galloping lines, having a thoroughbred appearance consistent with its build which can be compared to a weight carrying hunter. Must have symmetrical conformation throughout, showing true balance. Strong, fairly short and level back. Shortish tail. Head fairly long, clearly lined and with intelligent expression, clear colours and long flat coat.

Head and Skull: Head deep rather than broad, but definitely broader than the muzzle, showing brain room. Skull slightly rounded and broadest between the cars. The head should have a clearly indicated stop and length from occiput to stop should be slightly longer than from stop to nose. Below and above the eyes should be lean and the cheeks as narrow as the leaness of the head allows. The muzzle should be fairly long with almost parallel lines and not pointed, as seen from above or from the side. The flews not pendulous but with clearly indicated lips. Nose big and broad, with open nostrils and black in colour. The muzzle should not be quite as deep as its length.

Eyes: Of fair size, not too deep nor too prominent but sufficiently under the brows to show keen and intelligent expression. Dark brown and bright.

Ears: Set low on the head and lying close to it, of medium size and thin.

Mouth: Must be even and not under or overshot.

Neck: Long, lean and arched to the head and without any throatiness.

Forequarters: Shoulders should be long and slope well back; with wide flat bone and fairly close at withers; should not be loaded, i.e., too thick, which interferes with liberty of movement. Elbows well let down and showing well under the body, which gives freedom of action. Forelegs big, flat:boned and straight, with strong upright pasterns, well feathered.

Body: Of moderate length, deep in brisket, with ribs well sprung. Deep in back ribs, i.e., well-ribbed up. Loins wide and slightly arched. Chest not too broad.

Hindquarters: Hind legs from hip to hock should be long, broad and muscular; hock to heel short and strong, stifles well bent; hocks straight not inclined either in or out. Pelvis should tend to the horizontal, i.e., opposite of goose rump.

Feet: Oval, with close knit, well:arched toes, with plenty of hair between. Full toe pads and deep heel cushions.

Tail: Fairly short, straight or slightly scimitar shaped and should not reach below the hocks. Carried horizontal or below line of back. Thick at the root tapering to a fine point. The feather or flat which starts near the root should be long and straight and grown shorter uniformly to the point.

Coat: On the head and front of legs and tips of ears should be short and fine, but on all other parts of the body and legs it ought to be of moderate length, fairly flat and free as possible from curl or wave. The feather on the upper portion of the ears should be long and silky, on the back of the hind legs long and fine; a fair amount of hair on the belly forming a nice fringe which may extend on chest and throat. All feathering to be as flat and straight as possible.

Colour: Deep shining coal:black, with no sign of rustiness, with tan markings of a rich chestnut red, i.e., colour of a ripe horse:chestnut as taken from shell. Tan should be lustrous. Black pencilling allowed on toes and also black streak under jaw. Tan markings: two clear spots over the eyes not over 2 cm (0.75 in) in diameter. On the sides of the muzzle, the tan should not reach above the base of nose, resembling a stripe around the end of the muzzle from one side to the other. On the throat. Two large clear spots on the chest. On the inside of the hind legs and inside the thighs showing down the front of the stifle and broadening out to the outside of the hind legs from the hock to the toes. It must, however, not completely eliminate the black on the back of the hind legs. On the forelegs, up to the elbows behind and to the knees or a little above, in front. Around the vent. A white spot on chest is allowed but the smaller the better.

Faults:

• General Impression - Unintelligent appearance. The bloodhound type with heavy and big head and ears and clumsy body; the collie type with pointed muzzle and curved tail.
• Head - Pointed, snipy, down or upturned muzzle, too small or large mouth.
• Eyes - Too light in colour, too deep set or too prominent.
• Ears - Set too high, or unusually broad or heavy.
• Neck - Thick and short.
• Shoulders and Back - Irregularly formed.
• Chest - Too broad.
• Legs and Feet - Crooked legs. Out turned elbows. The toes scattered, flat footed.
• Tail - Too long, badly carried or hooked at the end.
• Coat - Curly, like wool, not shining.
• Colour - Yellow, or straw:coloured tan, or without clearly defined lines between the different colours. White feet. Too much white on the chest. In the black there should be no tan hairs.

Note: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.