Gordon Setter Dogs Information

Written by: Debbie Moore

Copyright 1997 to 2010 Dogs and Puppies Central
All rights reserved.

Alternate Names: Scottish Gordon Setter

Common Misspellings:  Gordan Setter, Gordonsetter, Gordan Sitter, Gordin Setter, Gorden Sitter

Learn all about Gordon Setter Dogs and Puppies through our indepth guide to the Gordon Setter dog breed. You'll find solid information about Gordon Setter dog history, Gordon Setter life expectancy Gordon Setter dog appearance, Gordon Setter temperament and personality, Gordon Setter health problems, Gordon Setter puppy care, training Gordon Setter puppy dogs and more. Also includes important information about choosing a responsible Gordon Setter dog breeder.

Hailing from Bonnie Scotland, the Gordon Setter is a large, black and tan gundog breed; a very capable game dog that is a favorite among hunters world wide, in addition to being a devoted and lively family companion.

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Gordon Setter Facts

The Gordon Setter Dog Breed In Brief

Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Gordon Setter Height: Males: 24 to 27 inches
Females: 23 to 26 inches

Gordon Setter Weight: Males: 55 to 80 pounds
Females: 45 to 70 pounds

Gordon Setter Color Variations: Black and Tan Gordon Setter

Gordon Setter Size Variations:

Gordon Setter Exercise Needs: Demanding

Gordon Setter Grooming Demands: Moderate

Gordon Setter Trainability: Moderate

Gordon Setter Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years

Average Gordon Setter Prices: $750 to $2500, depending on Pedigree

Good With Children: Yes, with supervision.

Good With Other Pets: Usually

Breed Group: Sporting

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Gordon Setter Dog History

Originally called the Gordon Castle Setter, the breed originated in Scotland; the ancestor of the Black and Tan Setters that existed in Scotland around the 16th century. The breed derived it's name from it's first official enthusiast; the 4th Duke of Gordon, who kept a pack of these dogs at his Castle. Gordon Castle became the headquarters for efforts to breed the very best setters, and the Duke of Richmond carried on the tradition after the death of the Duke of Gordon.

The breed's name was changed around the early 1900's to "Black and Tan Setter", but the breed was renamed the Gordon Setter when the breed was registered by the English Kennel Club.

Among the first breeds to be recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), Gordon Setters arrived in North America during the mid 1800's, and found popularity among hunters seeking a diligent shooting dog. Although the Gordon Setter does not have the flash or speed of many of it's rival gundog breeds, the breed has gained a steady following, both as a hunting companion and as a beloved family pet.

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Gordon Setter Dog Appearance

The Gordon Setter is a large, ruggedly beautiful dog who appears to be just what he is - a strong, capable field dog and a devoted and affectionate family companion.

The Gordon Setter is the "heavyweight" of the setter breeds, weighing in at up to 80 pounds and with a sturdy, substantial build. More powerful than aerodynamic, the Gordon Setter is less speedy than other setters, but more powerful and steady.

Gordon Setters have a thicker coat than other setters as well, and the longish black and tan coat falls in shiny, silky waves over the dog's sides, chest, backs of legs, ears and tail.

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Gordon Setter Grooming

The Gordon Setter has a silky, medium length coat that is black with tan markings. The coat needs to be brushed and combed every few days to keep mats and tangles at bay. To keep your Gordon Setter looking his best, it's recommended that some professional grooming be sought on occasion.

Gordon Setters have low set ears that should be cleaned regularly with an acidifying cleanser to keep ear infections and ear mites at bay. It's best to do this a few times a week.

You should bathe your Gordon Setter a few times a year, using a hypoallergenic dog shampoo. It's very important to rinse your dog thoroughly after applying shampoo; any residue left on the coat can cause your dog skin irritation. It's a wise decision to use cotton balls during bathing to prevent your Gordon Setter from getting water in his ears, which can lead to yeast infections or inflammation.

As grooming goes, however, the Gordon Setter is relatively low-maintenance. A few hours of your time each month and you'll have a great looking dog to be proud of.

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Gordon Setter Exercise Needs

Gordon Setters thrive with activity. These dogs have energy and enthusiasm to spare, and need a generous amount of exercise daily to stay happy and healthy. Gordon Setters that do not receive the requisite amount of activity can become easily bored, and this can lead to undesirable behaviors.

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Gordon Setter Temperament

The Gordon Setter is a devoted, and disciplined gundog that is a joy for the hunting enthusiast. As much as Gordon Setters love to be in the thick of things, running, fetching and doing their job, they also thrive on the companionship and love of their family members. The Gordon Setter is very loving and affectionate with family, but tends to be somewhat reserved with strangers.

Protective of his home and family, Gordon Setters have also been known to be aggressive towards strange dogs, although they are usually excellent with other canine and feline members of the family.

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Gordon Setter Training

When training your Gordon Setter, one must consider the role your dog is going to play. If your Gordon Setter will serve only as a family companion, then basic obedience training started from an early age will usually give you a happy, well-behaved dog that is a pleasure to live with.

Training the Gordon Setter for the field is more involved, and unless you are very experienced with the techniques involved in training sporting dogs, it's best to seek the advice and expertise of a dog trainer specializing in hunting dog training. There are many books available that deal with this subject, and from which you should be able to acquire a basic knowledge on how to proceed.

Further reading:
Training Gordon Setters

Housetraining the Gordon Setter puppy is a fairly easy task, given the breed's high level of intelligence and eagerness to please their owner.

Gordon Setter Health

The Gordon Setter is a relatively healthy breed, as purebred dogs go. However, like all purebred dogs, Gordon Setters can be prone to hereditary and congenital disorders that can be inherited through it's breeding lines. The best insurance against acquiring a Gordon Setter puppy with health issues is to choose your breeder with great care, ensuring that you deal only with a breeder that follows a carefully selective breeding program and health tests their breeding dogs.

Recommended tests for Gordon Setters include Hip and Elbow screening (OFA), eye testing (CERF) and thyroid screening. A conscientious Gordon Setter breeder will have their breeding dogs tested and certified with the appropriate organizations, and will also offer a reasonable health guarantee on their puppies.

Conditions that can appear in Gordon Setter dogs include:

* CHD
* Gastric Torsion
* PRA
* Elbow Dysplasia
* Cerebellar Abiotrophy
* Hypothyroidism

Further reading about Gordon Setter health problems:

Gordon Setter Health Issues

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Is the Gordon Setter Right For You?

The Gordon Setter is a large, high-energy dog that needs plenty of space, exercise and companionship. If you are inactive or extremely busy and intend to stay that way, the English Bulldog or Pug would be a better choice. However, if you are active and enjoy getting outdoors, have plenty of time to spend with your dog, and don't mind the moderate grooming requirements, the Gordon Setter makes a great choice.

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Gordon Setter Prices

Average Gordon Setter Price: $750 - $1000

Price always varies when it comes to the purchase of a quality, home-raised healthy Gordon Setter dog or puppy. It's of utmost importance that you place the most weight on acquiring a great Gordon Setter puppy from a highly responsible, reputable breeder, and put the price as a secondary concern in making your decision.

Buying a Gordon Setter dog or puppy at a cheap price from a breeder of questionable reputation can be a one-way ticket to heartbreak and great additional expense throughout the dog's life, should your Gordon Setter puppy have hereditary health problems or behavior and temperament issues (which very often is the case with cheap-priced puppies). Buying from a highly reputable Gordon Setter breeder is your best insurance for acquiring a well socialized, healthy puppy of stable temperament.

Gordon Setter prices also will vary according to the puppy's conformation; puppies placed as pets and companions will generally be less expensive as show-quality Gordon Setter puppies intended to be shown in conformation.

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Finding Gordon Setter Puppies For Sale By Reputable Breeders

If you are ready to add an adorable Gordon Setter puppy to your family, be sure to check out Dogs and Puppies Central's directory of Gordon Setter Puppies For Sale, where you will find photos and information posted by reputable Gordon Setter breeders. We actively screen Gordon Setter breeders who wish to advertise on our service by asking that they meet and follow our Guidelines For Responsible Dog Breeders. We also ask for - and check - three references from each breeder.

By performing an initial dog breeder screening, it is our hope that we can help put you in touch with a caring, responsible Gordon Setter breeder near you. We cannot physically inspect the premises and dogs owned by breeders advertising with us, so you need to be responsible for doing the final inspection and interview.

Let's stop the cruelty of puppy mills. Please help us keep money out of the hands of puppy mills, back yard breeders and pet stores. Buy your Gordon Setter puppy only from a responsible, caring hobby breeder that raises their dogs and puppies in a loving home environment.

When you locate that perfect Gordon Setter puppy - please be sure to send us some photos to be included in our growing gallery of Gordon Setter dog and puppy pictures!

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Additional Gordon Setter Resources:

• Gordon Setter Wikipedia Profile
• AKC Gordon Setter Breed Profile
• Gordon Setter Pictures
• Gordon Setter Videos

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