Mary Allen
Patient & Affectionate Companion & Hunting Dog – the Gordon Setter
The Gordon Setter is a hunting dog that has been bred by Duke Gordon since the first half of the 19th century. The setter also got its name from him.
The pointing and seconding are already innate in this dog breed. With appropriate training, the Gordon Setter can be used very well as a hunting dog. He is one of the pointing dogs that retrieve well and are not afraid of water.
Dogs of these Scottish Setters bear some resemblance to the English Setter but are stronger and larger than that breed.
How Big & How Heavy Will It Be?
The Gordon Setter can reach a length of up to 65 cm and a weight of around 30 kg.
Coat, Colors & Care
The fur is long and silky. It can be smooth or slightly wavy. The coat color is a glossy black with chestnut coloring on the legs and muzzle (Brand).
Regular grooming is essential for such a long-haired dog breed. The coat should be thoroughly combed and brushed daily to keep it shiny.
Eyes, ears, and pads should be checked regularly and cleaned if necessary.
Nature, Temperament
Gordon Setter is very courageous, intelligent, friendly, patient, affectionate, persistent, and willing to work.
This dog with strong nerves is a lot calmer and more balanced than the other set breeds.
The dog gets along very well with children and treats them lovingly. If the dog has a task and is busy, it is also well suited as a family dog.
Upbringing
This breed of dog requires a lot of empathy and patience, as well as clear rules when it comes to training. They are not beginner dogs.
Although these dogs are very willing to learn, the strong hunting instinct must be worked on. Always make sure that a command you give is actually implemented satisfactorily. Train regularly and adapt the exercises to the behavior of the dog.
If the dog is physically busy, training will run smoothly.
Posture & Outlet
If the Gordon Setter is kept as a house dog, then it needs a lot of exercise and exercise. A house with a large garden is almost a prerequisite for keeping these dogs because they are less suitable for keeping them purely as an apartment due to their strong urge to move.
In addition to pure exercise, a Gordon Setter also needs mental challenges.
Suitability
A hunter offers this hunting dog ideal keeping conditions. If you can’t offer him that, you have to find an alternative, for example, dog sports, tracking, or regular long hikes.
It can be used as a guard dog, working dog, and companion dog.
Breed Diseases
Skin tumors occasionally occur with age. Hip dysplasia (HD) occurs but can be ruled out relatively well based on parentage.
Life Expectancy
On average, these setters reach an age of 10 to 12 years.
What breeds make up a Gordon Setter?
Are Gordon setters vocal?
Gordon Setters tend to be quite vocal when they are out in the field but are generally much quieter when they are inside.
What is the life expectancy of a Gordon Setter?
The Gordon Setter, which has an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years, is prone to major health issues such as gastric torsion and canine hip dysplasia, and minor problems like cerebellar abiotrophy, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), hypothyroidism, and elbow dysplasia.
Do Gordon setters bark a lot?
Barking is not uncommon in the breed, and Gordons will bark to express their likes, dislikes, and other emotions, including whether they think you should have taken them with you when you left. Gordon Setters can suffer from separation anxiety and may become destructive when they do.
Do Gordon setters like to swim?
Most Gordon’s love swimming so if you don’t own a pool, the canine swim day is a great way to let your dog exercise and cool off. You can also take your Gordon swimming at a local lake or a dog-friendly beach. It is a rare occurrence that a Gordon Setter does not enjoy playing and swimming in the water.
What are Setters bred for?
Setter, any of three breeds of sporting dogs used in pointing game birds. Setters are derived from a medieval hunting dog, the setting spaniel, that was trained to find birds and then to set (i.e., crouch or lie down) so that a net could be thrown over both the birds and the dog.