meet the...Gordon Setter
Breed Summary
Breed Group Group 11: Gun Dog Breeds
Sub-group 11-D: Setters
Origin Country Scotland
Weight Males: 55-80 pounds. Females: 45-70 pounds.
Height Males: 24-27 inches. Females: 23-26 inches.
Other Name(s) Setter Gordon
Breed Type Pure
click here for FULL BREED STANDARD
Origins
It is believed that the ancestors of modern-day gundogs, including Setters and Pointers, descended from Spanish pointing dogs, or “Spaniels.” These dogs were brought to England and Scotland centuries ago and used to aid hunters well before firearms were widely used throughout the country for hunting. Since ancient times, these “setting Spaniels,” or “setting dogs,” have been used to locate upland game birds before directing bird hunters by “setting” or “pointing” to the bird using specific postures. The ancestral “setting dogges” that are the predecessors of the modern-day Gordon Setters, English Setters, and Llewellin Setters have been documented in the United Kingdom for more than 400 years. Originally known as “black and fallow” setters, they were mentioned in Scotland as far back as the 1700s. At that time, the Duke of Gordon had curated a particularly talented strain of these “Gordon Castle Setters,” and it was from these dogs that the Gordon Setter breed originated.
Today, like many gundog breeds, the Gordon Setter is often seen as being divided into show or bench lines and performance or field lines, and its appearances can be slightly different. The show lines are larger, attractive dogs with a somewhat longer coat, despite the standards calling for moderation. While it is pleasing to the eye in the show ring, it tends to catch briars and grass in the field. The field-bred lines are sleeker and less exaggerated in appearance, appearing slightly lighter. Most noticeable is the abundant yet shorter coat, which is sufficient enough to protect them from harsh weather and terrain in the field without collecting briars and hitchhikers.Breed Characteristics
Head: Somewhat long, yet mesaticephalic skull type, moderate in size, and in proportion to the rest of the body. The head is clean-cut and without excess skin or wrinkles. The head is long and broadest between the ears but should never appear overly broad. The length should give a sleek and lean appearance but never appear “narrow.” The head is rectilinear and slightly rectangular. The back skull is slightly arched when viewed in profile from the front, more so than other setters. The occiput is moderately prominent and defined.
Eyes: Moderate in size, oval to almond in shape, and medium to dark brown in color. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes. Any signs of entropion or ectropion are incorrect for this breed.
Ears: Moderate to large in size and length, set fairly well-back and low on the skull, at eye level or below. They are pendant-shaped, hanging flat or in neat folds close to the head.
Muzzle: The muzzle is rectangular, full, deep, and broad throughout. The plane, or bridge of the muzzle, is straight. There should be no evident taper of the muzzle when viewed in profile, with the nose aligning with the chin, never protruding forward. The upper and lower jaws are well-developed, equal in length, and have good bone substance, never appearing snipey or weak.
Nose: The nose is well pigmented and black, or liver in non-standard dogs. The nostrils are well opened.
Neck: Moderately long to allow for proud and high head carriage. Somewhat lean and elegant, yet well-muscled with a good arch. The neck tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut and without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap.
Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows. The brisket depth is pronounced from the front and in profile, and the forechest is somewhat dramatic.
Body: Athletic and enduring, with a focus of capabilities on stamina and endurance rather than speed. The body is deep, strongly built, and of good substance throughout. It should never appear cloddy and heavy nor racy and overly refined. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.
Feet: Oval to round and compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads.
Tail: Set neither high nor low on the croup but as a natural extension of the topline. It is thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. The tail is carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, often level with the topline, perhaps slightly above or below. When in repose, it is held downward in a neutral position but never tucked. It is never carried up over the back. Tails are left natural and never docked short. The tail is of a fairly long length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down, never falling below. The tail is straight, never curved or sickle-shaped.
Movement: Bold, effortless, strong, efficient, energetic, and powerful, the characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the centerline of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.
Temperament: The Gordon Setter is an active, lively, intelligent, and steady breed. They are a very people-oriented breed, thriving on attention and affection from those they know and love; however, they can be reserved with strangers. Although these qualities make them wonderfully suited for a companion dog role, they can also be very instinctual. This is especially true for the field type, and these dogs must have a job and a daily means of releasing pent-up energy and sensory and mental stimulation. Without proper training and exercise, they are known to develop their own ideas about what is acceptable, often getting themselves into trouble. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.
Breed Standard
BREED GROUP 11: Gun Dog Breeds
Proportions: Somewhat off-square, with the length of the body measured from the point of the forechest to the point of the rump, being just slightly greater than the height at the withers. The ideal length-to-height ratio is between 5:4 and 10:9. The body is well put together, with sturdy substance and medium bone. Males should appear masculine, being more substantial in size and mass, while females should appear more feminine and slightly less substantial. Neither should lack overall type. Both bench and field types should exhibit a clean outline without exaggeration of any one characteristic. The weight of males or females is always in proportion to height.
Head
General Appearance: Somewhat long, yet mesaticephalic skull type, moderate in size, and in proportion to the rest of the body. The head is clean-cut and without excess skin or wrinkles. The head is long and broadest between the ears but should never appear overly broad. The length should give a sleek and lean appearance but never appear “narrow.” The head is rectilinear and slightly rectangular. The back skull is slightly arched when viewed in profile from the front, more so than other setters. The occiput is moderately prominent and defined.
Expression: Keen, piercing, dignified, alert, lively, and intelligent.
Stop: Moderate to well-defined.
Skull: The ideal muzzle-to-skull ratio is 1:1, with the topskull being equal to the muzzle.
The ideal muzzle-to-skull axis is parallel.
Muzzle: The muzzle is rectangular, full, deep, and broad throughout. The plane, or bridge of the muzzle, is straight. There should be no evident taper of the muzzle when viewed in profile, with the nose aligning with the chin, never protruding forward. The upper and lower jaws are well-developed, equal in length, and have good bone substance, never appearing snipey or weak.
Lips or Flews: The lips fit well over the teeth and jaws, with the upper lip extending just to cover the lower plane of the bottom jaw, giving the muzzle the elongated squared appearance. The upper lip should never extend beyond the plane of the bottom jaw. The lips should never appear loose, pendulous, or “wet.”
Nose: The nose is well pigmented and black, or liver in non-standard dogs. The nostrils are well opened.
Cheeks: Flat, smooth, and well-chiseled, never protrusive or strongly muscled.
Dentition and Bite: Forty-two strong, clean, and white teeth. The bite may be level, scissor, or reverse-scissor. Contact must be made between the top and bottom incisors. Missing or broken teeth due to routine work are not to be penalized.
Eyes: Moderate in size, oval to almond in shape, and medium to dark brown in color. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes. Any signs of entropion or ectropion are incorrect for this breed.
Ears: Moderate to large in size and length, set fairly well-back and low on the skull, at eye level or below. They are pendant-shaped, hanging flat or in neat folds close to the head.
Body and Tail
General Description: Athletic and enduring, with a focus of capabilities on stamina and endurance rather than speed. The body is deep, strongly built, and of good substance throughout. It should never appear cloddy and heavy nor racy and overly refined. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.
Neck: Moderately long to allow for proud and high head carriage. Somewhat lean and elegant, yet well-muscled with a good arch. The neck tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut and without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap.
Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows. The brisket depth is pronounced from the front and in profile, and the forechest is somewhat dramatic.
Topline: Straight and slightly sloped from slightly prominent withers to croup. The back is fairly short, broad, strongly muscled, and straight, yet supple. The loin is broad, taut, flat, level, and supportive. The back is never elongated, swayed, or roached.
Croup: Broad and gently, nearly flat, but may be almost imperceptibly sloped.
Underline: A slight to moderate tuck-up is present. The underline is taut and firm, without any indication of sagging or excess weight.
Ribs: Long, well-sprung, well-laid-back, and oval-shaped, never barrel-chested or slab-sided.
Tail: Set neither high nor low on the croup but as a natural extension of the topline. It is thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. The tail is carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, often level with the topline, perhaps slightly above or below. When in repose, it is held downward in a neutral position but never tucked. It is never carried up over the back. Tails are left natural and never docked short. The tail is of a fairly long length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down, never falling below. The tail is straight, never curved or sickle-shaped.
Forequarters and Hindquarters
Forequarters: The forequarters are always balanced with the hindquarters and well-angulated with well-laid-back shoulder blades. The shoulder blades are close at the withers, long, and approximately equal in length to the upper arm and forearm.
Elbows: The elbows are close to the body. The point of the elbows is approximately half the dog’s height at the withers.
Forelegs: Frontal View: Straight, of good muscle, of moderate (yet sturdy) bone, and parallel to one another.
Side View: The forelimbs appear straight with strong pasterns.
Pasterns: Never weak or broken.
Hindquarters: The upper and lower thighs are long, equal in length, strong, of moderate (yet sturdy) bone, and moderately muscled, being flat from heel to hip.
Rear View: When viewed from the rear, the rear pasterns are parallel to one another.
Side View: Good angulation will allow the rear toes to align with the point of the rump or within one to two paw-lengths behind the point of the rump, with the rear pasterns remaining perpendicular to the ground and parallel to one another.
Stifle Joint: Well-angulated with a good bend to well-let-down rear pasterns.
Angulations: The angulation of the hindquarters is always in balance with the angulation of the forequarters.
Feet: Oval to round and compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads.
Coat
Skin: Well-fitted, yet supple. The skin should never obstruct the outline of the dog.
Coat Type: The coat is glossy and soft to the touch yet protective and weather-resistant. It is medium-short on the body but close on the head, front of the forelegs, and hindlegs. On the body, it is somewhat longer and flat or wavy throughout, with longer fringing and furnishing on the neck, shoulders, chest, underline, the base of the ears, ear leathers, underside of the tail, and the back of the forelegs and hind legs. Natural, unclipped, and untrimmed coats are preferred. The coat should never obstruct the outline of the dog and should never appear long and flowing.
Coat Color or Pattern: CKC recognizes two color varieties of the Gordon Setter breed: the standard and nonstandard.
Standard Color: Black with clearly defined traditional tan or red points.
Non-standard colors: Liver with clearly defined traditional tan or red points.
Movement
Bold, effortless, strong, efficient, energetic, and powerful, the characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the centerline of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.
Temperament
The Gordon Setter is an active, lively, intelligent, and steady breed. They are a very people-oriented breed, thriving on attention and affection from those they know and love; however, they can be reserved with strangers. Although these qualities make them wonderfully suited for a companion dog role, they can also be very instinctual. This is especially true for the field type, and these dogs must have a job and a daily means of releasing pent-up energy and sensory and mental stimulation. Without proper training and exercise, they are known to develop their own ideas about what is acceptable, often getting themselves into trouble. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.
Faults
All dogs should be in proper healthy condition, free from disease or defect. Any departure from this description is considered a fault. Unless altered, all male dogs should have two fully descended testicles.
