Gordon Setter
The heaviest of the setters: a black-and-tan Scottish bird dog that is loyal, steady and more watchful than its cousins.
At a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height at the withers
- Males 62–69 cm · Females 58–66 cm
- Weight
- Males 27–36 kg · Females 23–30 kg
- Life expectancy
- 10–12 years
- Exercise
- 60–120 min a day
- Grooming
- A few times a week
- Coat
- Silky, long
- Colours
- Black and tan
- Bred for
- Pointing, Companionship
- Country of origin
- United Kingdom
- FCI
- Group 7, no. 6 · Pointing dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with cats | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Open to strangers | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Prey drive | 4/5 – High |
| Watchful and protective | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Barking | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Shedding | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Grooming effort | 4/5 – High |
| Drooling | 2/5 – Low |
| Good for first-time owners | 2/5 – Low |
| Suits apartment living | 2/5 – Low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want a loyal dog with some watchfulness
- enjoy hiking or field sports
- are patient with slow-maturing dogs
Think twice if you …
- live in a hot climate
- have little time for brushing
- want a dog that is outgoing with everyone
Care
Temperament
Loyal, confident and affectionate with its family; reserved and watchful with strangers. Some can be assertive with unfamiliar dogs.
Exercise
Needs one to two hours a day, including free running in safe areas. Field work, hiking, tracking and scent games suit it.
Grooming
Brush the long feathering several times a week and trim feet and ears as needed. Sheds moderately.
Training
Intelligent but independent and slow to mature. Consistent, reward-based training and early socialisation pay off.
Health
Hip and elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, hypothyroidism and bloat are known in the breed. Ask the breeder for hip, elbow, eye and DNA results of the parents.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
- Eye examination
- Thyroid
DNA tests
- PRA (rcd4)
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Gordon Setter takes its name from the 4th Duke of Gordon, who kept black-and-tan setters at Gordon Castle in Scotland in the early 1800s. It was bred for endurance on rough moorland rather than pure speed, which gives it a sturdier build than the English or Irish Setter.
It is deeply attached to its family and can be more reserved with strangers than other setters. It matures slowly, stays playful for a long time and needs daily exercise and regular brushing. Owners often describe a loyal, thoughtful dog with a bit of a stubborn streak.
Did you know?
It is named after the 4th Duke of Gordon, whose kennels at Gordon Castle in Scotland helped establish the breed.