Gordon Setter

The Gordon Setter's ancient lineage dates back to at least 1620. The breed was very popular among hunters of Scotland for decades. The black and tan (or occasionally black, white and tan) Setter came into prominence in the kennels of the fourth Duke of Gordon in the 1820s. Attracted quite as much by the Gordon's beauty as by their superior hunting ability, George Blunt imported a brace from Castle Gordon to America in 1842.

In following years, other importation's from Great Britain and the Scandinavian countries, and the perfecting of the American strains helped the Gordon achieve great popularity as a pet and a faithful gun dog. They were particularly popular in the period when game was marketed commercially and a real "meat" dog was assured a full bag at the end of the day's shooting.

The Gordon's characteristic eagerness to work for a master has never changed over the centuries, and neither has his intellect and retentive memory, which enabled him to improve with age with no need for retraining each season.

A true Setter, the Gordon is distinctive, resembling the English or Irish Setters only in general type. In field-trial competition, the smaller Gordon has been more favored while the larger dog is preferred for bench work. The official standard of this breed allows considerable range in size primarily because individual sportsmen from various comers of this nation prefer their Gordon's of a size to suit their local hunting terrain. Males can be 24 to 27 inches tall and weigh 55 to 80 pounds. Females 23 to 26 inches and can weigh 45 to 70 pounds. Gordon's are black with tan markings, either a rich chestnut or a mahogany color.

The Gordon Setter is very alert, interested and aggressive. They are fearless, willing, intelligent and capable of getting the job done. They are not the chum of every passerby, but live for the pleasure of being near their owners. They are not only a responsive gun dog, but an eager-to-please dog in the home.

Gordon Setters are generally a healthy breed, but can be prone to some health problems such as Bloat, Hip Dysplasia, and Hypothyroidism.