Gordon Setter

The Gordon Setter is the largest and heaviest of the setters — a black-and-tan Scottish bird dog, striking and substantial.

History

It was developed in Scotland, associated with the kennels of the Dukes of Gordon, to find and point game birds over rough moorland, built more for stamina and thoroughness than for speed. The rich black-and-tan coat is its signature.

Temperament

The breed is known for being loyal, bold and dignified, often devoted to one person and reserved with strangers. It is intelligent and sensitive, with the energy of a working gundog.

Care and training

It needs plenty of exercise and mental work, and its sensitive, sometimes stubborn nature rewards patient, positive training. The long feathered coat needs regular brushing to stay free of mats.

Health

Known tendencies include hip dysplasia, bloat given the deep chest, and inherited eye conditions such as progressive retinal atrophy. These are patterns for the breed rather than a verdict on one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.