Origin

In 1600 century this breed was created in Scotland and they were mainly used for hunting. The 4th Duke of Gordon established this breed and also named them. In Scotland they are the one and only breed created for hunting birds. They have a great deal of stamina and this helps them to hunt easily in any weather, land and also in water.

General Description

The Gordon Setter is very good and beautiful in its looks. They have the long fur on their body and they look too graceful with that. The coat of the Gordon Setter is black or tan coloured and this breed is totally different from other setters in this respect. They have a round beautiful skull and a long sized muzzle with a black nose on the tip. The Gordon Setter also have almond shaped eyes and two long ears full of fur which hang by their head. They have a long muscular neck and a wide chest which touches the elbows. They have rounded paws and straight limbs and legs. They have a long tail covered with fur which is a bit pointed and this is the most attractive part of the Gordon Setter.

Character

The Gordon Setter is very famous for hunting and barking. They are great barkers. They love barking as they do that to make their owners cautious. Their barking habit is sometimes very disturbing so they should be trained properly. Gordon Setters are not great watch dogs but they can warn their owners well by their voice. They generally do not have a biting habit. Have a great hearing power and very protective of their families. The Gordon Setter is very enthusiastic and playful. They love human companionship a great deal and love to be with the family. They are also good to children and love to play with them. They get mature slowly and they are not properly trained till they are four years old.

Temperament

The Gordon Setter is independent by nature. They are very lively, playful and also sometimes destructive. They love to play always and also love to work. If they are left alone for a long time they may behave in a destructive manner. The Gordon Setter bark a lot and they have a great hearing power. That makes they good watch dogs but more than being a great guard dog they are better at warning their masters about any unwanted situation. I must say that they are the sole companions and love human interaction to a great level. The Gordon Setter love to stay with the family and they are also good to children and other dogs if properly socialized. In maximum cases they would not mix with strangers well.

Training

The Gordon Setter is very independent and intelligent in nature. If they are forced while training they will be worse so training should be done with firm hands but at the same time the training methods should be gentle also. They are not fast matured so patience is the main tool which is required while training sessions.

Health

They may be affected by bloat, eye cataracts, hip dysplasia etc. Their average life span is 10-12 years.