Gordon Setter
Complete Breed Guide
"You can call me the duke of bird hunting!"
Quick Facts About Gordon Setters
Sporting
45–80 lbs
23–27"
No
Based on current listing prices on Puppies.com. Results may vary.
Overview
Gordon Setters are beautiful, silky, black dogs who make great hunting buddies or home companions. They love running around outside and will follow an interesting smell to the end of the Earth. Gordon Setters are intelligent and are known for their communication skills, which consist of making noises to let you know when they are happy, sad, or especially, hungry.
Gordon Setters are beautiful, silky, black dogs originally developed in Scotland by the Duke of Gordon. They have an excellent sense of smell and a muscular body, which are two attributes hunters prize. Gordon Setters love hunting birds and will follow an interesting scent to the end of the Earth if they could. They are very smart and thrive on exercise and activities that challenge both their minds and bodies. A Gordon Setter’s family is very important to them, but they don’t usually warm up too quickly to strangers. You’ll usually know how a Gordon Setter is feeling because they’ll tell you. They are known for making an array of noises to let you know when they’re happy, sad, or would really like a bite of that ribeye you grilled for dinner.
Temperament and Behavior
Gordon Setters love their immediate families. They make great partners for children and avid bird hunters alike. They’re always up for an adventure with the people they know. Strangers on the other hand—not so much. They’ll tolerate them, but are generally aloof around people they don’t know. Gordon Setters are not necessarily prone to extra barking, but they do make a lot of noises. Most people think the noises are cute and only add to the wonderful personality of these loyal dogs.
Coat & Grooming
Gordon Setters have a long, thick coat with silky feathering. You’ll need to brush their coat at least a few times every week to help keep them looking their best and to make sure they don’t get lots of gnarly tangles from random things they picked up while out chasing down an interesting smell. They do shed, so the more you brush them, the less hair you’ll find around your house.
Lifestyle & Living Conditions
Gordon Setters need two things to be happy: lots of room to play and a spot inside your house that they can call their own. They are very people-oriented and don’t take well to being stuck outside. Gordon Setters do fine with other animals that they are raised around but are sometimes aggressive toward other dogs. They get along very well with children and are sometimes protective of them, so parents can take comfort in knowing there will be an extra set of watchful eyes on their children.
Exercise & Activity
Gordon Setters need somewhere around an hour or so of exercise every day but will be up for more, especially if it involves hunting for birds, the Gordon Setter’s favorite activity. They’re also really talented when it comes to doggie sports and will love just about anything that keeps them active.
Characteristics at-a-glance
Ratings are on a scale of 1–10, based on breed standards and typical temperament.
Gordon Setter FAQs
Common questions about the Gordon Setter breed, answered by our editorial team.
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