Female/male

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. Full-grown, they typically weigh 45-80 pounds and stand 23-27 inches tall.

Gordon Setters are generally okay with older children who know how to handle dogs. 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. They're moderate barkers — they'll alert you when something's up but aren't excessive.

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. Overall, their exercise needs are very high.

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. Grooming-wise, this breed is low-maintenance.

Gordon Setters are best suited for a home with a yard, though they can adapt to apartment life with enough exercise. 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 highly trainable and eager to learn.