The Gordon Setter is a confident, loyal bird dog distinguished by its striking black-and-tan coat and steadfast devotion.
How the Gordon Setter coat is built, and what that means when you groom it.
Caution: A Gordon Setter coat mats easily.
Fine or long hair tangles at the base of the coat, out of sight, where the mats tighten and pull on the skin. Brushing has to reach right down to the roots in sections, not just skim the surface.
A few of the Gordon Setter profiles members have added to United Pet Club.
A large Scottish gundog, the Gordon Setter is known for its black-and-tan coat, devotion, and stamina. It generally lives 10 to 12 years and suits busy, active households.
Bred in Scotland to point and retrieve game birds, the Gordon Setter is a large gundog and the heaviest of all the setter breeds. Its build favours endurance over rough country rather than speed on its own.
The coat is a glossy black with clean tan or chestnut markings on the muzzle, legs, chest, and above the eyes. The dog holds itself with an alert, assured air and remains devoted to the household it belongs to.
Intelligent and steadfast, Gordon Setters usually fix their loyalty on a single home and can be aloof with strangers until they have judged them. Deprived of enough physical and mental work, they turn restless and are apt to fall into nuisance habits.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Origin | Scotland |
| Size | Large |
| Lifespan | 10 to 12 years |
| Group / role | Gundog, bird dog used for pointing and retrieving |
| Good with | Families and older children; can live with other dogs and pets when raised together |
The Gordon Setter is best matched to active owners who will commit to daily exercise. It flourishes with those who shoot, run, walk the hills, or train in dog sports. Flat living rarely suits it unless a good deal of outdoor activity is on offer, and it fares badly in households that are out for long hours, since the breed hates being left on its own for lengthy spells.
The Gordon Setter is named after the kennels of the Dukes of Gordon at Gordon Castle in Scotland, where the black-and-tan type was established by the early nineteenth century.
Setters had worked as a type in Britain for centuries before the Gordon took shape as a breed in its own right. Such dogs found game birds and then crouched, or set, allowing sportsmen to net or shoot them.
The black-and-tan setter grew closely associated with the kennels of the Dukes of Gordon at Gordon Castle in Banffshire, Scotland. The fourth Duke of Gordon bred and championed these dogs in the late 1700s and early 1800s, and in time the family name attached itself to the breed.
The earliest Gordons were valued for steady, methodical work and a good nose rather than dash and speed. Before the name was shortened, the breed was occasionally called the Gordon Castle Setter. Coat colour was mixed in the early stock, but the black-and-tan pattern was gradually fixed as the standard.
The breed crossed to North America during the nineteenth century and was among the first recognised by the American Kennel Club when registration began in the 1870s and 1880s. In Britain it is registered with The Kennel Club. The Gordon Setter Club of America was founded later to support the breed, which continues to work as a gundog as well as living as a companion.
A sturdy, large dog in black with tan points, the Gordon Setter stands roughly 61 to 69 cm at the shoulder in dogs, with a long, feathered coat.
The Gordon is the most substantial of the setters, carrying heavier bone and a deeper body than the English or Irish Setter. Its outline is well balanced, with a level back, a deep chest, and a head carried proudly. The tail is fairly short and held roughly level with the back, and is often likened to a flag.
| Trait | Detail |
|---|---|
| Height | Dogs about 24 to 27 in (61 to 69 cm); bitches about 23 to 26 in (58 to 66 cm) at the shoulder |
| Weight | Dogs about 55 to 80 lb (25 to 36 kg); bitches about 45 to 70 lb (20 to 32 kg) |
| Coat | Soft and shining, straight or slightly wavy, with longer feathering on the ears, chest, legs, underside, and tail |
| Colours | Black with tan or chestnut markings (black-and-tan) |
| Eyes | Dark brown, oval, set fairly wide apart, giving an alert and intelligent expression |
The hallmark of the breed is a deep black coat with clearly defined tan points. Tan appears above the eyes, along the sides of the muzzle, on the throat and chest, over the lower legs and feet, and beneath the tail. A small white spot on the chest is allowed by the standard, though broad patches of white are not usual. The feathering on the ears, legs, and tail lends the breed its elegant outline and wants regular attention if it is to stay free of tangles.
Loyal, clever, and energetic, the Gordon Setter attaches itself firmly to its family. It is alert and can be aloof with strangers, and it does best with steady training.
Gordon Setters form close bonds with their households and like to keep near their people. Indoors they are affectionate and will often trail family members from room to room. The breed is usually good with children when reared alongside them, although its size and vigour mean play with very young children should be watched.
With strangers the Gordon is inclined to be alert and watchful. Many are aloof at first and will bark to announce callers, which makes them useful watchdogs. Early and continued socialisation keeps them assured rather than wary.
The breed can share a home with other dogs and with pets it has grown up with. Being a bird dog, it may give chase to smaller animals out of doors, so introductions to cats or small pets should be handled carefully. Gordons are clever and quick to learn, yet they can be independent and want a handler who is consistent. Boredom and too little exercise often bring on chewing, digging, or barking.
| Trait | Rating |
|---|---|
| Affection | 5 |
| Energy | 5 |
| Trainability | 4 |
| Vocalness | 3 |
| Shedding | 3 |
The Gordon Setter needs its long coat brushed regularly, plenty of daily exercise, and room to move. It does badly when under-exercised or left alone for long.
The Gordon Setter is happiest in a home with a garden and an active routine. It copes with a range of climates but should not be left outdoors on its own for long periods, as it wants to be with its family. Flat life is workable only where the dog receives enough daily outdoor exercise. The breed bears solitude poorly and may become destructive or anxious if isolated too often.
The Gordon Setter needs a balanced diet formulated for a large, active dog, split into two meals a day to lessen the risk of bloat. Portions follow age, weight, and activity.
Feed a complete and balanced food suited to the dog's life stage and size. Active and working Gordon Setters burn more calories than companion dogs, so portions should match the individual dog's workload and body condition. Keep the dog at a lean, healthy weight, since surplus weight strains the joints and worsens hip trouble. As a deep-chested breed, the Gordon is prone to bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus), so meals are usually divided across the day and hard exercise is avoided just before and after eating.
| Life stage | Amount per day | Meals per day |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy (2 to 6 months) | Per puppy food label, divided into smaller portions | 3 to 4 |
| Puppy (6 to 12 months) | Per large-breed puppy food label | 2 to 3 |
| Adult | About 2 to 3 cups of dry food, by weight and activity | 2 |
| Senior or less active | Reduced portion to maintain a healthy weight | 2 |
Keep treats to no more than about 10 per cent of daily calories to avoid weight gain. A complete commercial diet usually provides everything a healthy Gordon needs, so supplements are generally unnecessary. Some owners give joint supplements to older or working dogs on a vet's advice. Always provide fresh water, especially around exercise.
The Gordon Setter is generally healthy and lives about 10 to 12 years. Recognised concerns include hip dysplasia, bloat, eye disease, and hypothyroidism.
Most Gordon Setters live 10 to 12 years. The breed is reasonably hardy, but like many large dogs it carries a handful of inherited and structural health risks. Buying from breeders who screen their stock and keeping the dog at a healthy weight cut the likelihood of several problems.
| Condition | Signs | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hip dysplasia | Limping, stiffness, trouble rising or climbing | Inherited joint malformation; breeding dogs should be hip-screened |
| Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus) | Swollen abdomen, retching without vomiting, restlessness, distress | A medical emergency; deep-chested breeds are at higher risk |
| Progressive retinal atrophy | Night blindness, declining vision over time | Inherited eye disease; DNA and eye testing available |
| Hypothyroidism | Weight gain, low energy, coat and skin changes | Manageable with daily medication once diagnosed |
| Ear infections | Head shaking, odour, scratching at the ears | Long, pendulous ears trap moisture; routine cleaning helps |
Clever but sometimes independent, the Gordon Setter responds best to consistent, reward-based training begun early. Socialisation softens its natural reserve with strangers.
Gordon Setters learn quickly and relish having a job to do. They are sensitive dogs that respond well to praise, food, and play, and they do not take kindly to harsh handling. The breed can be stubborn or drawn off by scents, so training goes best in short, varied sessions that hold the dog's interest. Early socialisation with people, places, and other animals is important for raising a confident adult, given the breed's leaning towards reserve with strangers.
Gordon Setters reach sexual maturity at around 1 to 2 years, carry a litter for about 63 days, and usually produce litters of roughly 6 to 10 puppies.
Bitches generally reach sexual maturity between about 6 and 12 months, but responsible breeders wait until the dog is physically and mentally mature, usually around 2 years, and has passed health screening before breeding. Gestation lasts roughly 63 days from conception. Litters typically number about 6 to 10 puppies, though this varies.
Newborn puppies rely entirely on the dam for warmth and milk in the first weeks. Weaning usually begins around 3 to 4 weeks and is complete by about 7 to 8 weeks. Early handling and gentle exposure to household sights and sounds during this period help shape a stable temperament. Puppies should remain with the dam and littermates until at least 8 weeks of age. Breeding dogs should be screened for hip, eye, and thyroid conditions to lower the chance of passing on inherited disease.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Sexual maturity | About 6 to 12 months (breeding usually delayed to around 2 years) |
| Gestation | About 63 days |
| Average litter size | About 6 to 10 puppies |
| Weaning age | About 7 to 8 weeks |
| Recommended age to leave dam | 8 weeks or older |
Your Gordon Setter's details on a record that satisfies UK microchip law: free with United Pet Club, for life, with nothing to renew.
Give your Gordon Setter five minutes of paperwork before it needs rescuing. The free profile takes a name, a date of birth, a photo and your contact details, and it lives on a registry that never charges for the privilege. Dog registration works whether the chip is already in or still on the to-do list.
A chip without a registration is a serial number and nothing more. File your Gordon Setter's fifteen digit number with United Pet Club and it becomes a route back to you: free for life, open to every chip brand sold in Britain, and searchable whenever a scanner finds it. Microchip registration takes less time than the kettle, and a free account covers the profile too.
Set up a free United Pet Club account, add your Gordon Setter's details and a photo, and save. The profile stays live for the whole of the dog's life at no charge, and the chip number can be added the moment you have it.
Key the fifteen digit number into your free United Pet Club account with your current address and phone number. The lifetime plan accepts any brand a British vet implants, and amendments after a house move are free.
Yes. Dogs in England, Scotland and Wales have had to be chipped since 2016, with the keeper's details kept current. The law covers the chip; keeping the record pointing at a live phone number is what United Pet Club handles, free.
Nothing at all. The United Pet Club lifetime plan covers the profile, the microchip record and every amendment without a fee, so there is no renewal to remember.
Common questions about the Gordon Setter cover its size, temperament, care needs, lifespan, suitability for families, and how easy the breed is to find.
It is a large breed. Dogs generally stand about 24 to 27 inches at the shoulder and weigh roughly 55 to 80 pounds. Bitches are a little smaller, around 23 to 26 inches and 45 to 70 pounds.
Yes, for active families. They are loyal and affectionate indoors and are usually good with children they have grown up with. Their size and energy mean play with very young children should be supervised.
They are moderately demanding. The long coat wants brushing two or three times a week, the ears need regular cleaning, and the dog needs a good deal of daily exercise. Owners who cannot meet the exercise needs often meet boredom-related behaviour problems.
Most live about 10 to 12 years. Good nutrition, regular veterinary care, and keeping the dog at a healthy weight support a full lifespan.
They can live with other dogs and with pets raised alongside them. Because they are bird dogs with a chase instinct, introductions to cats or small animals should be careful, and a reliable recall matters out of doors.
They are less common than many popular breeds, so there may be a wait for a puppy from a reputable breeder. Kennel Club breed clubs and rescue groups can help you find puppies or adult dogs needing homes.
They are alert and will bark to announce strangers or unusual activity, which makes them good watchdogs. Excessive barking is usually a sign of boredom or too little exercise rather than a fixed trait.
