Gordon Setter

People usually look up the Gordon Setter when they’re weighing up a puppy, checking whether a rescue will fit their household, or trying to make sense of the breed’s real exercise and grooming load before they commit.

This is a dog built for long days in the field. When that energy and coat are well managed, you tend to get a steady, dignified companion at home; when they’re not, you can see frustration, mess, and preventable health dramas. The details below focus on what stays true across the breed standard and everyday life: size, temperament, training, exercise, grooming, and the health issues owners most often need to plan for.

Gordon Setter at a glance

• Height (at shoulder): dogs about 66 cm; bitches about 62 cm (breed standard guide).¹
• Weight: dogs about 29.5 kg; bitches about 25.5 kg (breed standard guide).¹
• Coat: moderate length, flat and as free as possible from curl or wave; distinct feathering on ears, legs, belly and tail.¹
• Colour: deep coal black with rich chestnut/tan markings; other colours not acceptable in the standard.¹
• Life expectancy: commonly around 10–12 years (varies with genetics, body condition, and preventive care).³

History and origin

The Gordon Setter developed in Scotland as a gundog built to work methodically over rough country, holding scent and covering ground with stamina rather than raw speed. The modern breed takes its name from the Duke of Gordon, whose kennels helped fix the black-and-tan setter type in the early 1800s.

That background still shows. Many Gordons keep a strong nose, a habit of ranging if they’re allowed to, and an appetite for purposeful activity—tracking games, retrieving, and learning skills that feel like work rather than mere exercise.

Physical characteristics and appearance

A Gordon Setter is a substantial, athletic dog with a balanced outline and a calm, watchful expression. The head and ears are distinctive: the ears set low and lie close, with long, silky feathering that easily collects burrs and grass seeds after a run through scrub or long grass.¹

The coat is one of the breed’s signatures. It should be flat and not overly curly, with feathering on the upper ears, backs of legs, belly and tail.¹ In real life, that feathering is where mats form first, especially if the dog swims, charges through wet vegetation, or sleeps on the same side night after night.

Temperament and personality

In the breed standard, the Gordon Setter is described as intelligent, able and dignified, with a bold, outgoing temperament and a kindly, even disposition.² Many owners recognise the pattern: steady at home once their needs are met, more animated outdoors, and often deeply attached to their people.

They tend to do best with calm, consistent handling. Harsh corrections can shut a sensitive dog down; loose boundaries can leave a clever dog improvising their own rules. With early socialisation and steady training, most Gordons settle into reliable, polite family companions.⁴

Training and exercise needs

This is an active gundog. Plan for daily exercise that includes both movement and thinking—brisk walks, runs in safe areas, swimming, retrieving, scent work, and short training sessions scattered through the week. Dogs Victoria notes the breed needs regular exercise and early training to become an obedient family member, and recommends puppy pre-school for socialisation.⁴

Training works best when it’s clear and reward-based, with rules that don’t change from day to day. Many Gordons are enthusiastic learners, but they can also be distracted by scent and movement. A solid recall takes time, and it’s worth treating it like a long project rather than a weekend lesson.

Daily routine that suits most Gordons

• One substantial outing (45–90 minutes), plus a shorter walk or backyard training/play session.
• One “nose job” most days: scatter feeding, hide-and-seek treats, tracking a dragged scent, or finding toys in long grass.
• Short training blocks (5–10 minutes): loose lead walking, recall games, place/mat work, gentle handling for grooming and vet checks.

Health concerns to plan for

Most Gordons are robust, but the breed is known to have a few issues that owners and breeders should take seriously, especially when choosing a puppy and planning preventive care. Dogs Victoria lists hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, bloat (GDV), and late onset progressive retinal atrophy among conditions that can occur in the breed.⁴

Hip and elbow dysplasia

Hip and elbow dysplasia are developmental joint conditions that can lead to arthritis and long-term pain. Responsible breeders screen breeding dogs, and your vet can guide exercise and weight management, especially during growth spurts.

Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV, “bloat”)

GDV is a true emergency: the stomach can distend and twist, cutting off blood supply and rapidly becoming life-threatening. Large, deep-chested dogs are at higher risk, and feeding and exercise routines can matter.⁵

Risk is never zero, but you can reduce it by spreading food into two or more meals, slowing fast eaters, and avoiding strenuous activity right after eating. AAHA recommends avoiding vigorous exercise for at least one hour before meals and at least two hours after meals when managing GDV risk.⁶

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)

PRA is a degenerative retinal disease that leads to progressive vision loss. It’s inherited, and there is generally no cure; many dogs adapt well with sensible management and stable routines. Diagnosis may involve a specialist eye exam and/or genetic testing depending on the type suspected.⁷

Grooming and care

A Gordon Setter coat is not “wash and wear”, but it’s manageable with regular, unhurried maintenance. Aim to brush and comb through to the skin at least weekly, more often during seasonal shedding or if the dog swims. Pay close attention to the feathering behind the ears, along the belly, the backs of the legs, and the tail—those areas felt up quickly.

Keep nails trimmed, and check ears routinely. The drop ear and feathering can trap moisture and debris, so a quick post-walk check (especially after paddocks, long grass, or beach runs) prevents small problems becoming infections.

Living with a Gordon Setter: practical tips

• Make exercise non-negotiable. A Gordon with a skipped week doesn’t “miss a few walks”; they store it up.
• Train for real-world situations. Recall around scent, calm greetings, and settling on a mat matter more than tricks.
• Feed to stay lean. Keeping a fit body condition reduces strain on joints and helps older dogs stay mobile.
• Learn GDV warning signs and have a plan. Sudden abdominal distension, unproductive retching, restlessness and rapid decline are reasons to go straight to an emergency vet.⁵
• Choose breeders who health test. Ask what screening is done (hips, elbows, eyes) and request documentation.

Final thoughts

The Gordon Setter is a handsome working dog in family-dog clothing: loyal, steady, and bright, with real stamina and a coat that asks to be maintained. If you can provide daily activity, patient training, and routine grooming—and you’re willing to think ahead about health screening—you’ll often see the best of the breed: a calm presence at home, and a dog that comes alive outdoors with nose down and tail flowing.

References

1. Dogs Australia (ANKC) breed standard: Gordon Setter
2. The Kennel Club (UK) breed standard: Gordon Setter
3. Royal Canin Australia: Gordon Setter breed information
4. Dogs Victoria: Gordon Setter
5. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) or “bloat”
6. American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA): Understanding canine bloat (GDV)
7. American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO): Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)