Gordon Setters :: Breed Standard

Gordon Setter Breed Standard

General Appearance

A good sized sturdily built dog, well muscled, with plenty of bone and substance, but active, upstanding and stylish, appearing capable of doing a full days work in the field. Strong, rahter short back, well-sprung ribs and short tail, a failry heavy head, finely chisled, intelligent, noble and dignified expression, showing no signs of shyness; clear colours and straight or slightly waved coat. A dogs that suggests strength and stamina rather than extreme speed.

Symmetry and quality are most essential. A dog well balanced in all points if preferable to one with outstanding good qualities and defects.

Size

Shoulder height for males 24-27 inches (61-69 cm) for females, 23-26 inches (58-66 cm).

Weight males 55-75 lbs (23-34 kg) Females 45-65 lbs (20-29 kg).

As a guide, the greater heights are to be preferred provided that character and quality are also combined. Dogs over and under these heights and weights are to be discouraged.

Coat and Colour

Coat should be soft and shining, resembling silk, straight or slightly waved - the latter preferred - but not curly, with long hair on ears, under stomach, on chest and on back of the fore and hind legs to feet. Deep shining coal-black with tan markings either of rich chesnut or mahogany red colour. The tan should be shining and not dull, yellowish or straw colour and not mixed with black hairs. Black penciling allowed on toes. The borderlines between black and tan colours should be clearly defined. There should not be any tan colours mixed in the black.

Tan Markings:

two clear spots over the eyes, not over 3/4 inch (2cm) in diameter.
on the sides of the muzzle, the tan should not reach above the base of the nose, resembling a stripe around the end of the muzzle from one side to the other.
on the throat.
Two large clear spots on the chest.
on the inside of hind legs and inside of thighs showing down the front of the stifle and broadening out to the outside of the hind legs from hock to toe. It must however, not completely eliminate the black on the back of the hind legs.
on the forelegs from knees or a little above downwards to the toes.
around the vent.

A white spot on the chest is allowed, but the smaller the better.

Head

Deep rather than broad, with plenty of brain room, nicely rounded good-sized skull, broadest between the ears. The head should have a clearly indicated stop. Belwo and above the eyes should be lean and the cheek narrow as the leaness of the head allows. The muzzle fairly long with almost parallel lines and not pointed either as seen from above or from the side. The flews not pendulous but with clearly indicated lips. The nose big, broad with open nostrisl and of black colour. Eyes of fair size, neither too deep set or too bulging, dark brown, bright and wise. Ears low set on the head, fairly large and thin.

Neck

Long, lean, arched to the head without throatiness.

Forequarters

Shoulders, should be fine at the points, deep and sloping well back, giving a moderately sloping topline. Forelegs big-boned, straight, not bowed either in or out, with elbows free, well let down and not inclined either in or out.

Body

Chest deep and not too broad in front; the ribs well sprung, leaving plenty of lung room.

Hindquarters

The hind legs from hip to hock should be long, flat and muscular, from hock to heel short and strong. The stifle and hock joints well bent and not inclined either in or out. Both fore and hind feet should have close knit, well-arched toes with plenty of hair between full toe pads and deep heel cushions.

Tail

Short and should not reach below the hocks, carried horizontal or nearly so, thick at the root and finishing in a fine point. The feather, which starts near the root of the tail should be slightly waved or straight and have a three square appearance growing shorter uniformly toward the end.

Gait

A smooth free movement with high head carriage.

Faults

General impression - Unintelligent appearance. The bloodhound type with heavy and big head and ears and clumsy body, as well as the Collie type with its pointed muzzle and curved tail or showing signs of shyness.
Head - Houndy, pointed, snipey, drooping or upturned muzzle, too small or too large mouth.
Eyes - too light in colour, too deep set or too prominent.
Ears - set too high or unusually borad or heavy.
Neck - short and thick.
Shoulders and back - irregularly formed.
Chest - too broad.
Legs and feet - Crooked legs, out-turned elbows. The toes scattered, flat-footed.
Tail - too long, badly carried or hooked at the end.
Coat - curly like wool, not shining.
Colour - Yellow or straw coloured tan or without clearly defined lines between the different colours. White feet. Too much white on the chest. In the black there must be no tan hairs which can often appear around the eyes.