GORDON SETTER BREED
STANDARD
Standard and Description of the Gordon Setter
GENERAL APPEARANCE: The
Gordon Setter is a good-sized, sturdily built, black and tan
dog, well muscled, with plenty of bone and substance, but active,
upstanding and stylish, appearing capable of doing a full day's
work in the field. He has a strong, rather short back, with
well sprung ribs and a short tail. The head is fairly heavy
and finely chiseled. His bearing is intelligent, noble, and
dignified, showing no signs of shyness or viciousness. Clear
colors and straight or slightly waved coat are correct. He
suggests strength and stamina rather than extreme speed. Symmetry
and quality are most essential. A dog well balanced in all
points is preferable to one with outstanding good qualities
and defects. A smooth, free movement, with high head carriage,
is typical.
SIZE, PROPORTION, SUBSTANCE: Size - Shoulder
height for males, 24 to 27 inches; females, 23 to 26 inches.
Weight for males, 55 to 80 pounds; females, 45 to 70 pounds.
Animals that appear to be over or under the prescribed
weight limits are to be judged on the basis of conformation
and condition. Extremely thin or fat dogs are discouraged
on the basis that under or overweight hampers the true
working ability of the Gordon Setter. The weight-to-height
ratio makes him heavier than other Setters. Proportion
- The distance from the forechest to the back of the thigh
is approximately equal the height from the ground to the
withers. The Gordon Setter has plenty of bone and substance.
HEAD:
- Head deep, rather than broad,
with plenty of brain room.
-
Eyes of
fair size, neither too deep-set nor too bulging, dark brown,
bright and wise. The shape is oval rather than round. The
lids are tight.
-
Ears set
low on the head approximately on line with the eyes, fairly
large and thin, well folded and carried close to the head.
-
Skull nicely
rounded, good-sized, broadest between the ears. Below and
above the eyes is lean and the cheeks as narrow as the
leanness of the head allows. The head should have a clearly
indicated stop.
-
Muzzle fairly
long and not pointed, either as seen from above or from
the side. The flews are not pendulous. The muzzle is the
same length as the skull from occiput to stop and the top
of the muzzle is parallel to the line of the skull extended.
-
Nose broad,
with open nostrils and black in color. The lip line from
the nose to the flews shows a sharp, well-defined, square,
contour.
-
Teeth strong
and white, meeting in front in a scissors bite, with the
upper incisors slightly forward of the lower incisors.
A level bite is not a fault. Pitted teeth from distemper
or allied infections are not penalized.
NECK, TOPLINE, BODY:
-
Neck long,
lean, arched to the head, and without throatiness.
-
Topline
moderately sloping.
-
Ears set
low on the head approximately on line with the eyes, fairly
large and thin, well folded and carried close to the head.
-
Body short
from shoulder to hips. Chest deep and not too broad in
front; the ribs well sprung, leaving plenty of lung room.
The chest reaches to the elbows. A pronounced forechest
is in evidence. Loins short and broad and not arched. Croup
nearly flat, with only a slight slope to the tailhead.
-
Tail short
and not reaching below the hocks, carried horizontal or
nearly so, not docked, thick at the root and finishing
in a fine point. The placement of the tail is important
for correct carriage. When the angle of the tail bends
too sharply at the first coccygeal bone, the tail will
be carried too gaily or will droop. The tail placement
is judged in relationship to the structure of the croup.
FOREQUARTERS: Shoulders
fine at the points, and laying well back. The tops of the shoulder
blades are close together. When viewed from behind, the neck
appears to fit into the shoulders in smooth, flat lines that
gradually widen from neck to shoulder. The angle formed by
the shoulder blade and upper arm bone is approximately 90 degrees
when the dog is standing so that the foreleg is perpendicular
to the ground. Forelegs big-boned, straight and not bowed,
with elbows free and not turned in or out. Pasterns are strong,
short and nearly vertical with a slight spring. Dewclaws may
be removed. Feet cat-like in shape, formed by close-knit, well
arched toes with plenty of hair between; with full toe pads
and deep heel cushions. Feet are not turned in or out.
HINDQUARTERS: The hind legs from hip to
hock are long, flat and muscular; from hock to heel, short
and strong. The stifle and hock joints are well bent and
not turned either in or out. When the dog is standing with
the rear pastern perpendicular to the ground, the thighbone
hangs downward parallel to an imaginary line drawn upward
from the hock. Feet as in front.
COAT: Soft and shining, straight or slightly
waved, but not curly, with long hair on ears, under stomach
and on chest, on back of the fore and hind legs, and on
the tail. The feather which starts near the root of the
tail is slightly waved or straight, having a triangular
appearance, growing shorter uniformly toward the end.
COLOR AND MARKINGS: Black with tan markings,
either of rich chestnut or mahogany color. Black pencilling
is allowed on the toes. The borderline between black and
tan colors is clearly defined. There are not any tan hairs
mixed in the black. The tan markings are located as follows:
-
Two clear
spots over the eyes and not over three-quarters of an inch
in diameter;
-
On the sides
of the muzzle. The tan does not reach to the top of the
muzzle, but resembles 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 the hind legs showing down the front of the stifle and
broadening out to the outside of the hind legs from the
hock to the toes. It must not completely eliminate the
black on the back of the hind legs;
-
On the forelegs
from the carpus, or a little above, downward to the toes;
-
Around the
vent;
-
A white
spot on the chest is allowed, but the smaller the better.
Predominantly tan, red or buff dogs which do not have the
typical pattern of markings of a Gordon Setter are ineligible
for showing and undesirable for breeding.
GAIT: A
bold, strong, driving free-swinging gait. The head is carried
up and the tail "flags" constantly while the dog is in motion.
When viewed from the front the forefeet move up and down in
straight lines so that the shoulder, elbow and pastern joints
are approximately in line. When viewed from the rear, the hock,
stifle, and hip joints are approximately in line. Thus the
dog moves in a straight pattern forward without throwing the
feet in or out. When viewed from the side the forefeet are
seen to lift up and reach forward to compensate for the driving
hindquarters. The hindquarters reach well forward and stretch
far back, enabling the stride to be long and the drive powerful.
The overall appearance of the moving dog is one of smooth-flowing,
well-balanced rhythm, in which the action is pleasing to the
eye, effortless, economical and harmonious.
TEMPERAMENT: The Gordon Setter is alert,
gay, interested, and confident. He is fearless and willing,
intelligent and capable. He is loyal and affectionate,
and strong-minded enough to stand the rigors of training.
DISQUALIFICATION: Predominantly tan, red
or buff dogs.
SCALE OF POINTS
To be used as a guide when judging the Gordon Setter
| Head and neck (incl. ears and eyes) |
10 |
| Body |
15 |
| Shoulders, forelegs, forefeet |
10 |
| Hind legs and feet |
10 |
| Tail |
5 |
| Coat |
8 |
| Color and markings |
5 |
| Temperament |
10 |
| Size, general appearance |
15 |
| Gait |
12 |
| Total |
100 |
|
