Standard and
Description of the Gordon Setter
Effective November 27, 2002
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. 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 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: (1) Two clear spots over the eyes and not over three-quarters of an inch in diameter; (2) 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; (3) On the throat; (4) Two large clear spots on the chest; (5) 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; (6) On the forelegs from the carpus, or a little above, downward to the toes; (7) Around the vent; (8) A white spot on the chest is allowed, but the smaller the better.
Predominantly tan, red or buff dogs 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 (including 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 |
|