Gordon Setter
Sporting Group
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
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 straight. Dewclaws may be removed. Feet catlike 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
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 aggressive. 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 which do not have the typical pattern of markings
of a Gordon Setter.
Approved October
9, 1990
Effective November 28, 1990
© 1998 American Kennel
Club
National Breed Club:
Gordon Setter Club
of
America, Inc. (M)
Corres. Secretary,
Nikki Maounis,
P.O. Box 54,
Washougal, WA 98671
Breeder Contact,
Ms. Phyllis Tew,
9707 N. Kiowa Road,
Parker, CO 80134
(303)841-2015
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