Post by DogGoneGood on Sept 28, 2008 17:06:47 GMT -5
Group: 1 - Sporting
Origin: Scotland
Purpose: Bird Setting & Retrieving
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 day's work in the field. Strong, rather short back, wellsprung ribs and short tail, a fairly heavy head, finely chiselled, intelligent, noble and dignified expression, showing no signs of shyness; clear colours and straight or slightly waved coat. A dog that 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.
Size: Shoulder height for males, 24-27 in. (61-69 cm); for females, 23-26 in, (58-66 cm). Weight - males, 55-75 lb. (25-34 kg); females, 45-65 lb. (20-29 kg). As a guide, the greater heights and weights are to be preferred provided that character and quality are also combined. Dogs over and under these heights and weights are to be discouraged.
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.
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. Below and above the eyes should be lean and the cheek as narrow as the leanness 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 nostrils and black colour. Eyes of fair size, neither too deep set nor too bulging; dark brown, bright and wise. Ears set low on the head, fairly large and thin.
Neck: Long, lean, arched to the head and 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.
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 with full toe pads and deep heel cushions.
Body: Chest deep and not too broad in front; the ribs well sprung, leaving plenty of lung room.
Gait: A smooth free movement with high head carriage.
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 the back of the fore and hind legs to the feet. Deep, shining coal-black with tan markings, either of rich chestnut or mahogany red colour. The tan should be shining and not dull, yellowish or straw colour and not mixed with black hairs. Black pencilling allowed on toes. The borderlines between black and tan colours should be clearly defined. There should not be any tan hairs mixed in the black.
Tan Markings
a) two clear spots over the eyes not over 3/4 in. (2 cm.) in diameter;
b) 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;
c) on the throat;
d) two large clear spots on the chest;
e) on the inside of the hind legs and inside of thighs 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, however, not completely eliminate the black on the back of the hind legs.
f) on the forelegs from the knees or a little above downward to the toes;
g) around the vent.
A white spot on the chest is allowed, but the smaller the better.
Temperment: He is a faithful and lovable as any dog in existence, though he does require an outlet for his abounding energy. For a relatively large dog, he can take up a very small amount of space, curling up in some favorite corner where he is quite out of the way. He is a great family dog and soon becomes a devoted companion and guard for children. He has the 'touch of the devil' which induces a Gordon to play all sorts of pranks, but rarely tempts him into outright mischief. In a word, he is a thoroughly adaptable dog, with the instincts of a bird-hunter but very willing to learn other crafts and to use his own initiative. The Gordon while less affectionate than the Spaniel, displays much more independence, but will be just as demonstrative to his master and family, and as a rule impeccable polite to strangers after a proper introduction; but then he will commonly go about his own affairs unless required for some special purpose where as a Spaniel is always anxious to serve his owners every whim.
Faults:
1. 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 any signs of shyness.
2. Head - Houndy, pointed, snipey, drooping or upturned muzzle, too small or too large mouth.
3. Eyes - Too light in colour, too deep-set or too prominent.
4. Ears Set too high or unusually broad or heavy. 5. Neck Thick and short.
6. Shoulders and Back - Irregularly formed.
7. Chest - Too broad.
8. Legs and Feet - Crooked legs. Out-turned elbows. The toes scattered, flat-footed.
9. Tail - Too long, badly carried or hooked at the end.
10. Coat - Curly like wool, not shining.
11. Colour - Yellow or straw coloured tan or without dearly 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 appear often around the eyes.
History:
With published documentation in the form of a portrait by Sydenham Edwards, it seems evident that the three setters (English, Irish and Black and Tan) had become established as distinct breeds prior to 1805. Between 1800- 1820, Alexander, the 4th Duke of Gordon was seriously raising the setters that were to later carry his name although he was known to have colours other than the Black and Tan required today. Distinct dog show classes for the three breeds were established by the British Kennel club in 1862 and the "Black and Tan Setter" was the official classification given to the breed by the British Kennel club in 1973. This classification was changed to Gordon Setters in 1924.
Sources:
The Gordon Setter Club of Canada
Origin: Scotland
Purpose: Bird Setting & Retrieving
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 day's work in the field. Strong, rather short back, wellsprung ribs and short tail, a fairly heavy head, finely chiselled, intelligent, noble and dignified expression, showing no signs of shyness; clear colours and straight or slightly waved coat. A dog that 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.
Size: Shoulder height for males, 24-27 in. (61-69 cm); for females, 23-26 in, (58-66 cm). Weight - males, 55-75 lb. (25-34 kg); females, 45-65 lb. (20-29 kg). As a guide, the greater heights and weights are to be preferred provided that character and quality are also combined. Dogs over and under these heights and weights are to be discouraged.
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.
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. Below and above the eyes should be lean and the cheek as narrow as the leanness 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 nostrils and black colour. Eyes of fair size, neither too deep set nor too bulging; dark brown, bright and wise. Ears set low on the head, fairly large and thin.
Neck: Long, lean, arched to the head and 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.
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 with full toe pads and deep heel cushions.
Body: Chest deep and not too broad in front; the ribs well sprung, leaving plenty of lung room.
Gait: A smooth free movement with high head carriage.
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 the back of the fore and hind legs to the feet. Deep, shining coal-black with tan markings, either of rich chestnut or mahogany red colour. The tan should be shining and not dull, yellowish or straw colour and not mixed with black hairs. Black pencilling allowed on toes. The borderlines between black and tan colours should be clearly defined. There should not be any tan hairs mixed in the black.
Tan Markings
a) two clear spots over the eyes not over 3/4 in. (2 cm.) in diameter;
b) 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;
c) on the throat;
d) two large clear spots on the chest;
e) on the inside of the hind legs and inside of thighs 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, however, not completely eliminate the black on the back of the hind legs.
f) on the forelegs from the knees or a little above downward to the toes;
g) around the vent.
A white spot on the chest is allowed, but the smaller the better.
Temperment: He is a faithful and lovable as any dog in existence, though he does require an outlet for his abounding energy. For a relatively large dog, he can take up a very small amount of space, curling up in some favorite corner where he is quite out of the way. He is a great family dog and soon becomes a devoted companion and guard for children. He has the 'touch of the devil' which induces a Gordon to play all sorts of pranks, but rarely tempts him into outright mischief. In a word, he is a thoroughly adaptable dog, with the instincts of a bird-hunter but very willing to learn other crafts and to use his own initiative. The Gordon while less affectionate than the Spaniel, displays much more independence, but will be just as demonstrative to his master and family, and as a rule impeccable polite to strangers after a proper introduction; but then he will commonly go about his own affairs unless required for some special purpose where as a Spaniel is always anxious to serve his owners every whim.
Faults:
1. 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 any signs of shyness.
2. Head - Houndy, pointed, snipey, drooping or upturned muzzle, too small or too large mouth.
3. Eyes - Too light in colour, too deep-set or too prominent.
4. Ears Set too high or unusually broad or heavy. 5. Neck Thick and short.
6. Shoulders and Back - Irregularly formed.
7. Chest - Too broad.
8. Legs and Feet - Crooked legs. Out-turned elbows. The toes scattered, flat-footed.
9. Tail - Too long, badly carried or hooked at the end.
10. Coat - Curly like wool, not shining.
11. Colour - Yellow or straw coloured tan or without dearly 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 appear often around the eyes.
History:
With published documentation in the form of a portrait by Sydenham Edwards, it seems evident that the three setters (English, Irish and Black and Tan) had become established as distinct breeds prior to 1805. Between 1800- 1820, Alexander, the 4th Duke of Gordon was seriously raising the setters that were to later carry his name although he was known to have colours other than the Black and Tan required today. Distinct dog show classes for the three breeds were established by the British Kennel club in 1862 and the "Black and Tan Setter" was the official classification given to the breed by the British Kennel club in 1973. This classification was changed to Gordon Setters in 1924.
Sources:
The Gordon Setter Club of Canada
