Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: Gordon Setter Dog Breed Health Issues, Grooming Tips, History, Description and Temperament

Description: The Gordon Setter is recognizable
for their elegant black and tan coat which should
be predominately black with tan marking on their
paws, lower legs, vents, their muzzle and a spot
above each eye. It is also possible to get a pure
red Gordon, these can be born to normal parents
and is due to the recessive red gene, although a
perfectly normal dog, the red Gordon cannot be
shown. Their coat should be long and silky with
plenty of feathering on their tails, ears, chest,
legs and belly. They are a slender dog with long
legs, a long neck and a long body. They should
stand between 23 and 27 inches and weigh between
45 and 80lbs, with the males being larger than
the females.

History: The Gordon Setter breed was developed in
Scotland during the early 17th century and are
from the same genetic mixture as the Irish Setter
and the English Setter, although the Gordon
Setter is slightly larger than both of these. It
wasn't until the 18th century when Duke Alexander
the 4th of Gordon began breeding them that they
became popular, it is this man that the dogs are
named after. They are a versatile dog but were
bread mainly as bird dogs, to point, and then
retrieve the fallen bird. Although excellent
hunters on both land and water, they are not as
fast as other breeds which led to their
popularity decreasing. They were recognized by
the AKC in 1884.

Temperament: The Gordon Setter is well known as a
loyal dog with a happy outlook on life, as long
as they have been well socialized from puppy hood
they will get along well with everyone and
shouldn't ever be aggressive. They love to play
and to please people, they are very sociable and
highly intelligent. They are easy to train, and
they are interested in everything. They have
excellent memories, which can cause a problem if
they have picked up any bad habits, however they
are an obedient dog and a skilled hunter. They
are very energetic, as they were bred to run for
hours, so need lots of exercise and love to join
in with any family activities.

Health Issues: With an average life expectancy of
10-12 years they are generally a healthy dog.
However, like a lot of big dogs they can be prone
to dip dysplasia. The Gordon Setter can also
suffer from eye conditions such as PRA
(progressive retinal atrophy), and cataracts.
They are also susceptible to bloat so it's best
to feed them 2-3 small meals a day to help
prevent this. Due to their long ears they can
also develop ear infections.

Grooming: As a regular shedder the Gordon Setter
needs to be brushed regularly, preferably a few
times a week, however when they are shedding
heavily you may need to brush them more. Their
ears should also be cleaned and regularly checked
to make sure they are dry, to help prevent
infections. If they've been out in fields it's
important to check their feet and coat for any
burrs and debris, they may have picked up. Only
bath them when necessary or use a dry shampoo
when needed.

Living Conditions: The Gordon Setter is not
suited to apartment life, they are a very active
dog and as well as daily walks need a large
garden to run around, to burn off their energy.
If they get enough exercise they can be fairly
inactive indoors but they need a lot of
attention. It's also important to make sure that
the garden is fenced so they cannot get out.

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