The Kennel Club Gordon Setter Breed Standard

" There is an error in the Kennel Club Breed Standard as printed in the 2008 Year Book. Please see below for the correct version."

General Appearance

Stylish dog, with galloping lines. Consistent with its build which can be compared to weight –carrying hunter. Symmetrical in confirmation throughout.

Characteristics

Intelligent, able and dignified.

Temperament

Bold, outgoing, of a kindly even disposition.

Head and Skull

Head deep rather than broad, but broader than muzzle, showing brain room. Skull slightly rounded, broadest between ears. Clearly defined stop, length from occiput to stop slightly longer than from stop to nose. Below and above eyes lean, cheeks as narrow as leanness allows. Muzzle fairly long with almost parallel lines, neither pointed, nor snipy. Flews not pendulous, clearly defined lips. Nose large, broad, nostrils open and black. Muzzle not quite as deep as its length.

Eyes

Dark brown, bright. Neither deep nor prominent, set sufficiently under brows, showing keen intelligent expression.

Ears

Medium size, thin. Set low, lying close to head.

Mouth

Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely over-lapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck

Long, lean, arched without throatiness.

Forequarters

Shoulder blades long, sloping well back, wide flat bone, close at withers, not loaded. Elbows well let down, and close to body. Forelegs flat-boned, straight, strong; upright pasterns.

Body

Moderate length, deep brisket, ribs well sprung. Back ribs deep. Loins wide, slightly arched. Chest not too broad.

Hindquarters

From hip to hock long, broad and muscular, hock to heel short, strong, stifles well bent, straight from hock joint to ground. Pelvis tending to horizontal.

Feet

Oval, close-knit, well arched toes, plenty of hair between. Well padded toes, deep heel cushions.

Tail

Straight or slightly scimitar, not reaching below hocks. Carried horizontally or below line of back. Thick at root, tapering to fine point. Feather or flag starting near root, long, straight, growing shorter to point.

Gait/Movement

Steady, free-moving and true, with plenty of drive behind.

Coat

On head, front of legs, tips of ears short and fine, moderate length, flat and free from curl or wave on all other parts of body. Feather on upper portion of ears long and silky, on backs of legs long, fine, flat and straight; fringes on belly may extend to chest and throat. As free as possible from curl or wave.

Colour

Deep, shining coal black, without rustiness, with markings of chestnut red, i.e. lustrous tan. Black pencilling on toes and black streak under under jaw permissible. ‘Tan markings’: two clear spots over eyes not over 2cm. (3/4 in) in diameter. On sides of muzzle, tan not reaching above base of nose, resembling a stripe around clearly defined end of muzzle from one side to other. Also on throat, two large, clear spots on chest. On outside hindlegs and inside thighs, showing down from front of stifle and broadening out to outside of hindlegs from hock to toes. On forelegs, up to elbows behind, and to knees or little above, in front. Around vent. Very small white spot on chest permissible. No other colour permissible.

Size

Height: dogs: 66cm (26in); bitches: 62 cm. (24 ½). Weight: dogs 29.5kg. (65lb); bitches: 25.5kg (56lb).

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Note

Make animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.