The Gordon Setter
There
is no doubt as to how the Gordon setter got its
name. Named after the 4th
Duke of Gordon, its official title was not bestowed
upon it until 1924, prior to that it was known as
the “black and tan” setter, after its colouring.
This
Scottish breed is an elegant dog, as are all the
setters but it is somewhat slower that the Irish and
English setters, partly because of its build that is
moderate and strong rather than racy.
Gordon’s possess a deep and
rounded head rather than a pointed muzzle.
Their coat is soft and silky and very often the hair
is wavy. Raven black was the original colour
with a fleck of tan, a colouring that is still
pre-eminent in the majority of the breed.
Tradition has it that the 4th
Duke of Gordon kept a sizeable kennel and owned a
number of black and white coloured dogs, along with
some tri-coloured ones. Legend has it that
when the Young Pretender, Bonnie Prince Charlie,
returned to France after the failed uprising of the
Scottish clans, he took a black and tan dog back
with him.
Whilst pointers were preferred in
the Scottish borders for partridges in the mid 18th
century, it was the Gordon setter that was the dog
of choice for grouse in the highlands of Scotland.
