Answers to Common Questions about Gordon Setters
“Do Gordon Setters need a lot of exercise?”
Gordons are bred to run and find birds. Even if your dog will never be used as a hunting companion, it will still need a lot of exercise. Sitting in the backyard does not count as exercise.
“How much grooming does a Gordon Setter need?”
With the long coats that are common with Gordons, weekly brushing and combing is a must to avoid matting and knotting of their coats. It is also very important to keep their nails, the hair on the bottom of their feet and between the toes trimmed, otherwise it may cause their feet to breakdown.
“I don’t think I have ever seen a Gordon Setter, are they hard to find?”
Gordon Setters are a little difficult to find. Periodically they can be found in the newspaper, but be careful to find out if the parents of the pups have OFA certified hips. When talking to a quality breeder, expect to be asked a lot of questions regarding your ability to deal with the demands of owning a Gordon Setter. As a general rule of thumb, if you find a good breeder, they should ask you more questions than you ask them. When talking with a quality breeder, it is not uncommon to wait a year or more for a puppy to become available. Periodically, rescue dogs become available around the country. There may be a great opportunity to adopt one of these dogs. Typically these dogs range in age anywhere from 8 months to 10 years old. If you are interested in the rescue program, read more in the rescue information section, or contact one of the people listed under rescue contacts. When adopting, you can also expect to be asked a lot of questions regarding your ability to deal with the demands of owning a Gordon Setter.