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If you don’t do a credible job presenting your own dog, then don’t bemoan the fact that it doesn’t win when competing against dogs that are well presented. Sounds pretty easy, but how often do we see dogs poorly presented only to see the own- ers gripe and complain that they haven’t won and a handler beat them? When the truth is that the handler is showing a clean and well-groomed dog that is competently presented to its best. Keep careful track of your judges. Not every dog wins under every judge. I usually give any judge 2 or 3 entries with dif- ferent dogs, but if I find a pattern that they only see what is at the end of the lead, or they want a dog unlike my line… I save my money and don’t enter under them again. Some judges I will enter under no matter where they are judging, other judges wouldn’t see my dogs if they judged one mile down the road. I know judges consider drawing good entries at shows as something they take pride in. If that is so, be watchful of whom you point your finger at; because most certainly I am watching and if you want to see one of my dogs again, you need to point to a good dog—not necessarily mine—but a good one; one that looks like a Gordon Setter. Gordon Setters are a type breed… they are to be substan- tial. Th ey are not a Black and Tan Irish Setter, should not be presented like an Irish Setter with that extreme sloping topline of the Irish, should not be groomed like an Irish Setter and should not be moved like an Irish Setter. If the dog was painted green… could you tell it was a Gordon, or would you be likely to guess it to be an Irish Setter? Th ey are to be SUBSTAN- TIAL! Th at means they have BONE! SUBSTANCE! BODY! RIB CAGE SPRING! If they do not have those traits, and if they fly around the ring at break neck speed, then they are an Irish Setter in a black and tan coat, and that is NOT correct type. Flashy, pretty, stylish, but not correct type. Type also depends to a very large extent to head type. The Standard states the head should be “brick on brick.” The head planes are to be level with a good stop (not too much or they look like a Pointer, not to little or they look like a Collie). There needs to be good depth of muzzle with sufficient flew, though not overly pendulous. And a point that should NOT be ignored in head type is the eyes. If you know me, you know I am a fanatic on dark eyes. Dark eyes in a correctly-shaped almond eye—NOT round. The expression should be sweet and soft, never hard or harsh (which often comes from tan spots too large over the eyes). Lastly, a Gordon should have a big effortless stride… with great reach and drive. They shouldn’t scramble, they shouldn’t shuffle, they should move like nothing hurts and NOT TOO FAST! It is possible to put a healthy, sound Gordon Setter in the ring with great breed type and have it be successful. I am grateful that there are many good judges left who take their job seriously… and look to find the best dog in the breed that day to point to. As exhibitors, it is our job to breed the best Gordon Setters we can and we need to take that job very seri- ously as well!
in which the action is pleasing to the eye, e ff ortless, economi- cal, harmonious and powerful. Th e Gordon Setter is alert, gay, interested and confident. He is fearless and willing, intelligent and capable. He is loyal and a ff ectionate, yet is strong minded enough to stand the rigors of training. Th ey are slow maturing, so sometimes this doesn’t show up early in life. Th e field trainer that we used always left Gordons in the puppy class until they were over two years of age. Standard Point Scale In 2002 the Gordon Setter Club of America put the 100 point scale back into our standard. It is as follows:
Head and neck, eyes/ears. . 10 Body . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Shoulders, forelegs/feet . . . 10 Hind legs/feet. . . . . . . . 10 Tail. . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Coat . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Color/markings. . . . . . . 10 Temperament. . . . . . . . 10 Size/general appearance. . . 15 Gait. . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Some points to remember when judging the Gordon Setter: • Inch per pound the Gordon is the biggest Setter. • Should have a deep head with a squared o ff muzzle. • Muzzle perpendicular to back skull. • Topline is a smooth line from the back of the skull to the tailset. • No sharp angles. • Square dog. • Th e dog is to be shown in field weight and muscular. • Must be black and tan. • Large boned. • Smooth and powerful moving. • Style plus soundness equals TYPE. It takes the sum of the whole dog or the complete standard to make the ideal Gordon Setter.
BIO Gary has been involved with Gor- don Setters since 1972. We have owned and showed all four setters, English Cockers and Smooth Fox Ter- riers. I have been judging Gordons since 1993. I now judge BIS, Sporting and Non-Sporting groups, two hounds and three working breeds. I am the
Judge’s Education Chairman for the Gordon Setter Club of America. I was instrumental in starting the Sporting Group Club in Arizona. I am the past president of Scottsdale Dog Fanciers and am a board member of the Gordon Setter Club of America and the Sun County Terrier Club.
208 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , J ULY 2014
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