not always aware of how to treat a dog, and must be taught to respect the rights of the dog as a member of your household. Many Gordons are great talkers. Th ey can develop quite a vocabulary with various tones to express themselves. Th ese might include pleasure at seeing the food dish pre- pared, needing a drink, greeting the family or warning of strangers. Constant wagging of their tail seems to be part of their style as well. Owning a Gordon will provide a lov- ing devoted companion for life. BIO Colleen O’Brien acquired her first Gor- don Setter in the summer of 1981. Since then the Black and Tan Setters have been a large part of her life. Breeding on a small scale (only 10 litters in 30 years) under the Fair Isle prefix, Gordon Setters owned (or co-owned) by Colleen have earned over 60 AKC titles in conformation, obedience, rally, agility and hunt tests. Over the past ten years, in an e ff ort to improve her own breeding stock, Colleen has imported a number of dogs from Tri- seter Kennels in Melbourne, Australia as well as frozen semen from several other Triseter dogs. Th ese Gordons have had a huge impact on the breed in North Ameri- ca as well as Europe. Colleen resides in Chester County, PA with her Gordons: Shea, Clare, Coco, Tux and Ida.
“THERE IS NO DENYING A GORDON WOULD STAY A ‘PUPPY’ FOREVER, but with proper techniques young Gordons can be trained without breaking their spirit.”
As a general rule, Gordons tend to tolerate attention from people they do not know rather than seeking such attention. Th ey also have “antics” which bring a smile to their owners. Rumor has it that Disney’s Goofy was modeled after a Gordon Setter. When you see images of Goofy ambling across the field with those big ears flop- ping, it resembles a Gordon. Th ere is no denying a Gordon would stay a “puppy” forever, but with prop- er techniques young Gordons can be trained without breaking their spirit. Th ey are not a breed that responds well to heavy-handed style obedience. Gor- dons are highly intelligent dogs, as quick to spot an advantage as to spot game. Basic obedience training will make your Gordon a better companion and a bet- ter canine citizen. Obedience classes, ranging from puppy kindergarten to advanced competition classes are avail- able in most areas through local kennel clubs or humane societies.
Gordons are capable of adapting to a variety of living situations, as long as they are assured of the love of their masters. Th ey do, however, need plenty of daily exercise to maintain peak physical and mental condi- tion. Gordons need a safe, fenced area in which to run and play. Th ey also need to be taken for frequent on-leash walks. Th is breed should never be allowed to roam free- ly because Gordons have a tendency to put their noses to the ground where the hunting instinct might lead them to follow a bird or a squirrel across a busy highway. Children and Gordon Setters are a good combination, especially when the dog is introduced to children at a young age. Th ey occur in the top ratings for a family dog. Gordons tend to show strong protective instincts to their young charges. If a child persists in teasing a Gordon, the dog will tend to remove himself from the child’s reach rather than frighten a child by so much as a growl. If you have chil- dren, please remember that children are
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