THE 
GORDON 
SETTER 
Interesting 
Points 
About 
This 
V aluable 
Field Dog 
T HIS handsome breed of Setters 
derives its name from the Dukes 
of Gordon, who owned a most 
important kennel of black-and-tan and 
black-white-and-tan Setters at a period 
considerably in advance of dog shows. 
No claim is made that the 
Dukes of Gordon originated the 
breed, and it has also been con¬ 
clusively proven that they were 
not responsible for the prejudice 
against white markings which 
was developed at bench shows 
after classes were provided for 
them in 1861, which resulted in 
complete elimination of those 
specimens containing white in 
any form. 
The early history of the Gor¬ 
don Setter is wrapped in much 
mystery, considering the fact 
that they are of comparatively 
recent origin. A great many 
writers have stated that in the 
early days of the breed the Duke 
crossed one of his best dogs on a black- 
and-tan Collie named Maddy which 
lived on the estate and was remarkably 
clever in finding grouse. It is said that 
she did not point them, her habit being 
to stop and watch the birds as soon as 
she had them located. It is conceded, 
even by those who deny the authenticity 
of this story, that occasionally one sees 
the tail of the Collie in strains that 
trace back to the Duke’s kennel, and it 
is also notable that many Gordon Set¬ 
ters display in working birds a desire 
to go round their game, just as a Collie 
goes round a flock of sheep. 
Another theory is that the breed is 
the result of crossing the ordinary 
Setter on the leggy, black Springing 
Spaniel. There is a similarity in the 
physiognomy of the Gordon Setter and 
the Field Spaniel, and the latter in 
early days was a leggy dog of Setter¬ 
like type, so that this cross could have 
that can be arrived at is that from a 
period considerably antedated the first 
dog show or kennel registry there was 
in use on Scottish Moors a breed of tri¬ 
colored setters which were remarkably 
intelligent, bird - wise, tractable and 
enduring. The most noted ken- 
~ nel of these dogs was on the 
estate of the Dukes of Gordon. 
In 1836 one of the Dukes, who 
had been a particularly keen 
breeder of these setters, died, 
and was succeeded by another 
member of the family who did 
not take as much interest in the 
setters as his predecessors, and 
disposed of them at a public sale 
which was attended by several 
of the leading setter breeders of 
that day. These men have left 
creditable records of the event. 
They all agree that the getters 
of the Gordon family were 
black, white and tan in color. 
In fact, there was only one black-and- 
tan dog in the kennel. 
The modern bench show standard 
that insists that Gordon Setters in 
color should be black-and-tan without 
a mixture of white is, therefore, the 
creation of bench show fanciers, a class 
of gentlemen who, while they may be 
well meaning, nevertheless have ruined 
every breed of sporting dog which has 
attracted the attention of their whim¬ 
sical minds. 
The blood of the Gordon has blended 
well with that of other setter breeds. 
It was the blood of the Gordon that 
saved the Laveracks from oblivion and 
later Mr. Llewellyn used it to create 
the strain that bears his name. 
If old pictures are to be believed, 
Dan, the most famous of all Mr. 
Llewellyn’s dogs in color markings and 
conformation, was a typical Gordon. 
To-day field trial setter men concede 
(Continued on page 532) 
By 
RODNEY RANDOM 
INGLEHURST SANDY MAC GREGOR 
been made without affecting the work¬ 
ing characteristics of the Setter. This 
is a plausible explanation of the dog’s 
origin. 
Still another theory provides that the 
black-and-tan Setter has been produced 
CHAMPION INGLEHURST DICKERSON 
by a cross with the Irish Setter and the 
black Pointer, which latter is a Scotch 
product. This likewise is more feasible 
than the Collie story. All of the ex¬ 
planations are, however, mere conjec¬ 
ture, and the only reasonable conclusion 
CHAMPION INGLEHURST STORM 
Page 194 
