Scottish Setter: history of the breed, what does it look like and how to keep it?

The Scottish Setter or Gordon is not only a very beautiful, graceful and stylish breed, it is a dog that has excellent flair. Animals not only become wonderful pets, but are also actively used in hunting for game. In addition to all this, representatives of the breed often become participants in exhibitions, and if you have a desire to immerse yourself in the diverse world of dog breeding, with the Scottish Setter you can do it in completely different directions.

The breed is first mentioned in the distant 1570, in England. However, it was definitely not the dog we see now. In its current form, the breed was formed only by the beginning of the 19th century. The Scottish Setter was obtained by breeders by crossing. There are versions according to which breeds such as Bloodhounds, Retrievers, Greyhounds, Pointers are involved in the creation of the Setter, some sources also refer to Poodles, the history is rich, and, unfortunately, there is no 100% of the data. As a result of breeding work, three main groups of setters have been formed: Irish, which is sometimes called red, English (interspersed white) and, of course, Scottish with a predominant black color and characteristic tan marks.

The birthplace of the Scottish Setter is considered to be a town called Fohabers, located in the north of the United Kingdom. It was there that Duke Alexander Gordon lived, who made the most significant contribution to the development of the breed.In his honor, they later began to call this variety. There were 2 nurseries in Gordon Castle, in which deerhounds and setters were bred. The count was fascinated by the qualities of the dogs and was delighted with the appearance. It was he who formed a single color and set the first standards. In 1882, the breed bred in Scotland was sent to America, where after another two years it was officially recognized by the Kennel Club.

Among the setters, this breed is the largest. Within a view, the parameters differ depending on the gender.

• Males. On average, in height (at the withers), individuals can reach 65 centimeters, but the weight is quite small, within the normal range, a dog is considered to be weighing 29 kg.
• Bitches. Height - 62 cm, average weight - 25 kg.

Overall, it is a very lean and muscular variety, which is not surprising considering that it was bred for the hunt. The coat is long, with a light wave, but on the front of the head and on the edges of the ears, it is short. At the base of the tail, the hair is more elongated, becoming shorter as it approaches the tip. The color is black and tan (chestnut shade). The markings are located above the eyes (at the beginning of the eyebrows), on the muzzle on the sides, there is a mark on the throat, two symmetrical spots should be present on the chest, also marks adorn the paws and one mark is located in the area under the tail.

Let's give a detailed description of the setters.

• Muzzle. In proportion, it is considered square, equal to the length of the skull. The bridge of the nose is straight, the nose itself is rather wide, black, with open nostrils. The upper lip hangs over the lower lip and sags a little. Due to this structure, the bite is called a scissor bite, in which case the upper teeth overlap the lower ones.
• The eyes can be called small, set wide apart. Due to the drooping upper eyelid, the look can seem sad. The color of the iris is dark brown.
• Ears. Elongated, wide, but thin. It starts at eye level and hangs out of the muzzle, while adhering to the head.
• Frame. Muscular, lean. The withers are pronounced. The neck is rather long, but not slender. The chest is wide, lowered downward. The belly is tucked up.
• Extremities. Straight, sinewy, rather wide apart. The paws themselves are rounded.

In general, the disposition is described as calm, affectionate, playful and friendly. Of course, in every breed there are dogs with character, but, in addition to natural data, training should also act, so any setter can be adequately brought up. Other dogs and animals in general are treated kindly and calmly. If you are worried about whether several different pets can get along in the same space, you should not. The setter will find a common language with the existing animal, even if it is a small and shy animal.

Another point worth paying attention to is that in a pack of dogs they have a dominant position, therefore, in a company, especially in a man's, fights can occur among four-legged dogs. Gordons get along well with children, they are attached to all family members, without exception, but at the same time they mistrust strangers. They will not attack if a stranger approaches, but they can raise the alarm when invading their territory.For this breed, the connection with the owner is very important, therefore, they are hard to endure a long separation. If you are often on business trips, and you do not have the opportunity to take your pet with you, it is better to choose a different breed so that the dog does not suffer. For harmonious development, the pet will need to give significant mental and physical stress. This is especially important when the puppy is actively growing.

Consider an option in which a dog appears in your home as a puppy. After all, if you acquire an adult, most likely, its character has already been formed, and you cannot greatly change it., you will have to accept the new family member as he is. The first thing you should do when a puppy appears in your house is to introduce him to his surroundings. Introduce him not only all the important family members, but also show him the rooms. Start by setting standards for what you can and cannot do. In the future, strictly adhere to these rules without any exceptions.

You can start training, that is, direct study of the commands, when the puppy reaches the age of 5-6 months. Most often, the common carrot and stick method is used for drilling, and in the case of setters, there should be more gingerbread than sticks. Basic verbal commands can be accompanied by whistling or gestures, since these dogs are very attentive to the actions of the owner and subsequently may more willingly follow commands presented in the form of a gesture than verbal orders.

It is not recommended to start learning a new command if you have not done the previous one well. Reinforce the material, and get it through before learning new tricks. It is important to hone your skills not only at home (even if you do it on your own open and spacious lawn), but also outdoors, in a previously unfamiliar environment. Make periodic outings, but keep your pet under control.

Until the moment when the setter will not clearly understand and execute commands such as "Next", "Stand", "Place", "Do not", "Forward" and "Lie", it is better not to go to large open spaces, especially without leash. Further training should be carried out in stages, and it is better to entrust this process to a professional if you are not sure of your own strengths and methods:

• weaning from the chase;
• working out the dog's endurance;
• correct execution of commands at a distance;
• lifting and standing training;
• accustoming to shuttle search;
• working off the command of giving;
• instilling calm behavior during shooting.

Let's start with the most important thing - no chains and small enclosed enclosures. Setters love freedom and need room to feel good and be active. If you plan to keep the dog in a fenced-in area, then it should be wide, and it is better to lay the perimeter with tiles or concrete so that the pet cannot dig into it. It is not necessary to have a private country house to have such a dog. The Gordons are perfectly suited for apartment life. The main thing is that the animal has the opportunity to be active. This means not only walking, but also the availability of free space in the apartment.

Activity should be given special attention, this is one of the main conditions for a good quality of life for such dogs. At least once a week, you should have a chance to go out of town or walk your dog in a large park.You can combine walking the animal with your own sports, such as jogging or cycling, scooter or skateboarding. Daily distances of 3 to 10 kilometers with a gradual increase in distance will be a great way to walk.

Another feature of the content is wool. It is quite long and will require washing, brushing and trimming frequently. Learn to do it yourself or find a master in advance with whom the dog and you will be able to build further work. If you have got a show dog, one of the main rules - the participant of the shows should not live on the street. Due to weather conditions, the dog's coat constitution will change, that is, an undercoat will appear, and this will affect the appearance.

The pet should be combed out with a comb with rare teeth. To prevent the formation of clumps and lumps of matted hair, the frequency of brushing should not be less than once every 2 days. Don't go overboard with bathing. Regular dogs are recommended to be washed once every 30 days, and show samples - once every 7-10 days. In no case should you forget about special care shampoos and balms, so as not to dry your skin due to frequent washing. Also, do not forget about the care oils. Which one to choose - ask the breeder, trainer or veterinarian.

In addition to the coat, it is important to take care of your teeth and ears. It is recommended to cleanse at least once a week. Pay attention to the eyes, remove formations in time. The claws also need grooming. If you do not trim them in time, your pet will get tired faster from walking, and the risk of injury during training and at home will increase. In 3-4 weeks the claws will grow and will need correction, keep this in mind.

If you decide to get a dog, remember, it will not only bring you a lot of joy, but literally eat a certain portion of your income. The owner independently determines how to build a balanced diet. Will it be natural food, or will you try to use ready-made food. In any case, it is better to think over the program in advance. An important point that you should be aware of is nutrition in winter and during active physical activity (for example, during the hunting season). In this case, the caloric content of the diet is increased by 2-3 times in comparison with the usual diet.

In general, this breed is quite strong, hardy and not too whimsical, but, unfortunately, like other dogs bred by breeding, they have their most frequent diseases, which a good owner should know about in advance. Genetic diseases that may affect your pet:

• cataract;
• dysplasia of the hip joint;
• retinal atrophy;
• hypothyroidism;
• volvulus of the stomach is possible (due to the structural features of the chest).

Prevention against these diseases will be timely vaccination, treatment against parasites and, of course, periodic and systematic observation by a veterinarian. During the hunt, such dogs can get micro-injuries (cuts, dislocations, bruises). It is better to pay attention to this, especially if the wounds are bleeding or have begun to fester. After each hike, inspect your dog carefully for injury. In general, setters are wonderful pets. Their lifespan is from 10 to 13 years, and every day spent with such a pet will be wonderful and joyful. This is an excellent dog, which is suitable both for a family with small children and for serious hunting work. This is a beautiful, intelligent, benevolent and very sensitive breed that any owner can be proud of.

For information on how to properly train the Scottish Setter, see the next video.