FCI-Standard N° 6 / 25. 09. 1998 / GB
GORDON SETTER
ORIGIN : Great Britain.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 14. 06. 1987.

UTILIZATION : Pointing dog.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group  7 Pointing Dogs.
Section 2.2 British and Irish Pointers    and Setters; Setters.
             With working trial.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Stylish dog, with galloping lines. Consistent with its build which can be compared to a weight-carrying hunter. Symmetrical in conformation throughout.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Intelligent, able and dignified. Bold, outgoing, of a kindly even disposition.

HEAD : Deep rather than broad. Length from occiput to stop longer than from stop to nose. Below and above eyes lean.

CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : Slightly rounded, broadest between ears. Broader than muzzle, showing brain room.
Stop : Clearly defined.

FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Large, broad, nostrils open and black.
Muzzle : Long with almost parallel lines, neither pointed nor snipey. Muzzle note quite as deep as its length.
Flews : Not pendulous, clearly defined lips.
Jaws/Teeth : Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Cheeks : As narrow as leanness of head allows.
Eyes : Dark brown, bright. Neither deep nor prominent, set sufficiently under brows, showing keen, intelligent expression.
Ears : Medium size, thin. Set low, lying close to head.

NECK : Long, lean, arched, without throatiness.

BODY : Moderate length.
Loin : Wide, slightly arched.
Chest : Not too broad. Brisket deep, ribs well sprung. Back ribs deep.

TAIL : Straight or slightly scimitar, not reaching below hocks. Carried horizontally or below line of back. Thick at root, tapering to fine point. Feather or flag starting near root, long, straight, growing shorter to point.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS : Forelegs flat boned, straight, strong.
Shoulders : Shoulder blades long, sloping well back, wide flat bone, close at withers, not loaded.
Elbow : Well let down and close to body.
Pastern : Upright.

HINDQUARTERS : From hip to hock, the hindlegs are long, broad and muscular. From hock to heel short and strong. Straight from hock joint to ground. Pelvis tending to horizontal.
Stifles: Well bent.

FEET : Oval, close-knit, well arched toes, plenty of hair betweeen. Well paded toes, deep heel cushions.

GAIT / MOVEMENT : Steady, free-moving and true, with plenty of drive behind.

COAT

HAIR : On head, front of legs, tips of ears short and fine; moderate length, flat and free from curl or wave on all other parts of body. Feather on upper portion of ears long and silky; on backs of legs long, fine, flat and straight, fringes on belly may extend to chest and throat. As free as possible from curl or wave.

COLOUR : Deep, shining coal black, without rustiness, with markings of chestnut red, i.e. lustrous tan. Black pencilling on toes and black streak under jaw permissible.  Tan markings : Two clear spots over eyes not over 2 cms (3/4 ins.) in diameter. On sides of muzzle, tan not reaching above base of nose, resembling a stripe around clearly defined end of muzzle from one side to other. Also on throat, two large, clear spots on chest. On inside hindlegs and inside thighs, showing down front of stifle and broadening out to outside of hindlegs from hock to toes. On forelegs, up to elbows behind, and to pastern joints or little above, in front. Around vent. Very small white spot on chest permissible. No other colour permissible.

SIZE AND WEIGHT :
Height at the withers : Dogs  66 cm (26 ins.).
            Bitches  62 cm (24 ½ ins.).
Weight :            Dogs 29.5 kg (65 lbs).
            Bitches 25.5 kg (56 lbs).

FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.