Im almost positive im getting a gordon setter, but i have one question.
How hard would it be to train a male gordon to return to me with use of a whistle??
i understand they gallop off for miles ahead of you on walks, but can i relie on him to return to me when i ask??
how hard are they to train!?

Thanks in return
Tanya Roberts

being a gundog i cant imagine they are hard to train, but im not clued on setters, so hopefully someone else will be able to help you out!

To understand a dog you need to look at what it was bred for. As an example, the retriever breeds function is to sit back quietly behind the guns, going out to recover shot game and bring it back to hand. A burst of energy followed by a period of close control. It's function is to work close to the handler.

Setters and Pointers function is to find and point the game. They would be cast off as a brace on the moors to quarter the ground, one to the left and the other to the right. Their beat would be 60 to 70 yards before turning and returning back to the handler who by this time would have advanced around 10 yards forward ready to be cast out again. As you can see, the pair would be hunting a strip of moor 120 to 140 yards wide and possibly a mile long! They are bred to run!

The easiest way to have an enjoyable walk with a dog is to know what he likes and to work with his natural instincts rather than try to change them. A gundog IS TRAINABLE but far easiest in the way he wants to work. To try to change his natural ways would be an uphill struggle.

There are a number of videos showing setters and pointers being trained for work which are so interesting and an eye opener into the world of the setter and pointer.

Best wishes, John

my gordon use to go off into the next feild but he always came back on the whistle,but we did alot of on lead training before he was allow off fee running,when he was a puppie of  12 to 18 week we use to go up the track let him off but he didnot off then,once out of reach and he was not looking had us, we would hind blow the whistle and call his name ,he soon came back.then give him a treat.

have fun if you get one,i love mine to bits but sadly he die at 5 years with the big c,

if you would like to talk to someone who knows about Gordons call 01737 350454