Mixed Breed Icon
  • Activity Level: high
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  • Shedding Level: moderate
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  • Grooming Level: moderate
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  • Trainability: moderate
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  • Good for Novice Owners: moderate
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  • Adaptability: moderate
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  • Kid/Pet Friendly: often
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  • Prey Drive: high
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  • Watchdog: very alert
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  • Average Size: Medium
  • Average Lifespan: 12-13 years

Gordon Setter Mix Dog Breed Information

Overview

Temperament

Adaptability

Health

Owner Experience

Grooming

Activity Level

Size

Life Span

The Gordon Setter Mix is a cross between a Gordon Setter and another dog breed. A mix can take on any combination of traits from their parents, so it’s important to talk to the breeder about the other parent breed in the mix.

If a Gordon Setter Mix takes after their Gordon parent, they will be a medium-sized dog with a hardworking nature and a sweet, affectionate personality. These dogs tend to be puppies at heart and maintain a youthful energy throughout their lives.

A Gordon Setter is a determined and focused working dog when they are on a job. When they are at home with their families, they are playful, sweet, energetic, and affectionate. They tend to have a gentle, patient disposition, which comes in handy since they get along with children.

They tend to be more aloof with strangers and other dogs, but will warm up as long as they have been properly socialized. If the other parent breed is similar, then you can expect a similar temperament from a Gordon Setter Mix.

You can also meet the mother in person to see what her temperament is like and to see what behavior she is modeling for her puppies. Although the breeder should have started some socialization and training, it’s important to remember that it is up to you to continue to train and socialize a puppy once you get them home.

Gordon Setters are moderately adaptable dogs that tend to thrive in homes with yards where they can run. They are high-energy dogs, so making sure they get enough exercise in an apartment setting can be difficult. These dogs are sensitive to heat and can handle some cold relatively well. They also do not like to be left alone for long periods of time.

If the other parent breed is similar, then you can likely expect a Gordon Setter Mix to be moderately adaptable as well. You still want to ask the breeder about the other parent because they will introduce their own potential quirks and traits that you need to be aware of.

Mixed-breed dogs can sometimes be healthier than purebred dogs, but it’s not a guarantee and good breeding practices make a huge difference. Just as they could inherit none of the health conditions common to their parents, a Godron Setter Mix could end up with all of them or some combination of them.

From the Gordon Setter side, potential health concerns to be aware of include eye conditions, hip dysplasia, and elbow dysplasia. As a barrel-chested breed, they are at risk for bloat, so you do want to make sure you learn about how to reduce the risk of bloat in dogs and what to look for in case it’s happening.

Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. So, make sure you are asking about the health and genetic history of both of the parents.

Gordon Setters are intelligent, eager to please, and pick up on things quickly, but they can also be quite stubborn and get bored easily. Because of this, puppy training classes are recommended for first-time owners.

If the other parent breed is similar, then you can expect a Gordon Setter Mix to be a better fit for more experienced owners or to be prepared to enroll in training as a first-time owner. With all of the benefits of puppy training classes, they tend to be a good idea even if you don’t need them.

A Gordon Setter Mix can inherit a coat that is similar to one of their parents or a coat that is some combination of both. If they end up with a Gordon Setter coat, they will shed moderately year-round and heavier as the seasons change.

They will need weekly brushing, daily brushing during seasonal shedding, a monthly bath, and monthly trimming of the fur between their paw pads, on their feet, around their ears, and around their rear legs and tail. Visiting the dog groomer can be a big help with this.

In addition to coat care, you will also need to take care of your Godron Setter Mix’s nails, ears, and teeth. Cutting your dog’s nails once or twice a month keeps them from growing too long. Weekly ear checks and careful cleanings as needed can help prevent ear infections.

Consistent dental care early and throughout your dog’s life can help prevent painful dental diseases later in life. Ideal dental for dogs starts with daily brushing with a toothpaste for dogs or using an enzyme toothpaste every day in addition to regular cleanings at the vet when needed.

Gordons are high-energy dogs that require daily walks plus playtime, time to run, and a job to do to be happy and healthy. They are also usually up for more activity if it means spending more time doing things with you.

If the other parent breed is also a high-energy dog, then you can expect a Gordon Mix to also be a high-energy dog. Even if the other parent breed sits in a lower activity range, you will still need to be prepared for the potential of a high-energy dog in a Gordon Setter Mix.

Fully-grown Gordon Setters usually stand 23-27 inches tall and weigh 45-80 pounds. The other parent can have a big effect on this, especially if they are the mother, so you need to ask the breeder about them.

Although it’s not a guarantee of size, you can meet the mother in person. This can give you some idea of what size to expect in a fully-grown Gordon Setter Mix.

Gordon Setters generally live for 12-13 years. Although the other parent breed may affect this slightly, you should be able to expect a similar average life span in a Gordon Setter Mix.