How long does a Gordon Setter live?

The listed lifespan for a Gordon Setter is 12–13 years.

How tall is a Gordon Setter?

The listed height for a Gordon Setter is 24–27 in (male), 23–26 in (female).

Is a Gordon Setter good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Gordon Setter is 3 out of 5.

When is a Gordon Setter full grown?

The growth size band for a Gordon Setter is up to 24 months.

Sporting Group

Gordon Setter

Gordon Setter is a large dog in the Sporting Group. Adult weight is 55–80 lb (male), 45–70 lb (female), height is 24–27 in (male), 23–26 in (female), and the listed lifespan is 12–13 years. AKC describes the temperament as Confident, Affectionate, Bold.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Gordon Setter dog — Photo: SJYoung1970 · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan12–13 years

Weight55–80 lb (male), 45–70 lb (female)

SizeLarge GroupSporting Group

Height

24–27 in (male), 23–26 in (female)

Energy

5 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

2 / 5

Trainability

5 / 5

Good with kids

3 / 5

The breed record

Across 119 single-size large breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 12.5 years is about the same as the 12.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 62.5 lb is about 3.3 lb heavier than the 59.2 lb average for those large breeds.

The listed origin is Scotland. The coat is described as double, medium. The AKC energy score is 5 out of 5, 0.9 points above the group average of 4.1 for the Sporting Group. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 2 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 5 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 3 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 104 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in up to 24 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): larger breeds require up to 24 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Hip Evaluation, Elbow Evaluation, Ophthalmologist Evaluation, CHIC DNA Repository, and Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Rod-Cone Dysplasia 4 (PRA-rcd4) - DNA Test. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

Frequently asked

Questions from the breed record

The verified adult weight for a Gordon Setter is 55–80 lb (male), 45–70 lb (female).

Sources

More Sporting Group breeds

All Sporting Group breeds

Chesapeake Bay Retriever
65–80 lb (male), 55–70 lb (female) · 10–13 years
Open breed
English Setter
65–80 lb (male), 45–55 lb (female) · 12 years
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Labrador Retriever
65–80 lb (male), 55–70 lb (female) · 11–13 years
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Spinone Italiano
70.5–81.6 lb (male), 61.7–66.1 lb (female) · 10–12 years
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More large breeds

All large dog breeds

Belgian Malinois
60–80 lb (male), 40–60 lb (female) · 14–16 years
Open breed
Bluetick Coonhound
55–80 lb (male), 45–65 lb (female) · 11–12 years
Open breed
German Longhaired Pointer
55–80 lb · 12–14 years
Open breed
Bouvier des Ardennes
61.5–77.5 lb (male), 48.5–62 lb (female) · 12–16 years
Open breed

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