The new Herriot on TV

[Jonjel]

I watched this as a bit of moving wallpaper and becasue in a past life I liked the books.

However I saw the bit about the Gordon Setter kennels and harrumphed at the screen. Apparently the family had been breeding Gordons for 5 generations, which I make about 125 years. Since the programme is set in around 1930, well, you work it out.

I used to have Gordons, and English Setters as well and I was reliably informed at that time that the original breed had died out and was re-introduced by someone who had cross bred Irish Setters Bloodhound and a few others to achieve the KC breed standard not so very long back, about 1900. That figures because Gordons have a totally different temperament to all the other setters.

I know that gun dogs have evolved and look nothing like the sporting prints and paintings of even 10 years ago, but I still think I am right and the Beeb are wrong. Had a quick browse and can't find anything to confirm who is right.

[pippa]

Dec 21, 2011 10:50:28 GMT Jonjel said:

I watched this as a bit of moving wallpaper and becasue in a past life I liked the books.

However I saw the bit about the Gordon Setter kennels and harrumphed at the screen. Apparently the family had been breeding Gordons for 5 generations, which I make about 125 years. Since the programme is set in around 1930, well, you work it out.

I used to have Gordons, and English Setters as well and I was reliably informed at that time that the original breed had died out and was re-introduced by someone who had cross bred Irish Setters Bloodhound and a few others to achieve the KC breed standard not so very long back, about 1900. That figures because Gordons have a totally different temperament to all the other setters.

I know that gun dogs have evolved and look nothing like the sporting prints and paintings of even 10 years ago, but I still think I am right and the Beeb are wrong. Had a quick browse and can't find anything to confirm who is right.

onto it like a bloodhound.....................

i put my money on it that it's the beeb that's got it wrong. they're not nearly as thorough in their research as they used to be.

[jean]

Dec 21, 2011 10:50:28 GMT Jonjel said:

Apparently the family had been breeding Gordons for 5 generations, which I make about 125 years. Since the programme is set in around 1930, well, you work it out.

Perhaps they meant five generations of the dogs, rather than of the breeders?

[Jonjel]

Jean.

No such luck, it was very clear that it was the family and there was also mention of some event with the dogs '100 years ago'.

All tied up with a dastardly plot and eugenics.

[jean]

Not that, then.

But at least some sources suggest that it's the name that was new, not the breed:

The Kennel Club applied the name 'Gordon Setter' to the breed in 1924. Before that they were known as black and tan setters, and were found in many kennels beside those of the Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon (1743–1827).

[Jonjel]

Jean. That I knew, but I was sure that when I kept (and bred) Gordons I was told that the 'breed' had died out and was reintroduced about 100 years ago. Reintroduction was achieved by cross-breeding several different dogs to achieve what is now the Gordon Setter.

Not important, just a quirk of my memory that was jogged.

[jean]

A letter to the Radio Times is called for.