How Much Does a Gordon Setter Cost? (2026 Guide)

Owning a Gordon Setter involves predictable and substantial ongoing costs that prospective owners should budget honestly before acquiring the breed. Starting with the acquisition itself: purchasing a Gordon Setter puppy from a reputable, health-tested breeder affiliated with the Gordon Setter Club of America typically costs between $1,500 and $2,500, with field-bred lines or dogs from accomplished show or hunt test pedigrees occasionally reaching $3,000 or more. Breeders charging at the lower end of this range while offering full health testing documentation and socialized puppies are not common — if the price seems unusually low, ask specifically about OFA and CHIC testing results.

Monthly food costs for a breed of this size — males running 55 to 80 pounds, females 45 to 70 pounds — typically fall between $60 and $100 per month for a quality dry kibble appropriate for a large, active breed. Active working or field dogs with higher caloric demands may run toward the top of that range. Gordon Setters should be fed from a raised bowl with awareness of bloat risk, but owners should note that raised feeders have not been definitively proven to reduce GDV risk and that eating pace management may matter more.

The Gordon's medium-length, slightly wavy black and tan coat requires regular maintenance. Professional grooming sessions — which for a Gordon typically include a bath, blow-dry, brush-out, ear cleaning, nail trim, and coat tidying around the ears, feet, and feathering — run between $75 and $120 per session depending on location, coat condition, and salon. Most Gordon owners schedule professional grooming every 8 to 12 weeks, supplemented by weekly home brushing to prevent matting in the feathering on the legs, chest, and ears. PetSmart's grooming service lists large-breed full grooms in the $90 to $115 range, which aligns with what Gordon owners typically report paying.

Veterinary costs for this breed require specific attention to the known health risks. Baseline annual wellness care for a healthy adult Gordon runs $300 to $600. However, annual thyroid panels recommended for this breed add $80 to $150 per year. If a Gordon develops hypothyroidism — not uncommon — thyroid replacement medication (levothyroxine) is generally affordable, running $20 to $50 monthly. Hip dysplasia management varies enormously from physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medication at a few hundred dollars annually to surgical intervention that can exceed $5,000 per hip. GDV surgery, if your dog experiences a bloat episode, typically costs between $3,000 and $8,000 at an emergency veterinary facility.

Pet insurance for a Gordon Setter, given the breed's risk profile for orthopedic issues, bloat, and neurological conditions, typically runs $60 to $110 per month for a comprehensive accident-and-illness plan through providers like Healthy Paws or Trupanion, with premiums varying based on the dog's age, your location, and the deductible you select. Given the potential for a single GDV emergency to cost $5,000 or more, insurance is a financially rational choice for this breed.