Gordon Setters are intelligent, but they do tend to have a mind of their own and therefore they are known to be independent thinkers by nature. This has to be taken into account when training a young dog which has to start early. These dogs need to be handled with a firm, gentle and always fair hand in order to get the best results. It's also a good idea to get Gordon Setters involved in some sort of "hunting" activity which is a great way of satisfying their natural instincts. Activities like scent training and obedience as well as field trials are a great choice of activities that will keep them happy.