Large Munsterlander
COUNTRY: Germany
WEIGHT: 50-70 pounds
HEIGHT: 23-25 Vz inches
COAT: Sleek, moderate length, with feathering
COLOR: Black and white, heavy ticking or roaning is preferred over the clear white patterns
OTHER NAMES: Grosser Miinsterlander
Vorstehhund
GROUP: Gun Dog
Small Miinsterlander
COUNTRY: Germany
WEIGHT: 33 pounds
HEIGHT: 19-22 inches
COAT: Sleek, moderate length, with feathering
COLOR: Liver and white, with ticking
OTHER NAMES: Kleiner Miinsterlander
Vorstehhund, Heidewachtel
GROUP: Gun Dog
Back in the days of the generic huenerhunden^ bird dogs in Germany came in all sizes and coat colors and textures. These were interbred, based on function only. In the latter part of the 19th century, the interest in individual breeds grew, and the types were separated.
When the club for the German Longhaired Pointer drew up its written standard, for some" reason, it accepted only the liver/white dogs. Litters were often of mixed colors in those days, and the black/white pups denied registration were usually given away. Farmers and hunters, many from the Miinster area, were the recipients of these well-bred gun dogs and cared little about their color or registration status. They continued breeding the black/white longhaired pointers, perhaps crossing to other dogs of the setter or spaniel type, and in 1919 formed a club for the Munsterlander.
The Miinster has found friends throughout Germany and has been brought to England as well. He is an all-purpose pointing/retrieving gun dog and is expected to perform in the utility trials in Germany. In England, he competes with the other Continental gun dogs in the HPR (Hunt Point Retriever) Field Trials.
Although bred for training and ability to withstand the pressures involved, the breed wants to please and can be soft in nature. His beautiful, fringed coat is never exaggerated. The tail may be left intact or have just a tiny bit of the end removed. They love to retrieve, and naturally like to carry things about in their mouth.
As with all of their hunting relatives, they require sufficient exercise. But if walked or run enough, a Munster can adapt easily to indoor life, even in the city. He tends to be vocal and owner-oriented. Owners say if they are gone for even a moment, a Munster enthusiastically greets their return by "talking" in his low rumble and bringing them "their treasured possessions." The Munster does well in obedience, and is good with other animals and with children.
The smaller variety is of more recent origin, from the early 1900s; they are pointing dogs— as setters are—rather than flushers. The Small Munsterlander was the result of crosses of the German Longhair to Continental spaniels. This Munster appears only in the liver/white ticked color, and his tail is left long.
He is a good hunter, with a happy tail-wagging nature. Both the Large and Small Munster-landers are known in Canada, England, and in various European countries, although not in large numbers.
COUNTRY: Germany
WEIGHT: 50-70 pounds
HEIGHT: 23-25 Vz inches
COAT: Sleek, moderate length, with feathering
COLOR: Black and white, heavy ticking or roaning is preferred over the clear white patterns
OTHER NAMES: Grosser Miinsterlander
Vorstehhund
GROUP: Gun Dog
Small Miinsterlander
COUNTRY: Germany
WEIGHT: 33 pounds
HEIGHT: 19-22 inches
COAT: Sleek, moderate length, with feathering
COLOR: Liver and white, with ticking
OTHER NAMES: Kleiner Miinsterlander
Vorstehhund, Heidewachtel
GROUP: Gun Dog
Back in the days of the generic huenerhunden^ bird dogs in Germany came in all sizes and coat colors and textures. These were interbred, based on function only. In the latter part of the 19th century, the interest in individual breeds grew, and the types were separated.
When the club for the German Longhaired Pointer drew up its written standard, for some" reason, it accepted only the liver/white dogs. Litters were often of mixed colors in those days, and the black/white pups denied registration were usually given away. Farmers and hunters, many from the Miinster area, were the recipients of these well-bred gun dogs and cared little about their color or registration status. They continued breeding the black/white longhaired pointers, perhaps crossing to other dogs of the setter or spaniel type, and in 1919 formed a club for the Munsterlander.
The Miinster has found friends throughout Germany and has been brought to England as well. He is an all-purpose pointing/retrieving gun dog and is expected to perform in the utility trials in Germany. In England, he competes with the other Continental gun dogs in the HPR (Hunt Point Retriever) Field Trials.
Although bred for training and ability to withstand the pressures involved, the breed wants to please and can be soft in nature. His beautiful, fringed coat is never exaggerated. The tail may be left intact or have just a tiny bit of the end removed. They love to retrieve, and naturally like to carry things about in their mouth.
As with all of their hunting relatives, they require sufficient exercise. But if walked or run enough, a Munster can adapt easily to indoor life, even in the city. He tends to be vocal and owner-oriented. Owners say if they are gone for even a moment, a Munster enthusiastically greets their return by "talking" in his low rumble and bringing them "their treasured possessions." The Munster does well in obedience, and is good with other animals and with children.
The smaller variety is of more recent origin, from the early 1900s; they are pointing dogs— as setters are—rather than flushers. The Small Munsterlander was the result of crosses of the German Longhair to Continental spaniels. This Munster appears only in the liver/white ticked color, and his tail is left long.
He is a good hunter, with a happy tail-wagging nature. Both the Large and Small Munster-landers are known in Canada, England, and in various European countries, although not in large numbers.