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Breed Characteristics
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Large Münsterländer
| Other Names | Großer Münsterländer, Vorstehhund |
| Country of Origin | Germany |
| Weight | 50 - 70 lbs. (23 - 32 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | 23 - 25.5 in. (58 - 65 cm) |
| Coat | Hair long and dense, but not curly or coarse. Well feathered on front and hindlegs and on tail, more so in dogs than in bitches. Hair must lie short and smooth on the head. |
| Colour | Head solid black, white blaze, snip or star allowed. Body white or blue roan with black patches, flecked, ticked, or combination of these. |
| Litter Size | 3 - 6 puppies |
| Life Span | 10 - 12 years |
| Origin & History | The Large Munsterlander is one of several continental breeds of versatile hunting dogs.They are also a HPR (Hunt, Point and Retrieve) Gundog. Although the breed is one of the last of the German breeds to gain official representation by a separate breed club, the Large Munsterlander was recognised as a colour variant of the German Longhaired Pointer prior to that time. The breed first gained official recognition in the Munsterland of northwestern Germany in the early 1900s. However, the forerunner of the modern Large Munsterlander can be recognised in artist's representations of hunting scenes as far back as the Middle Ages. The Large Munsterlander was introduced to North America by Kurt von Kleist in 1966. |
| Personality | The Large Munsterlander is courageous, cheerful, intelligent and obedient. It makes a wonderful house companion dog and is very trainable. Munsterlanders are loyal and friendly dogs that are responsive to their humans. They make very good friends. If the Munsterlander is lacking in leadership and/or mental and pysical exercise it can get destructive and bark when left alone in the house. They are not guard dogs. They like to retrieve and naturally like to carry things about in their mouths. The Munster does well in obedience, and is good with other animals and with children. Under-exercised Munsterlanders can get overly excited and high strung. They will be happiest when used as working dogs. Bred for training and ability to withstand the pressures involved, this dog will adapt to any terrain whether it be valleys, prairies, forest or water, and to every type of hunting. It is resistant to fatigue and to bad weather. Particularly appreciated for the sureness of its point and the precision with which it retrieves, the Munsterlander can easily learn to come and sit on command in the first six months of life. Proper human to canine communication is essential. They love water and will try to retrieve everything out of the water. They are not difficult dogs. If one has a firm hand, even a beginner can manage this breed without a problem, however, they must remain firm, but calm, confident and consistent throughout the dog's life. It is a slow maturing dog, so don't "over-train" in its field work at too young an age. The breed has shown itself to be a dedicated enemy of birds of prey and they may try to attack small farm animals, however they can be trained to leave sheep and cattle alone. Although he will chase every small rodent and bird, he can't be bothered to chase cars, joggers and bikes. When he spots a bird or rabbit he will usually freeze in his motion. His head will point toward the prey and his whole body shifts slightly forward; one of the front feet will often be off the ground. The rapid motion freeze will prevent the prey from being alarmed and shows the hunter where the prey is hiding. The position can be often seen in old pictures and paintings and is typical for breeds such as pointers. Described by the German word "Vorsteh" (hund). |
Care Requirements
| Health | Some lines are prone to hip dysplasia although it is not common in this breed. |
| Grooming | The female has a shorter coat and will not need so much grooming. A brushing every 3-4 days should be enough. The male has a longer coat and needs a good brushing every second day. This breed is a seasonally heavy shedder, especially in the spring. Regular grooming will keep the shedding down. |
| Exercise | As with all their hunting relatives, they require sufficient exercise, although not as much as a pointer. They need to be taken on a daily, brisk walk or jog. While out on the walk the dog must be made to heel beside or behind the person holding the lead, as in a dog's mind the leader leads the way, and that leader needs to be the human. In addition, they need to be active in some type of work or play each day so they can run. They love to be outside and run around free. They are in their element when hunting rabbits or deer. Munsterlanders will search for rabbits under every bush they can find. This is not a dog for older or inactive people. It will do best with people who love to be outdoors. |
| Other Considerations | The Large Munsterlander is not recommended for apartment life. It is moderately active indoors and will do best with at least a large yard. The Munsterlander wants to play when it is outdoors. One owner of a Munsterlander says, "When they are not sleeping, they usually play with a bone or toy." |
