Small Musterlander Pointer

The Small Munsterlander is a very versatile hunting dog from the Munster area of Germany. It is very well-known in its native country, in the Netherlands, and in the Czech Republic, but is rare in much of the rest of the world. In the United States there are estimated to be about 350; these are hunting dogs. It is difficult to attain a Small Munsterlander for a pet, because the dog is in enormous demand by hunters in the U.S. and breeders give preference to these prospective adoptions. There are only about 30 in the United Kingdom, where the breed has yet to gain recognition. It is recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale with 10,000 registered in Germany alone, and has been recorded in the American Kennel Club's Foundation Stock Service since 2006. It is the third most popular versatile hunting dog in Europe. The name of the Small Munsterlander is misleading; it is a medium-sized dog that gets its name by comparison to the Larger Munsterlander. The Small Munsterlander is a square, balanced, well-built dog. Its appearance is one of extreme athleticism. It stands an average 20 to 22 inches tall at the shoulder. The coat is soft, wavy and of medium length. It is a single coat and not weather resistant, although this breed works happily in cold conditions; it loves water salt or fresh. Ears, back of the legs, inner thighs and tail, are all moderately feathered. Color of the coat is a combination of liver and white, with ticking or roan variations, and occasional hints of auburn. The tail of this dog is always left long, and is believed to act as a sort of rudder when working in the water. Believed to be at least 500 years old as a breed, the Small Munsterlander was one of the pointers originally bred to work with the hunter and his falcon as they hunted on foot. Prior to the 19th century, this type of hunting was the sport of the noble class, who had the time and leisure to train falcons and pointers, and the money to own large expanses of land and the kennels to hold various hunting dogs. In the 19th century, society shifted as land was broken up and sold, allowing those in the lower classes to hunt and keep various types of hunting dogs. The commoner who found himself using dogs to hunt to keep his family fed, wanted a very versatile breed, able to point, retrieve, and work on a variety of terrain and in water. By the end of the 19th century, the trend was toward breeding hunting dogs for versatility over speciality. In about 1870 a group of German nobles went about finding a versatile hunting dog. In the Munsterland area of Germany, they began their search for examples of a long-haired versatile hunting dog. This region was favored because it had long held a reputation for having the best hunting dogs in the country: in this area it was said that when a farmer didn't want his family to starve, he used the Small Munsterlander. But this was a breed that had become largely unknown outside the immediate region; once the favored dog of nobility, it had been reduced to a housepet, occasionally used to help bring home dinner. But these dogs were well-known for their superior hunting abilities able to track and scent the air, willing to work any terrain, comfortable in water and on land. The nobles set about establishing a breeding kennel, and in 1912 they established the first breed specific club. In 1921, Dr. Friedrich Jungklaus wrote a scientific study on the Small Munsterlander and within it included the breed standard. That standard is still largely accepted today. The Small Munsterlander is an active dog, agile and very energetic. It can sprint up to 25 mph. It was bred to endure long days of hunting and needs a large amount of physical and mental stimulation. It is not suited for a small apartment, or for a quiet, inactive household. This breed requires at least one period of vigorous exercise such as a long brisk walk daily. A secure fence is essential; as a hunting breed that is strongly led by its nose, the Small Munsterlander will be off tracking a scent before the owner realizes the dog is gone. This breed has strong instinctive guarding instincts and will bark frequently if not trained to do otherwise. The coat of the Small Munsterlander needs minimal care: an occasional brushing to remove dead hair, prevent matting and keep coat conditioned and skin healthy, is all that is needed. Ears should be checked frequently for signs of parasites and infection, and should be cleaned weekly. Neglect of ear health can result in permanent damage. If the dog spends time hunting out in the field, its coat and ears should be examined frequently for ticks. This breed may be susceptible to hip dysplasia, and breeding stock should be tested. Being a deep-chested breed, it is also prone to bloat (GDV) which is a sudden, life-threatening emergency condition. Owners should be familiar with the signs of bloat, and should keep the dog from hard exercise for a period after eating. The Small Munsterlander is happiest when it has plenty of activity, whether in work or play. The prospective owner should be aware that this breed can be extremely rambunctious as a pup through the first 18 months of its life or more. For this reason, it not only needs firm training, but is likely not suitable for very young children or for the elderly. Early, consistent and ongoing obedience work will ensure that the dog remains well-behaved and under control. Games and activities that take its intelligence into account will keep the dog well-occupied and content. The Small Musterlander is an excellent versatile hunter, and is used in obedience competition, scent and tracking, water dog sports, search and rescue, and as a bomb-sniffing dog.

Back to iAnimals.com home page Copyright Notice: This website is © . All Rights Reserved.  Click Here to contact us. Link Partners: Animals Go to Heaven | Adopt Me | Salt And Pepper | Singing Animals | Animal Noises