Dog Training, Breeds, Care, And Health! - Canine HQ
Home / Dog Breed / Small Munsterlander
Fine By Breed Name

Explore By Characteristic or Group

View all Breeds

RESOURCES FOR NEW & PROSPECTIVE DOG OWNERS

Find Your Match

Answer a few simple questions and find the right dog for you

Compare Breeds

Compare up to 5 different breeds side by side

Find a Puppy

Nunc bibendum, purus eget tristique fermentum.

Choose your Breed

View the collection of dog breeds we have information on.

Why Get a Dog?

Nunc bibendum, purus eget tristique fermentum.

Breeders

Aenean feugiat metus ac nisi dictum tincidunt Interdum et.
Exclusive Deals, 50%+ Off Good & Toys, Health Information & More!
Register your Dog Today!

Small Munsterlander

intelligent / devoted / self-confident
Miscellaneous Class >>

Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.

Height

20.5-21 inches

Weight

40-60 pounds

Life Expectancy

12-14 years

Breed Traits & Characteristics

Affectionate With Family
  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    100% 100%
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    80% 80%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    60% 60%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    60% 60%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    20% 20%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    40% 40%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    60% 60%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    60% 60%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    60% 60%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    60% 60%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    100% 100%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    80% 80%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    20% 20%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    80% 80%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

Affectionate With Family

  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    100% 100%

How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.

Good With Young Children

  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    80% 80%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.

GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS

  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    60% 60%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    60% 60%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    20% 20%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    40% 40%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    60% 60%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    60% 60%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    60% 60%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    60% 60%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    100% 100%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    80% 80%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    20% 20%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    80% 80%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

About the Breed

The Small Munsterlander is an adaptable hunting dog and natural retriever with a medium range, a strong pointing instinct, and a strong need for water. It has outstanding tracking capabilities for all forms of post-shot work. Intelligence and trainability help to improve these abilities. The Small Munsterlander is bright and adaptable, with a full but balanced temperament and a stable personality. It is vigilant and friendly to people, making it suited for family life; it has good social behavior and maintains close contact with its master. Its fervent, tenacious predatory instinct, versatile hunting abilities, powerful nerves, and keenness for the game make it an excellent hunting companion.

 

Small Munsterlanders can also be utilized for agility, obedience, retrieving, and hunting tests or competitions during the off-season. Small Munsterlanders have a strong pack sense and flourish with families that enjoy being outside. They are frequently spotted lying around (or on) their master’s feet in the house. It is known as the Kleiner Münsterländer in their home nation of Germany.

What To Expect When Caring For a Small Munsterlander

Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.

Health

There may be some minor health difficulties, as with any breed, but conscientious breeders in both the United States and Europe have made a deliberate effort to keep the breed healthy. Although some dogs may suffer severe health issues, the vast majority of Small Munsterlanders are healthy dogs. Regular veterinary care and a regular diet are critical to the health of your dog. Yearly DHLPP vaccinations, rabies shots, a monthly heartworm preventative regimen, and, in many parts of the country, a Lyme Disease vaccination are all important. Those who want to own a Small Munsterlander can learn about unique health issues in the breed by working with a responsible breeder.  
Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:
  • Hip Evaluation
  • Hip and Elbow Certification

Grooming

Occasional brushings will preserve the coat in good condition, and baths will keep them clean and looking their best. Small Munsterlanders shed their coats more regularly in the late spring and early fall because they are seasonal shedders. To avoid overgrowth, splitting, and cracking, their nails should be clipped on a regular basis with a nail clipper or grinder. Their ears should be checked on a regular basis to avoid wax and debris buildup, which can lead to infection. Teeth should be brushed on a regular basis.  

Exercise

Small Munsterlanders make excellent family pets, but they do require regular exercise and stimulation. The breed was created to hunt, and it is their favorite activity. This is a multi-purpose hunting breed that was created to hunt, point, retrieve, and track wildlife. Because of their hunting ancestry, the breed has a high activity level and requires suitable outlets for their energy, including daily exercise. If you don't go hunting with your Small Munsterlander, make sure he has other methods to burn off energy, such as going for a run or playing in a fenced-in area. They must be supervised outside because their tendency is to hunt. They will wander and self-hunt if sufficient stimulation and exercise are not supplied.

Training

This breed, like other adoptable dogs, matures slowly. Most Small Munsterlanders are not mentally mature until they are two years old. It is critical to be prepared for at least one year of a powerful and muscular fully-grown dog with the intelligence of a teenager. It is crucial to note that they are bred both as a hunting companion and as a family member. To reach their full potential, these loving dogs require a lot of time and interaction with their human family and like to be raised at home.   Small Munsterlanders are often fine with children and are tolerant of their erratic behavior. However, as with other dogs, it is critical to socialize and manage their contacts with children. It is never recommended that a dog be left alone with little children. It is also critical to find a way to incorporate your Small Munsterlander into your hobbies. This will allow him to spend time with you and work for you, resulting in a happy and well-adjusted companion.

Nutrition

You'll want to feed your Small Munsterlander a formula that will cater to his specific digestive demands throughout his life. Many dog food companies provide sports recipes with the protein/fat proportions required for active dogs. Small Munsterlanders are medium-sized breeds with a lifespan of 12 to 14 years. It is up to you to decide what you feed your dog, but working with your veterinarian and/or breeder is the best approach to determining meal frequency as a puppy and the optimal adult diet to increase his lifetime. At all times, clean, fresh water should be available.  

History

The origins of the Small Munsterlander can be traced back to the mid-nineteenth century. The breeding of new German Pointing Dogs began following the change in German hunting law, an increase in the number of hunters and hunting enthusiasts, and the systematic cultivation of the game stock. According to legend, long-coated ‘Wachtelhunds’ (German Spaniels) were popular in the Munsterland region around 1870. These dogs were good at pointing, had great scenting ability, and could also retrieve. In 1906, a well-known poet named Hermann Löns took care of the problem by publishing a public appeal in the magazine Unser Wachtelhund asking for information on the remaining specimens of the red Hanovarian Heath Hound. Instead, he and his siblings discovered a pointing Wachtelhund on the farms that they named ‘Heidewachtel’.

Aside from the Löns brothers, well-known dog aficionados like the Baron of Bevervörde-Lohburg worked hard to establish a good breeding stock in various areas. Mr. Heitmann, a Burgsteinfurt teacher, was successful with his line breeding. Several other breeding families known as the ‘Dorsten type’ arose in Westphalia in the years that followed. The ‘Verband für Kleine Münsterländer Vorstehhunde’ (Club for Small Munsterlander Pointing Dogs) was finally established on March 17, 1912. This group stated its goals at the time as follows: ‘The Club pursues the objective of promoting the purity and true breeding of the long-coated little pointing dog that has been bred in the Munsterland for many decades.’ At the time, the absence of set breed features hampered both breeding and Club operations.

Beginning in 1921, breeders began to adhere to the breed standard developed by Mr. Friedrich Jungklaus. Nonetheless, the true origin of dogs during that time has not been verified.

The Small Munsterlander was created to accomplish a variety of hunting-related duties using instinct rather than training. The breed is intended to pursue prey of all sizes, both furred and feathered; to point out game to the hunter; to retrieve shot game; and to track wounded wildlife. All of this had to be done in tight cover in the field or woodland, as well as in the water. Furthermore, the breed was created to be a good family friend.