Munsterlander
There are actually two breeds of Munsterlander; Small and Large. Although both breeds originated in the Munster, Germany area, they can be traced back to distinct breeding stock.
The Small Munsterlander is a descendant of Falconers’ bird dogs who were trained to flush smaller upland game birds to be used as prey for the falcons. As a result, the modern Small Munsterlander is particularly adept at close searches and pointing. As guns became a more popular tool for hunting, this dog adapted to an added role as retriever on both land and in water. This dog is a team player, known to work well in conjunction with his human hunting companion. Despite the breed’s intelligence and skills, became more rare during the 1800s. However, the breed has made a mild revival since the early 20th century due to its good nature and ability to make an ideal household pet. While there are relatively few of these dogs in North America and England, the Small Munsterlander does have popularity in Holland, Germany and the Czech Republic.
The Small Munsterlander is a lean and wiry dog with a medium length coat. It is a colorful dog, with large brown patches against a solid white or ticked coat. This breed varies in size to some degree with a height between 18 and 22 inches at the shoulder and weighing anywhere between 35 and 60 pounds.
The Large Munsterlander is actually a newer breed than its smaller counterpart. This dog is a larger animal – as the name implies – however, it is also easily distinguishable by coloration. During the 19th century era of liver and white colored hunting dogs in Germany, the Large Munsterlander was in fact a distinct color from most: black and white.
A descendant of the German Longhaired Pointer, this dog is touted as a well-rounded hunter that will point, retrieve and perform general utilitarian duties in the field. This dog is confident and tireless, trainable and loyal.
The Large Munsterlander will be between 23 and 25.5 inches in height at the shoulder and weigh between 50 and 70 pounds.
