Munsterlander Dog Breed

The Small Munsterlander is a highly skilled hunting dog. They are not recommended for first-time dog owners. They are great for experienced hunting dog owners, families with kids and other dogs, and homes where they have a purpose other than being a companion.

These dogs have a lot of abilities, but they also require a lot of responsibilities:

PROS

• Courageous
• Love to swim
• Fast runners
• Great with kids
• Very intelligent
• Highly versatile
• Remarkably loyal
• Extremely devoted
• Strong pack instincts
• Little-to-no doggy odor
• Few genetic health concerns
• Supremely gifted hunting dog
• Perfect for very active lifestyles
• Easily trainable with the right person

CONS

• Highly dominant
• Moderate shedders
• Occasional barking
• Requires a lot of attention
• Must be trained very early on
• Socialization is a life-long duty
• Expensive to adopt and maintain
• Needs an extraordinary amount of exercise
• Can quickly and easily get separation anxiety

The Small Munsterlander is an astoundingly versatile hunting dog. While some people may appreciate this versatility, hunters tend to desire mastery in specific aspects (gun dog, pointing, retrieving, etc.). This breed is able to be trained specifically. They are amicable, devoted, and great companion dogs who need a lot of attention, activity, and purpose.

There are few dogs as remarkably intelligent as this breed. What they learn early on and in their first hunting season, they keep for life. They need more than tricks, however, as this breed was meant to have a purpose. As such, they are best as hunting dogs. If you are getting a Small Munsterlander as only a companion, it's strongly recommended that they are trained to fulfill a job.

While they have acute body language (they can be great pointers, after all), Small Munsterlanders communicate vocally with a wide range of sounds. You should be keen to learn them to better understand this remarkable breed, as they will be all the more loving, devoted and eager to please you.

These dogs are extremely energetic, love to jump and run, and must understand when and where to stretch their legs. Lots of daily exercise with long walks, dog park visits and a yard in which to run freely when they are not out hunting are essential.

The Small Munsterlander dog was once a variety of the Munsterlander (now known as the Large Munsterlander), a breed which, until 1909, was itself a variety of the German Longhair. Now, these former varietals are three separate breeds, of which the Small Munsterlander is the smallest one. There are basically no real varieties among all Small Munsterlander puppies-- as the breed has essentially one coat color — brown and white — the ticking or roan that may appear is considered somewhat of a variety.

This skillful hunting breed is also an able gundog and pointer. Small Munsterlanders love agility games, food puzzles and a confident master who is firm but gentle. Whether in the woods, swimming in a lake, or running alongside you, these dogs love people. Exuberant during the day (or hunt), they love to unwind by just being with you by the fire, on the couch, and in bed. One aspect that they carry all the time is a desire to please you.

They train easily and quickly. It's best to start when they are puppies around 10 to 12 weeks old. Waiting until they are a few months old before doing so is sure to allow the Small Munsterlander temperament to become difficult to manage. They also need to be socialized early and much more frequently than most dogs.

Your Small Munsterlander will love the rest of the family, but they tend to bond with one person.

The Small Munsterlander is an exceedingly healthy breed that is kept so by the stringent requirements of the various kennel and hunting clubs. Orthopedic and hip certifications, as well as cataract tests, are some of the health screenings that are mandatory to be members of nearly all the clubs. Because of the rigorous health demands, even the few possible concerns tend to have a very low incident rate.

Still, you should know that there are possible problems:

• Hip dysplasia
• Ear infections
• Skin irritations
• Vision problems

The average life span for a Small Munsterlander is 13 to 14 years.