Kleiner Münsterländer

Kleiner Münsterländer

The Small Münsterlander is an affectionate, warm, energetic and loving dog. Sounds great, right? Well, there’s a big ‘but’. This pooch is a natural born hunter with a tremendous need for exercise and mental stimulation - it’s simply in their blood!

Kept as a family dog, they’ll need to get this stimulation elsewhere. That means heaps of exercise, sports and games or an unhappy, destructive pooch. With that said, they’re calm, warm and friendly so long as these needs are met - making them the perfect choice for a particularly active family.

Key facts about the Kleiner Münsterländer

Life expectancy :

7

19

12

14

Temperament :

Affectionate Playful Hunter

Size :

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Origins and history

The Small Münsterlander is thought to be a cross of the Large Münsterlander with various Spaniel breeds. It was originally bred sometime during the early 19th century in the Münsterland area of Northern Germany. Ever since, this breed has been a top choice for game, tracking and retrieving across Europe and the USA.

FCI breed nomenclature

FCI Group

Group 7 - Pointing Dogs

Section

Section 1 : Continental Pointing Dogs

Physical characteristics of the Kleiner Münsterländer

Adult size

Female : Between 20 and 21 in

Male : Between 20 and 22 in

Weight

Female : Between 40 and 51 lb

Male : Between 40 and 51 lb

Coat colour

Type of coat

Eye colour

Brown

Description

Despite its name, the Small Münsterlander is actually a medium-sized, well-balanced dog. They’re visibly lean, athletic and fairly muscular with a high-set, feathered tail. They boast a long head which is flat at the top with a gentle stop and strong muzzle. Overall, the Small Münsterlander is an attractive, sturdy-looking dog with a lovely, glossy coat.

Good to know

The Small Münsterlander is the smallest of the German pointers.

Temperament

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    Affectionate

    Most people assume that a hunting dog won’t be too affectionate - but the Small Munsterlander is actually extremely loving. So long as they’re adequately exercised, this breed will happily cuddle up with its family and loves nothing more than human companionship.

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    Playful

    With so much energy to burn, the Small Münsterlander is always up for goofing around with their family or taking part in sports and games.

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    Calm

    If the Small Münsterlander gets adequate exercise, they’re calm, gentle and easy to handle. On the flipside, miss out a day’s walk and you’ll have a hyperactive pooch on your hands.

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    Intelligent

    This breed is capable of tracking prey using all its senses - yep, it’s an extremely smart pup! The Small Münsterlander is known for its intelligence and an amazing memory.

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    Hunter

    This pooch is, first and foremost, a hunter. They love hunting and would do it for hours on end if they were allowed! Their high prey drive can be quite tricky to handle.

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    Fearful / wary of strangers

    The Small Münsterlander is naturally social and a true extrovert - they’re super friendly without an ounce of shyness around new people.

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    Independent

    At times, the Small Münsterlander can be strong-willed and autonomous, but generally he works in a team with his master.

    Behaviour of the Kleiner Münsterländer

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      Tolerates solitude

      This breed bonds closely with his family and doesn’t do well spending time alone unless his needs have been well met.

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      Easy to train / obedience

      Thanks to their eagerness to please and natural intelligence, the Small Münsterlander is very easy to train. They react best to gentle training with lots of positive reinforcement - they basically enjoy making you happy!

      You can begin training this breed as young as 2-3 months old - and it’s important you do so. If you start too late, your Small Münsterlander could become a little headstrong and stubborn.

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      Barking

      Very attentive, the Small Münsterländer barks at the slightest suspicious noise.

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      Tendency to run away

      The Small Münsterlander has a very high prey drive and will chase after anything they see, meaning they’re likely to run away when out and about. They’ll need a strong harness and lead.

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      Destructive

      This dog is bursting with energy and with nowhere to use it, it may dig, bark and become hyperactive.

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      Greedy / Gluttony

      Treats are always welcome as a positive reinforcement of good behaviour.

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      Guard dog

      It may take some training to get the Small Münsterlander to work as a watchdog. It doesn’t necessarily come naturally to all pups, as they’re generally very friendly towards strangers.

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      First dog

      This is a perfect companion dog and working assistant, even for novice masters.

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      Lifestyle

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        Kleiner Münsterländer in a flat

        As long as their needs are met, they can adapt to any type of housing, and live inside or outside.

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        Need for exercise / Sporty

        The Small Munsterlander is a hunting breed at heart and has an extremely high exercise requirement. They need to run, walk, play sports and express their hunting instincts through stimulating games and sports every single day - this isn’t a dog for someone who dislikes exercise!

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        Travelling / easy to transport

        The Small Münsterlander is small enough to easily fit in the car. They may find it hard to cope with long journeys, but should be okay if well socialised.

        Compatibility

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          Kleiner Münsterländer and cats

          An extremely well-socialised Small Münsterlander may be able to live with cats, but most will be tempted to chase them unless they were raised side by side.

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          Kleiner Münsterländer and dogs

          The Small Münsterlander is a social little pooch and will enjoy living in a multiple dog household.

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          Kleiner Münsterländer and children

          They are known to be friendly, playful and warm around children. Males are normally a little larger than females, and therefore more resilient to rough play - therefore, they may be a better option if you have young children.

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          Kleiner Münsterländer and the elderly

          As long as their expenditure needs aren’t neglected, their stable and affectionate nature means they can cohabit with people of all ages.

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          Price

          It’s rare to find a Small Munstelander puppy in the UK. You’ll probably have to travel abroad, where you can expect to pay upwards of £1000.

          Looking after a dog of this size typically costs between £80 to £110 a month, including food, medical/insurance, and incidental expenses.

          Grooming

          This breed has a medium-long coat which seems to attract leaves, dirt and seeds. Regular brushing - at least 2-3 times per week - is essential to remove this build-up of dirt and prevent tangles. We’d recommend bathing this dog once every two months or as needed with gentle, hypoallergenic dog shampoo.

          Shedding

          Thankfully, this breed doesn’t shed excessively - regular brushing should keep it under control.

          Nutrition of the Kleiner Münsterländer

          Due to their high exercise needs, the Small Münsterlander would benefit from a dog food specifically made for active breeds.

          Health of the Kleiner Münsterländer

          Life expectancy

          The life expectancy of a Small Münsterländer is approximately 13 years.

          Strong / robust

          The Small Münsterlander is pretty tough and powerful dog, who fears very little.

          Withstand heat

          The Small Münsterlander can tolerate warm temperatures but will struggle in extreme heat due to their thick coat. Make sure they have access to shade and cold water.

          Withstand cold

          Thanks to their thick, double coat, the Small Münsterlander can tolerate cold and wet weather well.

          Tendency to put on weight

          As long as they get the exercise they need, they should be fine.

          Common illnesses

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