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.
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
The Small Munsterlander comes in a huge variety of colour combinations and marking, though they’re most commonly seen in roan brown and white or liver and white.
White
Brown
Type of coat
This breed boasts a thick, double, wavy coat with significant feathering over the chest, legs, back and tail.
Long
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
100%
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.
100%
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.
66%
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.
66%
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.
100%
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.
33%
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.
66%
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
66%
Tolerates solitude
This breed bonds closely with his family and doesn’t do well spending time alone unless his needs have been well met.
100%
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.
100%
Barking
Very attentive, the Small Münsterländer barks at the slightest suspicious noise.
100%
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.
