Large Münsterländer

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Large Munsterlander
Large Munsterlander in Germany
Alternative names
Grosser Munsterlander Grosser Munsterlander Vorstehhund
Country of origin
Germany
Classification and breed standards
FCI:	Group 7 Section 1 #118	Stds
ANKC:	Group 3 (Gundogs)	Stds
KC (UK):	Gundogs	Stds
NZKC:	Gundogs	Stds
UKC:	Gundog Breeds	[? Stds]
Notes
The UKC does not have an official breed standard

The Large Munsterlander (or Grosser Münsterlander) is a breed of gun dog originally from the Münster region in Germany.

The Kennel Club (KC) in England recognized the breed in 1919 and established the breed standard in 1921.

1 Appearance
- 1.1 Size
- 1.2 Coat and Colour
2 History
3 Field ability
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Appearance

Ten week old Large Munsterlander puppy

The Large Munsterlander should be athletic, intelligent, noble, and elegant in appearance. Its body should be the same length as its height at the withers. The dog should be muscular without being bulky. Its gait should be fluid and elastic.

[edit] Size

Large Munsterlanders should be 60 - 65 cm at the withers for males, 58 - 63 cm for females. It should weigh approximateley 30 kg.

[edit] Coat and Colour

The LM is black and white with hair of medium length. This dog has been bred for many decades for hunting and not show. Hence coat color is highly variable, ranging from predominantly white to predominantly black. Markings occur as solid white patches, or ticked or roan regions. The coat is dense, but should be firm and sleek.

[edit] History

The Large Munsterlander is one of several continental breeds of versatile hunting dogs. Although the LM is one of the last of the German breeds to gain official representation by a separate breed club, the LM was recognized as a color variant of the German Longhaired Pointer prior to that time, bred solely for the black and white color. The LM first gained official recognition in the Munsterland of northwestern Germany in the early 1900s. However, the forerunner of the modern LM can be recognized in artist's representations of hunting scenes as far back as the Middle Ages. The Large Munsterlander was introduced to North America by Kurt von Kleist in 1966. By August 14, 2003, at least 56 dogs have been imported from Europe and 1039 pups have been registered in North America.

[edit] Field ability

This field dog characteristically is calm, gentle with children and well adjusted to living in the master's dwelling. The versatile characteristics of the LM provide for a reliable companion for all facets of hunting. A recent comparison of the scores of 82 LMs with 104 other versatile breeds entered in North American Versitile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA) tests showed that the Large Munsterlander is a versatile dog with a difference. On average, LMs work closer and are more responsive to the handler than other breeds although the LM's pointing instinct matures later. The LM displayed greater cooperation than other breeds and an excellent concentration in the tracking and recovery of crippled game birds. During search for game, most LMs range 50-150 yd, depending on cover. Their long and thick coat protects them against cold and allows them to search dense cover thoroughly.