I am looking at a new dog once this tour is over. My Springer is going to be 12 1/2 and she is a pretty tired old girl now, limps and hobbles. Loves to hunt but can�t get her conditioned anymore, she just doesn�t have it in her to take much. Got her out once before I deployed and killed a grouse over her. she fetched it up. probably last one ever, I have that memory though. But I digress.
Looking to buy a new pup and have been fascinated with the Small Muensterlander ever since I ran into one in Switzerland a couple of years ago. Looked like a long tailed Springer. I know they are a pointing dog, and since I am getting a bit older (and slower) a pointing breed might be the ticket to give me a bit more of a chance on grouse.
There is one breeder near me who I have corresponded with and I will be checking his dogs out when I get back next fall.

But I really want to hear from some hunters with experience with the breed. How biddable are they. how family friendly are they. personable? easy to train. not hard headed? Good around kids and other dogs.
I have had Springer�s for 25 years now but want to try another type of dog. Don�t want a big dog and hunt partridge in the rough stuff in the Catskills. Looking for a dog that will hunt, pot and retrieve grouse and woodcock and also a dog that will be my bud. One I can take out to my shop and talk to when I need to get away from Broomrider 6.
Any thoughts, observations would be appreciated.

and of course any kennel suggestions in the north east.

Brian
I don't have any specifics about that breed, but here's a link to the OFA where you can look up orthopedic issues by breed.
http://www.offa.org/stats.html


Re: Broomrider 6, my experience suggests .... well I can't figure them out.

I have a landowner friend who bought one. We trained him at our kennel and I have hunted over him four times since training him.

He is a sure enough pheasant machine. He is also a cockel burr magnet, but I would feed him. He earns every mouthful.

Brian, here are some references for you
The guy with the website is here in Ontario, His name is Rolf Bothe, I've judged his dogs in the past and he's had some relly nice pups..his dogs are German bred


http://www.smallmunsterlanders.net/


Melissa Herz is in Oregon.........541 477 4529

Kristine and Jeff Hill in Nebraska....402 545 2581





All these people have recieved NAVHDA Breeder's awards in the past couple of years...meaning that the pups were individually tested for natural ability and at lest six in the litter scored high enough to ricieve the award...meaning that all of them are breeding from good stock and getting excellent results.

Hope this helps.....do your homework and choose wisely.

All Best


Claudio

Brian,
I have had the small munsterlanders in my family for about 15 years. Living in Minnesota they have hunted phesant, grouse, woodcock, ducks and geese. They also have hunted on the great plains for huns and sharptail as well as quail in Ks & Mo. They are great family dogs. They are a versatile dog rather than a specialist. As for training I run mine on wild birds and do not do much with planted birds. If you test a pup with NAVHDA there will be some plants and they will want to see the dogs desire and like to see the dog take the bird out. If you google the small munsterlander of north america the north american club will come up with a lot of info on the dogs as well as approved breeding of the litters. If you want a dog that will be your buddy you won't go wrong with a munster. I might add that do your homework on the pointing of the parents.

I had one for many years. Outstanding breed. Great family dog, awesome field dog. They hunt close so they are similar to the field work of a brittany, but they have a better temperament. They are not looney-hyper at home like a GSP, English Pointer or Brittany. More like a labrador at home.

They are do-all dogs designed to point, flush, retrieve, go to water, track game, etc. THey do it all. If you want a specialist dog, get an English Pointer or a Chesepeake Bay retriever. SMs are generalists like a Draathar. (another great breed)

I have a friend that has a SM what a great dog! She is a real sweetheart. But like any good hunting dog they do need a lot of personel attention. This particular one will stand or sit for hours with her head on your lap just to get some attention; ear scratch head or chin scratch or please throw the retrieving dummy. In the field she has always shown exceptional drive and eagerness.
If I were to get anouther dog this would br the one and I have had many. GSPs, Poodle pointer, Jack Russell ( this one would rather retrieve than eat) Lab etc.
Good fortune in finding what you want.
John McClure

In looking at the Small Munsterlander Pointer (no relation to the Large Munsterlander which is a color variant of the German Longhair Pointer), you are looking at the dog that put VERSATILE in the dictionary. The breed is 4-500yrs old, and is one of the 4 foundation breeds for what is now the CONTINENTALS. 2 world wars almost did the breed in. My little guy is going to be 8 this spring, he was my first sporting dog, and if it is possible to know now - he is the dog of a life time. As noted, they are an emotionally stabile dog - they can turn off the pray drive inside - my dad likens him to a lab in the house. They can be slower to mature than say a Lab or GSP.

Check us out on FB http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kimball-Lake-Kennel-Small-Munsterlander/297715380244138

Lapdog Munster


Sight pointing a preserve pheasant


A heart stopping point on a spring Woodcock


The Munsterlander retriever - his son Trupoints Bronson hitting the water like a tank at his NA test


After a mornings "versatle" hunt that yeilded a Wood duck & Grouse


He is incredibly steady, I love hunting spring woodcock with a camera - the doodle is right above his head....



These are but a few of my favorite pics.

Thank you for your service!! What branch has you over in the sandbox??
Gary

That is a rare JR - I would expect to have an easier time teaching a cat to retrieve than a JR

Isn't that an oxymoron?

re-opening this conversation.
backstory: after I did this thread, I ended up with another Springer who is an absolute sweetheart. she is the sharpest of the three I have owned. but, now I'm going to be 64 this year. and I am looking forward to taking a more relaxed approach to my grouse and woodcock hunting. My buddy hunts over a Spinone and she is also a sweetheart. And she is very easy hunting, doesnt range and moves slowly and purposefully. we alternate dogs during the day.

But, now I want to really look hard at a pointing dog. English setters are high on my list , always seem mellow and affectionate when not in the field.
But, the Kleine Muensterlander really intrigues me still.
so, now 9 years since I wrote this, I am soliciting new input.

Does anyone have any suggested breeders?
I am looking at Robingun Kennels as a possible breeder.

I am not opposed to an English. I want mellow dog at home and nice easy hunting dog in the field. That will retrieve.

I don’t have any personal experience with English Setters or Muensterlanders. The Muensterlander sounds interesting to me, based on hunting Partridge and Woodcock in NH and ME. We have a 2 year old English Springer who has shown great promise in two seasons of hunting. He’s a great family dog as well. A flushing dog seems to be ideal where we are. Previous dog was a GSP I got when stationed in Washington state in another lifetime…an awesome dog but really too big a running dog for the Partridge woods. He was dynamite in South Dakota and on Ptarmigan in Northern Quebec…. For a lot of reasons, great hunting, excellent family dog, smaller size, I’ve been very happy with our Springer.

Best of luck in your search! I’m sure that you’ll find a great companion with either breed.

-Tom

Ps-Still on Broomrider1 here!!…lol!

Still on my first one. 6 means the one in charge. (theoretically)
I refer to her as broomrider 6 but not as a term of endearment for sure

The Spinone really intersects me as well. They look so mellow on point and I presume would not tire easily in the field or pick up burrs. I have been a one-dog (Griffon) household since I began the journey 10 years ago. For sometime I toyed with the idea of an alternative breed but in the end purchased another Griffon. My dog #2 is about seven months old and is currently with a trainer being “started” as I am a very poor dog trainer. You very well may wind up with yet another Springer based your track record!

Don't know about the Small, but I have a friend who has owned Larges for over twenty years and loves them. He is mostly an upland game hunter.

Brian, Gunwolf, member here is a breeder of that breed. i am sure he can give you some advise. Pitty that he live in Germany, but his dogs won many prices at concours.
Cheers, Marc.