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Why a Small Munsterlander

Origin: The Small Munsterlander (SM) originated in Germany where it is called the Kleine Munsterlander. The breed became popular when social changes made hunting a viable pursuit for the common man. These people couldn’t afford multiple specialty dogs. They needed a versatile dog that could hunt everything from upland birds to waterfowl to fur. They also wanted a dog that would be a pleasant household companion. The Small Munsterlander was and is the perfect dog for all these tasks.

Description: A correct SM is an elegant, strong, agile dog. Males stand 20.5-22 inches at the withers and females stand 19.75-21.25 inches. There is no breed standard for weight, but most are 38-58 pounds. They are brown and white or roan. The dense soft coat should lie flat except for the fringe hair (furnishings) on the tail, front legs, thighs, and belly. The tail should not be docked. More information on breed standards can be found at www.smcna.org/fcistandards.php.

Abilities: Well bred SMs naturally search, point, retrieve and track a variety of feathered and furred game. They are known for their nose and are often used for blood tracking deer. In Europe they are even used to hunt wild boar. There small size relative to other hunting dogs gives them an advantage in heavy cover. They are hardy in a variety of conditions. They possess a keen desire to hunt.

Personality: Properly bred SMs are friendly, winsome dogs who enjoy the company of people without being needy. Given adequate exercise and mental stimulation they are tireless hunters outdoors and calm companions indoors. They are nearly fearless. They are very intelligent and learn quickly, but can be stubborn if their trainer is not consistent or fair in his or her methods. Self confidence is a term often applied to SMs. SMs are quite capable of making good decisions while hunting without constant guidance from their human partner.
Health: SMs live, on average, about 12-13 years. They often remain able hunters nearly their entire life. SMs have far fewer genetic health issues than most breeds. Hip dysplasia is occasionally seen. Epilepsy is present in some lines. In either case, breeding rules of the Small Munsterlander Club of North
America (http://smallmunsterlander.org) and their large historical SM pedigree database help breeders select dogs and bitches to reduce risk.

Care and maintenance: Some SMs shed very little, others shed moderately. Their furnishings sometimes require brushing to remove burrs and dirt. Their ears should be dried after swimming or bathing, but generally are not prone to infection. They do not require clipping or daily brushing. Of
course, every hard working hunting dog requires the occasional bath.
Training: SMs respond well to consistent, fair training. Most are neither hard headed nor soft. They work hard to please a good handler, but are not blindly obedient to a poor handler. Many SM owners train with their chapter of the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA), http://www.navhda.org/. Even the most experienced trainers and handlers find working with other members of NAVHDA invaluable in producing the best possible hunting dog/handler pair.