Large Münsterländer: This German breed has excellent hunting skills to hunt large mammals such as red deer and roe deer.
Present in two varieties that differ in size, the Grosser Münsterländer lends itself well both to the still, both to the search and to the carry. In Germany, the excellent Weimaraner or Drahthaar beams have often obscured the hunting skills of the German Münsterländer pointing dog.
The Münsterländer is of two varieties depending on the size, the Grosser and the Kleiner. Despite being morphologically similar to the Epagneul Français and the Epagneul Breton, the Münsterländer has no genetic affinity with these two breeds. In fact, the Münsterländer has been present in Germany for many centuries and has always been used for shooting.
The first association of breeders and enthusiasts who engaged in the selection and conservation of this breed was born in 1919, with the aim of improving the standard and making it known to the general public. The “kleiner” (small) variety experienced the risk of extinction at the beginning of the XNUMXth century, but several breeders stubbornly averted this danger, defining the standard and the fundamental characteristics of this variety.
In 1936 both varieties were recognized by the FCI and their diffusion grew more and more, continuing in all European countries and in particular in Switzerland, the Netherlands and Belgium.
The Münsterländer is mainly considered a hunting dog, suitable for both still, hunting and retrieving. The selection of the breed carried out by the German breeders has generated a versatile dog, skilled in both hunting birds and mammals. The different size of the "kleiner" and the "grosser" makes the two varieties of Münsterländer suitable for two different types of hunting: the Kleiner is more suitable for hunting hares and small game, while the grosser is perfect for hunting large mammals it cuts like deer and roe deer.
In addition to adapting to different types of hunting, the Münsterländer has an excellent ability to hunt in very different environments, achieving excellent results both in the plains and in the mountains.
On a character level, the Münsterländer is a strong dog that needs a strong education from an expert in training. In addition to being a hunting dog, he can also be a good companion dog that can be gentle with children and keep a good house guard.
Many advise against keeping this breed in an apartment or house, because it always needs to be in contact with nature or at least to have a good garden where to live and run. The grosser variety of the Münsterländer provides a robust and strong dog whose trunk is proportionate to the height at the withers. The height for the males is between 60 and 65 cm for a weight of 28-30 kg, while for the females between 58 and 63 cm with a weight of 25-28 kg. The trunk is well proportioned and with good musculature. It has a distinct appearance, is elongated and denotes intelligence. The black nose has well opened nostrils. Correct and complete dentition, of good development, has a scissor bite.
The neck is very sturdy, with a strong neck. The ears are broad, set rather high and the lower part rounded, well adherent to the skull. The eyes are very dark. The limbs are in perfect perpendicularity with well-proportioned feet, having a very respectable musculature. The tail is carried horizontally or slightly higher, expressing much pride of the breed.
The hair is long and dense, neither curled nor open, the latter characteristic which would damage it in hunting. It is particularly long and dense on the posterior aspect of the limbs, both in males and females. Standard body colors are white with black or gray spots and speckles, while the head is black, possibly with a small spot or white stripe.
The Münsterländer is in good health and lives an average of 12-14 years. Very important thing: the hair must be brushed regularly and must be checked during hunting periods and after exits in bushy and wooded environments, to prevent insects or parasites from damaging it.