Elegant and versatile: The eager to work Large Münsterländer has a lot in common with the German Longhaired Pointer, because it was originally a colour variant of this breed. Find out here what else makes these talented hunting dogs stand out.
Appearance of the Large Münsterländer
According to the FCI standard, the Large Münsterländer is a strong, muscular dog with a ‘racy general impression’. Although it has different ancestors, it looks very similar to the Small Münsterländer, although is a few centimetres taller.
The body is muscular with a straight, short back and broad chest seen from the front. The croup slopes only slightly. The body length should match the shoulder height, but may exceed it by two centimetres.
The head is elongated and noble with a clever look, black nose and strong, long muzzle. The eyes should be as dark as possible.
The Large Münsterländer’s tail is horizontal or slightly upright without a kink.
In action, it has a springy gait and lively canter that leaves no doubt that this is a dynamic working dog.
How big does a Large Münsterländer get?
The height of males is 60 to 65 centimetres. Females reach between 58 and 63 centimetres in shoulder height. The weight is about 30 kilograms.
Fur texture and colour
The Large Münsterländer has long, thick fur, which should be particularly pronounced on the back of the legs as well as on the tail. The ears should also be fringed, i.e. have longer hair. The fur on the head is short compared to the rest of the coat.
This breed is found with versions of black and white fur: white with black patches and spots as well as mottled black. The head is black and a white blaze is permitted. There are dogs with brown fur, but they are excluded from breeding.
Character: The Large Münsterländer is an alert hunting companion
The Large Münsterländer has long, thick fur, which should be particularly pronounced on the back of the legs as well as on the tail. The ears should also be fringed, i.e. have longer hair. The fur on the head is short compared to the rest of the coat.
This breed is found with versions of black and white fur: white with black patches and spots as well as mottled black. The head is black and a white blaze is permitted. There are dogs with brown fur, but they are excluded from breeding.
Large Münsterländers are found in different black and white varieties; the head is mostly black with a white blaze.
Hunting training is best
The Large Münsterländer should undergo professional hunting training, because this way it learns to act out its natural hunting behaviour in a controlled manner. Barking also requires consistent leadership so that your dog doesn’t turn into a yapper.
The Large Münsterländer likes to learn and does so quickly. It is easy to lead, which means that it likes working together with its owners. Hence, training this dog breed is usually easy to manage, although you should show plenty of patience and consistency.
The Large Münsterländer is only a suitable dog for first-time owners with plenty of expert guidance.
Read here how you can wean your dog off excessive and uncontrolled barking with anti-barking training.
Present-day breeding of the Large Münsterländer
How much does a Large Münsterländer cost?
A Large Münsterländer from a reputable breed generally costs between 1,500 and 2,000 Pounds.
Always keep fully informed before buying a puppy: Questions for Dog Breeders.
Alternative dog breeds
In terms of character and type of dog, the Large Münsterländer Pointer has most in common with the German Longhaired Pointer. After all, they both belonged to the same breed until around 100 years ago and have been deployed similarly for hunting since then.
Other pointers like the German Wire-haired Pointer, German Shorthaired Pointer or French hunting dogs like the larger Picardy Spaniel or French Spaniel also show many parallels to the Large Münsterländer.
The Small Münsterländer can be traced back to other ancestors, but is also an intelligent hunter that forms a close bond with its human family.
Conclusion: Likeable hunting assistant
This breed is charming, attractive, intelligent and a likeable family dog. Nevertheless, it is only suitable for dog lovers who can meet its high demands for exercise and activity. It’s difficult to fully stimulate this breed with dog sport alone. As a result, the Large Münsterländer will be happiest of all with hunters.
Source: Zooplus