ORIGIN : Germany.
UTILIZATION : Versatile, useful multi-purpose gundog. His strength is his work after the shot.
CLASSIFICATION FCI : Group 7 Pointing Dogs
Section 1.2 Continental pointing dogs, "Spaniel Type".
With working trial.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : The historical development of the Large Munsterlander goes back to the white/particolour bird and hawking dog of the Middle Adges via the Stoberhund and Wachtelhund to the Pointer of the 19th century. The Large Munsterlander (L.M.) as well as the Small Munsterlander and the Deutsch Langhaar (German Longhair) belong to the family of the longhaired German Pointing Dogs, whose planned breeding began towards the end of the 19th Century. After the "German Longhair Club" finally excluded the black colour from breeding in 1909, the "Club for the pure breeding black and white Munsterland Pointers" took over the breeding of the black and white Longhair.
After incorporating the remainder of these native Longhairs, in particular from West-Munsterland and lower Saxony, onto a foundation list, the Club began the planned breeding of the L.M. in 1922.
The foundation list comprised 83 dogs. Descendants of those L.M. on the original list were entered into the stud book for L.M. The Club keeping the stud records is the federation for L.M., to date organised in eight independent County groups. The "Verband fur Grosse Munsterlander" is a member of the V.D.H. and of the Federation of Working Gundogs (JGHV).
GENERAL APPEARANCE : Strong muscular body, yet racy general impression. Expression of intelligence and nobility. Clean outline.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS : Length of body and height at shoulder should, as near as possible, be equal. Length of body can exceed height at shoulder by 2 cm.
BEHAVIOUR / CHARACTER : The most important qualities are : to be tractable and easily taught, dependable for use as a gundog, in particular after the shot. Lively temperament without being nervous.
HEAD : Nobel and elongated with a minimum stop and intelligent outlook. Definite well muscled chin.
Nose : Bridge of nose straight, with pronounced black nose leather.
Muzzle : Strong, long and well suited to its use.
Teeth : Strong and complete (42 teeth) with well formed Canines and perfect scissors bite.
Eyes : The darker the better.
Leathers : Broad, set on fairly high, rounded at tips, close fitting.
NECK : Strong and well muscled, noble curve.
BODY :
Withers : Medium height, long, well muscled.
Chest : Broad when seen from front, deep seen from side with definite forechest.
Back : Short, firm, straight.
Loins : Pronounced, protected by taut muscles.
Rump : Long, broad, sloping only slightly, well muscled.
Belly : Lightly tucked up, taut, slim. Flanks short and set high.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS : Shoulder-blades fitting close to the ribs, correct angulation, straight, strong and well muscled. Springy pastern. Feet tight, of moderate length and roundness, dewclaws.
HINDQUARTERS : Strong, taut muscles. Vertical stance, correct angulation of stifle and hock joints. Feet as front feet. Dewclaws to be removed.
MOVEMENT : Springy walk and trot, covering ground, with long stride. Gallop : elastic, animated with necessary drive and long bound.
SKIN : Taut.
COAT :
TEXTURE OF COAT : Long and dense, yet sleek and not curly or stand off as this hinders hunting ability. Typical long hair. The coat must be specially long and dense on backs of front and hindlegs (well feathered) in both dogs and bitches.
The strongest tail plume should be on middle (of tail). Hair on leathers should be long (good fringes) and reach clearly over the tip of the leathers (leathery earlobes not desirable). Hair on head is short and smooth.
COLOUR : White with black patches and spots or blue roan. Head black, white snip or blaze admissible.
HEIGHT AND WEIGHT :
Height at shoulder (average) : Dogs 60 - 65 cm, Bitches 58 - 63 cm.
Weight : aprrox. 30 kg.
FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
Head : Skull too broad. Too much stop.
Nose : Roman nose, dish face; lacking pigment completely or only spots.
Muzzle : Loose or pendulous lips.
Teeth / Bite :
Slight faults : Pincer bite, absence of 1st premolar or 3rd Molar.
Serious faults : Overshot, undershot, wry mouth.
Missing incisors, canines and premolars 2, 3 and 4 and molars 1 and 2.
Eyes : Too light in eye. Visible red haw, entropion, ectropion.
Ears : Low set, standing away from head.
Neck : Too short, too long, too thick, too thin, dewlap.
Withers : Too low, too short.
Chest : Barrel shape, narrow, not deep enough, lack of forechest.
Back : Too long, hollow or roach back.
Loins : Slack muscles. Transition from rump not harmonious; overbuilt.
Rump : Short, narrow, falling away sharply.
Belly : Too tucked up, set too low.
Tail : Deviated carriage, curled upwards, kinky or ring tail.
Front legs : Joints too steep, protruding or twisted elbows. Weak pastern. Too narrow or too wide in front.
Hind legs : Angulations too steep; cow hocked or bow legged as well as too wide or too close behind.
Feet : Round cat feet, long hare foot, splayed feet. Pidgeon-toed or fiddle-front.
Movement : Walking and trotting : short, stiff, tripping. Gallop : Short, stiff leap, too little drive.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS :
- Hereditary faults of all sorts, also being gun shy or gun- sensitive in any degree. Fear of live game, fear biter, fear of strangers.
- Hereditary diseases such as epilepsy, non septic necrosis of the humerus (lame in front), spontaneous rupture of the cruciate ligament; entropion, ectropion.
- Important faults in Bite and Teeth : Overshot, undershot, wry mouth, missing incisors or canines, missing molars and premolars.
- Important lack of pigment such as pale nose leather.
- Colour Faults : Colours which do not conform to the breed standard.
- Slight bite and tooth faults (such as pincer bite, double P1, absence of not more than two P1 or M3) are still admissible for breeding.
N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.