Small Münsterländer "Heidewachtel"

Small Münsterländer



Type: Dog
Age: Adult
Size: Large

Appearance:
The breed is often described as about 35 pounds (16 kg) and 18-20 inches (0.45 to 0.5 m) at the shoulder, but the average is somewhat larger, around 45 pounds (20 kg) with some males reaching or slightly exceeding 60 pounds (27 kg) and up to 22 inches (0.55 m). The body is lean yet powerful and not prone to becoming overweight due to an active nature and natural athleticism.

Temperament:
Small Munsterlanders are very intelligent, trainable, and attentive but require gentle and patient training, which provides excellent results. They are also strong-willed and an owner who is inconsistent or indecisive might find that his dog is hard to control.When raised with other pets in the household, such as cats, they can coexist happily though they may enjoy a game of chase and point . Unfamiliar small animals outdoors will not be tolerated in the same way.

History:
Originally a dog bred to work with noble families' falconers before guns were used in bird and small game hunting, ancestors of the Small Munsterlander had to work in upland areas to flush prey for the falcon, then allow the falcon to keep the prey until the falconer could retrieve it while the dog pointed at the catch. To this day the Small Munsterlander has excellent close searching and pointing drive. With wider availability of guns and personal time for commoners, hunting became more popular, and the breed was further developed as a retriever that worked equally well in the field and water. Owners of the breed consider it to be uniquely effective in working as a team with the huntsman in all phases of the hunt, akin to the close cooperation between a sheep herder and Border Collie.

Alternative names:
Kleiner Münsterländer
Munsterlander (Small)
Kleiner Munsterlander Vorstehund
Small Munsterlander Pointer
Other names for this breed:
Spion in Germany; and Heidewachtel in the Netherlands.

Country of origin:
Germany





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