Small Munsterlander

M

molliesmaster

Member
Alright, I need some honest reviews and opinions. My wife is on this kick about getting one of these. I have my eye on something German and bearded, specifically.

Whatever we end up with will be used for hunting (upland and doves) and will spend the rest of it's time with me at the office and at home with family (wife + 3 small daughters).
 
I think they are nice little dogs. 2 things I don't like...Their coat will require maintenance. I like a bigger dog.

The small size is good for the office. The coat when maintained, is awesome.

There seems to be 2 different "frames" of the Small Munsterlander so look into that.
 
Quailnerd said:
Been around one and he was a nice dog, wasn’t enough go for me.
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I have done some limited reading on them and this has started to be a concern. Based on what I have seen, they seem to have a niche fan-club but everyone on the outside of that group just thinks they are "Ok".

I've had a GSP and currently own GWP and a Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Trained a setter and quite a few GSP's, a griff or two, and a lot of labs. I like dogs who like to work. The laissez-faire don't really do it for me. We train/run in the off-season and stay pretty active. My current GWP has set some pretty high expectations with her natural ability and drive. She makes things happen.
 
molliesmaster said:
I have done some limited reading on them and this has started to be a concern. Based on what I have seen, they seem to have a niche fan-club but everyone on the outside of that group just thinks they are "Ok".

I've had a GSP and currently own GWP and a Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Trained a setter and quite a few GSP's, a griff or two, and a lot of labs. I like dogs who like to work. The laissez-faire don't really do it for me. We train/run in the off-season and stay pretty active. My current GWP has set some pretty high expectations with her natural ability and drive. She makes things happen.
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I have 2 German breeds and my eye on a setter for the future, i don’t need a polished dog but want tons of effort and be a hardy breed with tough feet. That is not what I saw.
 
I have seen a lot of dogs come through here over the years, I think my Draht was the most talented dog I ever got to see work. Of course I am prejudiced. Unbelievable nose which made him an amazing retriever, might have been a little tight wound for what you described. There was a fantastic English Setter, but I would not call him tough.
 
Weimdogman said:
I think they are nice little dogs. 2 things I don't like...Their coat will require maintenance. I like a bigger dog.

The small size is good for the office. The coat when maintained, is awesome.

There seems to be 2 different "frames" of the Small Munsterlander so look into that.
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I wouldn't call the SM a small dog. Their height is 20" - 22" and will weigh in the 38-58 lb. range. I'm not sure what Weindogman is talking about when he says the SM comes in 2 different frames. There is only one Small Munsterlander. There is a seperate breed called the Large Munsterlander but they are not the same dog.

I've been around a number of SM's and they are some very nice dogs. A very good friend of mine had a SM that was a good hunter, great pet and spent every day with him in his office. As with any breed the dog's coat can vary within the breed. My friends SM had a nice shorter flat coat that was easy to maintain and looked great. I've also seen some that were extremely wooly and not very nice looking. So keep that in mind when looking for a pup and see what the parents and previous pups look like. If I was in the market for another pup I'd seriously consider a Small Munsterlander.
 
Dakotazeb said:
I wouldn't call the SM a small dog. Their height is 20" - 22" and will weigh in the 38-58 lb. range. I'm not sure what Weindogman is talking about when he says the SM comes in 2 different frames. There is only one Small Munsterlander. There is a seperate breed called the Large Munsterlander but they are not the same dog.

I've been around a number of SM's and they are some very nice dogs. A very good friend of mine had a SM that was a good hunter, great pet and spent every day with him in his office. As with any breed the dog's coat can vary within the breed. My friends SM had a nice shorter flat coat that was easy to maintain and looked great. I've also seen some that were extremely wooly and not very nice looking. So keep that in mind when looking for a pup and see what the parents and previous pups look like. If I was in the market for another pup I'd seriously consider a Small Munsterlander.
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Well my weims are 65 to 75lbs so I reference off that not your Brittany. Not bashing just explaining.

Spend time around a few breeders and you will see there are 2 camps as to size. This is true in almost all breeds. 50 lb labs and 75 lb labs. 40 Vizlas and 60lb Vizlas. And so on.

If the dogs were all the same why the difference in coats.

Jim Juleson knows the Small Munsterlander.
 
I agree, Mike. There are large variances in size in all breeds. Many outside of breed standard. I've seen Brittanys from 25 to 55 lbs. GSP's from 40 to near 100, Labs from 60 to over 100. That's why you need to do your due diligence in selecting a breeder and line of dogs.
 
Well, I knew I married a good woman but she really proved it last night when she gave me her blessing to go pick up the german, bearded dog I've had my eye on. We are also going to meet some people who own small munsterlanders this week to get a feel for the animals. Small sample size but it is a start.

Don't ask me what we are gonna do if she falls in love with these little munsters.
 
Nothing against bearded dogs but if tempernment was a major factor I'd choose the Small Munsterlander. But that's just my opinion, for what it's worth. :)
 
I hunted with a guy who ran one. It was a tall lanky dog with an extremely long tail and ranged like nothing I’ve ever seen. I thought the dog hunted for itself and was not the friendliest dog. Perhaps they are one person dogs because this one wanted no part of me or my dog. Additionally, I didn’t see it do anything exceptional.

A sample of 1.
 
I know a grandpa from the trap club. He's got two German dogs. One is a wirehair and he loves that dog. He also told me the dog growls at everyone, even his wife. The other story I remember from when I used to listen to the Ron Boehme podcast he said his wire hairs would always start fights with other dogs.

As above, small sample size.
 
Drew said:
I hunted with a guy who ran one. It was a tall lanky dog with an extremely long tail and ranged like nothing I’ve ever seen. I thought the dog hunted for itself and was not the friendliest dog. Perhaps they are one person dogs because this one wanted no part of me or my dog. Additionally, I didn’t see it do anything exceptional.

A sample of 1.
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Don't judge a breed by 1 dog. They are some bad ones in every breed.
 
molliesmaster said:
Well, I knew I married a good woman but she really proved it last night when she gave me her blessing to go pick up the german, bearded dog I've had my eye on. We are also going to meet some people who own small munsterlanders this week to get a feel for the animals. Small sample size but it is a start.
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Fun times. Congratulations.

molliesmaster said:
Don't ask me what we are gonna do if she falls in love with these little munsters.
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Some of them can be kinda cute.

Eddie_Munster.JPG
 
My limited experience of hunting with some GWPs, owing a cross, and reading about experiences from other owners, is that some have a sweet temperament and some are more independent/aloof. Some have to be watched around cats if they haven't been raised with them. The above statements could be made of a lot of breeds. Having said that, there are probably a lower percentage of GWPs that are overtly affectionate than there are labs, for instance. But that's just part of a lab's makeup and one reason they are so popular.

Likewise, some of that independence and aloofness (with strangers) in GWPs may come from early trait selection for hunting and also being used as watchdogs. With people they know, many can have traits of being endearingly stubborn, comical, quirky, displaying mischievous antics, and a definite sense of humor. They can be quite the characters.
 
I have no reservations about the new draht puppy coming home soon. I have a female GWP now and I have been around several others. I also own a Chesapeake, another breed infamous for being standoff-ish to strangers and often wrongly accused of being aggressive. Both are at my office right now, sleeping on their couch as I type. Both live inside with us and are fantastic with my small children. They don't have any other options but to be.

Back to the munsterlanders, we met two last night from different breedings, both under the same roof. Spoke to the owners and confirmed a lot of what I had read/heard from others. Wife was pleased with them and is continuing her search for a breeder that she is happy with. With the new draht puppy coming home, I will be fine if the future munster never becomes a serious hunter. One of my wife's biggest complaints about me going on long trips is that I take the dogs with me and she feels alone. So perhaps having her own dog to stay beside her will make it a little easier.
 
I'm in the south. 3 dogs wouldn't even begin to scratch the itch of some deer and hog guys.

4 might be too much, I admit it. But we have had 3 in the house with us for a long time.
 
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