At a glance the quick version
Both FCI and Wikipedia give about 30 kg as a guide, not a strict range.
The Royal Kennel Club lists over 10 years.
Coat and looks how to spot one
long, dense, sleek coat
A medium to long coat that lies close and smooth or slightly wavy, never curly, with feathering on the legs and tail. The hair on the head stays short.32
Personality what they are like
An eager, biddable hunting partner that learns quickly and works reliably. It is spirited and full of drive, yet stays sensible rather than nervy.3
Daily activity how busy a day looks
A high-energy working gundog needing more than two hours of exercise a day, ideally including field work, retrieving or swimming.43
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Brush more than once a week, paying attention to the feathering on the legs and tail.43
Home where they are happiest
Best with an active household and access to open country, forest or water where it can use its hunting skills.34
Company who they like around
A cooperative dog that thrives when it works closely with its handler and family.3
The story where it all began
It descends from medieval bird and hawking dogs that later became the long-haired German pointers. When the German Longhair club stopped accepting black-and-white dogs in 1909, fanciers kept them going, and a club founded in 1919 began registered breeding with 83 foundation dogs in its 1922 stud book.324
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Its head is always solid black, sometimes with a small white blaze or snip.3
- 2
It is expected to hunt in field, forest and water, both before and after the shot.3
- 3
The breed's first stud book in 1922 was built on just 83 dogs.2
- 4
Its black-and-white colouring was once the reason it was turned away by the German Longhair club, and it then became the breed's trademark.4
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Standard no. 118, Group 7 (Pointing Dogs), Section 1.2 Continental pointing dogs, spaniel type; definitive recognition 20 December 1954; subject to a working trial; standard published 29 October 2013.1
- The Royal Kennel Club
- Gundog group; recognised in 1971.4
- AKC
- Recognised in 2023 according to Wikipedia.2
Popularity German registrations averaged about 336 dogs a year from 2009 to 2023, around 0.4% of all German registrations.2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Large Münsterländer. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Bathevery 8 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 7every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FCI nomenclature: Large Münsterländer (118) fci.beused for recognition
- Large Münsterländer - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for names, history, size, AKC recognition, population
- FCI standard 118 Large Münsterländer fci.beused for history, use, size, coat, colours, temperament
- The Royal Kennel Club: Large Munsterlander royalkennelclub.comused for lifespan, exercise, grooming, history, KC recognition
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.