At a glance the quick version
Coat and looks how to spot one
medium-length, dense, straight or slightly wavy water-repellent coat
A well-balanced, medium-sized gundog with a glossy coat that lies flat and shrugs off water. Longer hair forms feathering on the front legs, trousers on the hind legs and a flowing flag on the tail, which usually ends in a white tip.13
Personality what they are like
A bright, steady and cheerful dog that likes to cooperate and please its handler, while bringing real passion to fieldwork. It is sociable with people and fits well into family life, though it tends to mature slowly and does best with gentle, patient training.142
Daily activity how busy a day looks
High. As an all-round hunting dog that points, tracks and retrieves on land and in water, it needs generous daily exercise plus regular mental work.452
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Regular brushing keeps the medium-length coat and its feathering tidy and free of tangles; the coat naturally repels water.12
Home where they are happiest
Suits an active home with access to open country or water; it is happy living indoors with the family between outings.24
Company who they like around
Strongly people-oriented and happiest as part of the family rather than left alone for long periods.21
The story where it all began
Long-haired bird dogs have been kept in the Münsterland for centuries, and organised breeding is documented from around 1870. A breed club formed in 1912 to protect the dogs as their own hunting breed, and Dr Friedrich Jungklaus wrote the first standard in 1921. The first dog reached North America in 1971.134
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Tan markings on the face, ears, legs and tail are nicknamed 'Jungklaus markings' after the author of the first breed standard.1
- 2
Many individuals give voice while tracking, and hunters say they can tell the kind of game from the tone of the bark.4
- 3
Pointing tends to appear naturally and intensely even in young puppies.4
- 4
It is a strong, willing swimmer with a keen love of water work.5
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Standard No. 102, Group 7 (Pointing dogs), Section 1.2 (Continental pointing dogs, spaniel type); current standard dated 4 Sep 20191
- UKC
- Gun Dog Group; recognised 20063
- AKC
- Foundation Stock Service breed2
- The Royal Kennel Club
- Gundog Group (imported breed register)2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Small 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 8every 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 breed standard No. 102: Kleiner Münsterländer fci.beused for size, coat, colours, temperament, history
- Wikipedia: Small Münsterländer en.wikipedia.orgused for other names, weight, recognition, general
- UKC: Small Munsterlander ukcdogs.comused for recognition, coat, colours, history
- Small Munsterlander Club of North America: breed info smcna.orgused for temperament, exercise, North American history, fun facts
- AKC: Small Munsterlander akc.orgused for working traits
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.