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Jul 28th, 2025
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,834 Likes: 127
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,834 Likes: 127 |
Anyone own one or have hunted with one? Observations, ideas, opinions???
Looks to be like a small setter but more of a field springer look to it. I know its a pointer.
if you have one, how are they as a companion as well as a hunter, after all, the majority of theyear thye are part of the family.
Brian
LTC, USA Ret.
NRA Patron Member
AHFGCA Life Member
USPSA Life Member
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 58
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 58 |
A friend and member of our NAVHDA chapter owns and breeds Small Munsterlanders. He and his wife currently own four. The dogs enjoy being on the couch watching TV with his wife, and REALLY enjoy hunting. He is a serious bird hunter and requires that the dogs are steady on their birds and deliver to hand. They have excellent noses, decent range and are stylish on point. I believe all three older dogs have Prize 1s in the Utility Test (finished), and he is training the pup right now who just received a Prize 1 in the Natural Ability Test. The dogs handle cold weather very well so late season hunting up here is fine. They love the water and make excellent waterfowl dogs. They are truly a versatile hunting breed, and are excellent companions when not hunting.
Bryan
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,598
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,598 |
I know a guide in Manitoba with one. He uses it for spruce grouse and water fowl. When a hunter wounds a bear, he sets the dog out to follow the blood trail. It is a well tempered, friendly dog that enjoys hunting. If one was available, I would not pass it up lightly.
Pete
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,475 Likes: 54
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,475 Likes: 54 |
Can they handle really hot weather (100+)?
I will be getting a new dog in the foreseeable future, and I would like one that can handle doves and quail in the desert, and ducks in moderate weather (seldom colder than 25F).
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 58
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 58 |
A longhaired dog like a Small Munsterlander would not be a good choice for hunting in hot weather. Sounds like you need a German Shorthair or other short coated dog. I like my smooth vizsla for the hot stuff, and she is happy retreiving ducks, but is not happy when the temperature drops below 20 F or so. Check out this video of my friend's Small Munsterlander at our duck search training site. He usually leaves with more training ducks than he came with. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v224/M...rducksearch.flvBryan
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 9
Boxlock
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Boxlock
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 9 |
Brian,
I've been around a mess of them; probably seen 25 in training and another 25 in testing. I've watched a number of their very influential & successful dogs go through the training and testing process.
They are not exactly like a small setter; males will average in the 55-60lb range and I've seen some pushing 70. Females can be pretty small, but the bigger boned ones can push 50. Heavy coat; longer and thicker than a springer.
The good ones are awesome water dogs; can handle cold water like a Lab. Great tracking dogs as well, both on land and water. The ones that retrieve, retrieve very well and with a ton of desire.
Weaknesses; While they have a good nose, they are very weak in pointing, compared to most other pointing breeds. They generally flag on point. Some will have an amount of point, others will be very weak. LOTS of variation within litters, and inconsistency within the breed. Some of the females tended to be quite soft.
If you are looking for a hard hunting meat dog on both land and water, and don't care how much pointing the dog does, or how well it does it, they are an ok choice IMO. If you are looking for the kind of reliable pointing you see in the major pointing breeds (EP, ES, GSP, Britt), they are not a good choice IMO. As a breed, they tend to be very "quirky", which is consistent with the other less developed versatile breeds here in the US.
If you are looking for something different, for the sake of having something different, then you'll fit right in with the SM folks. If you are looking for a breed that gives you the best chance of getting an excellent all-around gundog, there are much better choices IMO.
JMO,
Dave
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 58
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 58 |
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 213
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 213 |
We have owned them for about 10 years now. At this time we have 3 females. They are wonderful family dogs and very good upland and waterfowl dogs. If you do your homework on the breeding you will get a good point. The North American Club has been working to improve the point in the last 10 years. You can see it in the test scores of the NAVHDA testing. They are great on downed birds. They will not quit looking in a short time. We hunted in 95 degree weather in SW KS one trip and my female took the heat better than the shorthairs or springers. Like all versatiles the coats can be long or short depending on the breeding. Our club has our annual event this Fri, Sat, Sun near Maquoketa, Ia this weekend. For anyone wanting to see them it would be a good time. Friday is a NAVHDA test for natural ability. On Sat the olders dogs will run a club event. I don't think the breed gets enough credit for their water work. Mine have retreived ducks in ND in November with the water near freeze up. My email: dwtbeske@hotmail.com if anyone needs more info.
Thanks,
Dwight
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