The Large Munsterlander temperament is challenging for a simple reason: his exercise needs are way above most other dog breeds. This trait means anybody that’s not an ultra-active person typically isn’t a suitable owner for him.
But the problem is he has many attractive qualities for a potential owner: intelligent, trainable, calm, effective guard dog, etc. These traits often make people try to find ways around the significant issue in his temperament.
And from the discussion below, it’ll become clear whether or not your household represents one that can satisfy his needs. It’ll also give you ideas about how you can use highly energetic personality to your advantage.
The Large Munsterlander Temperament and Personality
The goal within this section is to establish whether or not the following Large Munsterlander traits mesh with your household. So please, be realistic about your ability to handle this breed’s particular set of needs. There’s no harm in admitting this dog isn’t the one for you.
Highly Active
The Large Munsterlander exercise needs are extraordinary. In fact, it’s well above the levels an average dog owner would expect to provide. It’s so extensive that the Large Munsterlander Club of America rarely places one anywhere other than a hunting home.
This characteristic comes from their hunting background and instincts. If you get one, prepare yourself to provide him constant sources of physical stimulation. Most of your days will consist of hunting, biking, running, playing, or any other exercise activity.
You’ll also have to ensure you mix these simulation sources or he’ll become bored and find a different outlet. This outlet will most likely consist of ripping apart your couch cushions or your favorite pair of shoes.
The Intelligent Large Munsterlander Temperament
A high level of intelligence is one of the primary parts of the Large Munsterlander temperament. As you might expect, there are numerous benefits to this trait such as being highly trainable. It’d be rather hard to find a command he couldn’t grasp with the right owner.
This level of smarts allows him to be a rather efficient guard dog as well. If someone comes in your home or yard, he’ll let you know about it right away without hesitation. It also helps that he’s rather big, which could act as a deterrent for potential intruders as well.
We should also mention that him being smart means he has a thirst for knowledge that won’t quit. And if he doesn’t receive his daily challenges, he will seek it out himself. This situation isn’t something you particularly want to experience.
As a result, keeping him mentally stimulated will become an essential part of your life. People often recommend giving him some job such as hunting to keep the full burden from being entirely on you.
Sensitive
An undervalued part of the Large Munsterlander temperament is his sensitivity. You see he’s notorious for not reacting well to yelling or any negative command. It only makes him resist more and causes him to respond in unfavorable ways.
It might seem hard to resist yelling when he pees in the house, but shaming him will only make it worse. You should instead approach any situation with him with a lighter touch, which will enable his sensitivity.
If you’re ever in doubt, always choose positive reinforcement with a dog like this one. And his sensitivity also makes him a somewhat iffy about disruptions in his routine. With this in mind, it’s best you establish a feeding time, walk schedule, and stick to them.
Calm
The calmness within the Large Munsterlander temperament is a definite plus for any potential owner. His even-keeled personality would be a welcomed addition to many households. It'll also make him a favorite at the dog park.
You see his sense of calmness allows him to engage in play with a variety of dogs without any issues. And it means he’s an ideal fit for multiple dog homes as he’ll blend in well with your other dogs.
But his high prey drive doesn’t allow this sense of calmness to extend toward smaller pets such as cats. He’ll most likely end up chasing them around the house and scaring them to death; therefore, if you have a cat, you should look at another breed.
We should also warn you that he considers the squirrel to be his biggest nemesis. If he sees one during a walk or a hike, there’s a high probability he’ll start running towards it.
Independent
The Large Munsterlander temperament does have feature an independent streak. It’s not as excessive as some other breeds you might encounter; but once in a while, he might try to wander off and do something by himself.
It’s best to keep up with training as it’ll help curb this instinct as much as possible; however, don’t be afraid to let him sniff something far away. If he's properly trained, he will come when he’s called.
It’s also not uncommon to find him away from the family within your home for an extended period. He values his privacy and it’s best that you let him until he comes back into wherever you’re hanging out.
The Large Munsterlander History
The Large Munsterlander history can be traced back to the 13th or 14th century within Europe. Their presence during this time was discovered thanks to some artwork that had dogs, which heavily resembled the Munsterlander. But their first official documentation wasn’t until 1870.
Researchers often think that breeders crossbred longhaired Pointers with different sized Spaniels to create the Munsterlander. These breeders also began to set a particular type for every size through breeding specific characteristics together.
This experimentation resulted in two different types of Munsterlander: the Small Munsterlander and the Large Munsterlander.
These two breeds weren’t separated from each other until the 20th century when a breed standard was established for both.
In particular, the Large Munsterlander was recognized officially in 1919. He didn’t see the world outside of Europe until 1966 when he entered the United States.
His arrival attracted some dog enthusiasts who then created a specific club for both breeds: the Small Munsterlander Club of America and the Large Munsterlander Club of America.
This fascination with the breed brought forth popularity, which resulted in the United Kennel Club recognizing him in 2006. The Small Munsterlander was acknowledged as well.
Quick Look At The Large Munsterlander Appearance
The Large Munsterlander will have a long, dense coat that should closely fit his body. But the fur on his head will instead be rather short and full of smooth hairs. It’s also essential we mention that there will be thick feathering on his legs’ backsides, ears, and tail.
This feathering can extend to his chest as well and is often a desirable trait for potential owners. You'll also notice that his skin will be slightly loose fitting, which might seem odd at first.
The Large Munsterlander colors should consist of a white background with roan, ticked, or black patches.
It’s also important you understand that his head should be solid black: sometimes his forehead might have a white spot or blaze as well.
Large Munsterlander Vs. Small Munsterlander
The difference between the two types of Munsterlander mainly lies in their physique. The Large Munsterlander weight will be between 50 and 75 pounds. Meanwhile, the Small Munsterlander will weigh anywhere in the range of 35 to 60 pounds.
Likewise, the Large Munsterlander height will also be a bit larger: 23 to 25 inches. In comparison, the Small Munsterlander will typically have a height of somewhere between 19 and 23 inches.
There are other subtle differences as well such as the Small Munsterlander having tight-fitting skin. And he’ll never have an abundant amount of feathering on his chest like the larger version.
Basic Guide to Large Munsterlander Training
The Large Munsterlander’s hunting instincts make them highly susceptible to training. It also comes in handy that he’s quite smart as well. These attributes make him an ideal candidate for learning tracking, retrieving, and pointing commands.
But it’s essential you establish this rapport based around positive reinforcement techniques. If you use other harsher methods, he will not respond, and it’ll only make training him much harder. He's also known for having a barking issue, which might need a curbing.
Another problem area is that he tends to become destructive when left alone. In other words, he gets anxious or bored and needs to find an outlet. The good news is that curbing these bad Large Munsterlander behaviors isn’t a tough thing for an owner to do.
You should also ensure you socialize him as soon as humanly possible. His hunting instincts could cause an issue with other animals as he’s programmed to chase and attack them. As a result, he might not be the best dog for an owner with other smaller pets such as cats.
Helpful Dog Training Resource:
For help with training your Large Munsterlander dog, you should take a look at The Online Dog Trainer by Doggy Dan. Doggy Dan is an expert Dog Trainer based in New Zealand. His online resource contains Hundreds of Excellent Dog Training Videos that will take you step-by-step through the process of developing a healthy, happy well-behaved dog.
The Large Munsterlander Grooming Requirements
The Large Munsterlander’s grooming requirements can be overwhelming for certain owners. You see his coat is rather long and feathery, which tends to cause tangles; therefore, a weekly brushing will be necessary to keep up with this nuisance.
These brushing sessions should consist of using a high-quality bristle brush and a steel comb: a detangler and a leave-in conditioner might be handy things to have around as well. If you plan on taking him a hunting trip, it’s best to brush him the minute you bring him back home.
This action will help keep the tangles to their absolute minimum. It’ll become increasingly essential to keep up with these brushing sessions during his seasonal shedding periods: he’ll shed his undercoat around the springtime.
It’ll result in a lot of loose hair, which will ruin your furniture and clothes when not managed properly. Bathing is another area where he’s a little bit more high-maintenance than other breeds: once a month isn’t out of the question with him.
But do make sure you don’t bathe him too often as he can develop issues such as irritations or rashes. Don’t forget to do the basic care things all dogs need as well: trimming nails, checking ears for build-ups, and regularly brushing his teeth.
Relevant Large Munsterlander Health Issues
In comparison to other breeds, this breed is relatively healthy. After all, the Large Munsterlander lifespan is among the very best for all dog breeds: 12 to 13 years. But this long lifespan doesn’t mean he’s immune to all health issues.
In fact, if you plan on getting a Large Munsterlander, you’ll need to get familiar with the following health issues:
The good news is these issues can be kept in check by merely keeping up with your vet visits. A good idea would be going every six months to ensure everything checks out with your favorite furry friend.
These visits will also give you an opportunity to address any concerns you may have about your dog. Aside from going to the vet, it’s essential you make sure your puppy has all the right paperwork as well. Any breeder who doesn’t offer assurances about the parents having OFA certified hips isn't one you should consider.
You see Large Munsterlander puppies with parents that have these certifications are at less risk to develop hip dysplasia. And since this condition is such a nightmare, it’s best you do whatever possible to ensure it doesn’t present itself.
Note: if you agree that your health and your dog's health should be a top priority then get a copy of The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health. Your Large Munsterlander friend will love you for it. This guide will help save you money, time and most of all help you keep your dog healthy.
Finding Your Large Munsterlander
Large Munsterlander For Sale
If you plan on buying a Large Munsterlander puppy, you should contact the Large Munsterlander Association of America. This organization has a list of breeders that could have the dog you’ve always been looking to get.
An association like this one is also nice to go through because they do extensive background into the breeders themselves. It significantly lessens the risk of you having to deal with bad Large Munsterlander breeders.
If there aren’t any available litters on this site, you could try places like Puppyfinder.com as an alternative option. The only problem with buying a dog this way is there aren’t any guidelines the breeders have to follow.
Given this information, it’s no surprise that you contacting a bad breeder becomes increasingly more likely. But even with the association route, these terrible people still slither their way through the cracks.
Being vigilant about the people you’re dealing with becomes a high-priority when buying a dog. We recommend you visit the breeding facilities before making a final decision to make sure everything feels right.
You should look out for other warning signs as well such as being able to pay online via credit card. Another bad omen is not having all the necessary paperwork like the OFA certifications.
If something feels off or a warning sign presents itself, never hesitate to move onto a different breeder. There’s no reason to support horrible breeding practices that exist when a ton of them do it the right way.
When you do find a reputable breeder, a puppy Large Munsterlander price can vary. But it should fall between $400 and $500 depending on factors such as bloodlines or medical costs.
Large Munsterlander For Adoption
Adopting a dog of the Larger Munsterlander size can sometimes be somewhat tricky.
But with an organization like the Large Munsterlander Association of America this task becomes much easier.
In fact, this association should be the first place you look when trying to adopt one of these dogs. You see it has a whole section on its site dedicated to the rescue effort of Larger Munsterlanders; therefore, this organization should have a couple of leads.
If they don’t have any leads, you’ll have to move onto a site like Adoptapet.com. This site will point you towards the closest shelter or rescue that has an available Large Munsterlander. You could try going down to your local shelter or humane society as well.
It’s highly unlikely your local shelter/humane society will have one, but it never hurts to check. Plus, you can always leave your contact information; it’ll give them someone to call when a Large Munsterlander does come into their facility.
But the most essential part of the adoption process is asking the right questions before bringing the dog home. You’ll need to know all the information you can about his previous situation, training, temperament, medical history, etc.
All of this information should give you an idea of whether or not he’ll thrive in your household. It’ll also give you some knowledge about how you can make the transition smoother. If you get answers that you’re comfortable with, expect the adoption fee to be around $300.
Conclusion: Why The Large Munsterlander is The Right Dog For You?
If you’re looking for the ultimate hunting companion, the Large Munsterlander temperament’s a perfect fit. His intelligence and calm, sensible personality is ideally suited for this role.
Otherwise, he’s probably not a good option for you. His high exercise needs often cause his owner to become overwhelmed. After all, there’s a reason the breed’s club usually only sends available Large Munsterlanders to hunting homes.
Calvin is the co-founder and one of the main contributors to dogtemperament.com. He has been an avid dog lover all his life. He enjoys researching and sharing great ideas on how you can avoid common pitfalls of dog ownership and build the most loving and enjoyable relationship with your dog.