The Large Munsterlander Club
of North America®

The aims of the Large Munsterlander Club of North America (LMCNA) are to introduce the Large Munsterlander to the North American hunter. LMCNA will foster a breed-management program which will maintain the dog's versatile hunting qualities as a hunter, pointer, retriever and tracker. For offspring to be called Large Munsterlanders and to be registered, all matings require prior approval by LMCNA and the dams and sires must demonstrate adequate performance in approved hunting tests, in health, temperament and conformation. LMCNA promises to provide potential buyers of Large Munsterlanders with objective information, and invites owners to provide feedback and participate in the breed's management.
  • Entering your LM in a Test (click to see separate page)
  • Recent Progeny Performance Awards and Test Score Summary (click to see separate page)
  • Information for Breeders
  • Further Reading about the LM (click to see separate page)
  • Links to other Clubs for the Large Munsterlander

    • This web page was first mounted in 1998 and last updated on July 15, 2008 by Sheila Schmutz.

    Profile of a Large Munsterlander

    The Large Munsterlander is one of several continental breeds of versatile hunting dogs. It gained breed recognition in the Mänsterland of northwestern Germany in 1919. Although this makes the LM the last of the German breeds to gain official representation by a separate breed club, the LM was recognized as a black color variant of the brown German Longhaired Pointer going back to its breed club formation in 1878. Even before that time, the forerunner of the modern LM can be recognized in artist¹s representations of hunting scenes as far back as the Middle Ages.

    The LM is a 50-75 lb., black and white dog with hair of medium length. In its German homeland and some other countries, this dog has been bred for over a century for hunting and not show. Hence coat color is highly variable, ranging from predominantly white to predominantly black. Markings occur as solid white patches, or ticked or roan regions.

    This field dog characteristically is calm, gentle and intelligent, and therefore also valued as a family dog. The versatile and cooperative characteristics of the LM provide for a reliable companion for all facets of hunting. It is well suited for a variety of game, including the tracking of big game as practiced by some owners. On average, LMs search well outside of gun range in open country but are still responsive and not independent. LMs excel as bird finders before and after the shot due to excellent noses and a purposeful searching style with good coverage, rather than speed. Many LMs point with intensity from puppyhood on, and many honor naturally. Given their passion for retrieving, steadiness needs to be encouraged through training, especially in the exuberant youngster. LMs tend to be strong in the water. The LM's long and thick coat protects them against cold and allows them to search dense cover thoroughly. Even so, their coat is a compromise well suited for temperate climates. Short-haired breeds may be better suited for upland hunting in the hot South, while the oily and dense coat of retrieving specialists makes them better suited for prolonged water work in the late-season North.

    The Large Munsterlander was introduced to North America by Kurt von Kleist in 1966. By May, 2007, at least 78 dogs have been imported from Europe and over 1500 pups have been registered in North America.

    Feature Dogs

    Hunt Mountain's Dakota "Baker" looks nonchalant but Julia is excited. This day was her first hunt and her first bird was a coot in hand, retrieved as always by Baker. The locals call the coot "water chicken" or poule d'eau in Cajun French. Julia also holds another Louisiana game bird the common gallinule. Baker cares little about the species names when he retrieves some 120 waterfowl a year for Zack and his hunting partners, including Julia and her brother. When not in the marshes, "Baker" is a companion ­ the family-agreed upon description is "a superb dog at home, too good-looking for words, and a calm dog afield yet with enough gusto to get the job done!"

    # 1000 Willow's Edge Alix ­ Also a family affair!

    Willow's Edge Alix is the 1000th LM born in North America and registered by LMCNA. Alix was part of Willow's Edge Kennel's A-litter, and stayed home to help carry on what's become an excellent line of LMs. The family picture shows, from left to right, Dale Ruenger, Alix, Dick Sutherland with Willow's Edge Casey, and Timberland's George "Tucker". Casey is an offspring of Alix and Tucker. She is staying at the Willow's Edge Kennel. Casey is as soundly performance bred as they come. Alix and Tucker not only have good temperaments, conform to the breed standard and are healthy, they both have excellent field credentials in both upland work and water, before and after the shot. Alix has earned 112/112 pts. in Natural Ability, and 168/204 (82%) in the demanding Utility test. Tucker has earned 112/112 in Natural Ability also, and 204/204 in Utility. The Utility performance proves that both are capable all-round versatile hunting dogs, and also have the mental stability to be obedient while still having a strong desire to hunt. Casey and her litter mates, born in July 2007, are now all placed in their respective hunting homes. We look forward to hearing more about their future field scores and their hunting stories.

    Available Pups

    Sunnynook's Uli and Friends

    The best method of obtaining a pup of your choice is by reserving from a breeder who plans a litter. Most pups are born in spring or early summer. Occasionally pups are available immediately. All recent litters or litters with available pups are listed in bold below. Plans for litters in the near future are listed below.

    All sires and dams have earned at least a Prize III in the Natural Ability test. They have all been certified HD free and are of normal temperament.

    LM breeders, see below, will place pups only in hunting homes for several reasons. Breeders rely on progeny performance data when planning future breeding - a dog that is not hunted/tested is in that sense lost. Although LMs make good companions, their insatiable hunting instinct can lead to frustration for non-hunters when their dog insists on chasing nearly everything - even the squirrels during a picnic in the park.

    LMCNA encourages potential owners to do their homework, including meeting an LM owner and dog where possible. Even "retired" breeders may be willing to show their dogs and answer questions about the breed. All LM kennels are listed below. Those that have "retired" from breeding are listed at the bottom in a separate category. Most breeders encourage continued contact with puppy buyers/owners.

    North American Breeders

    Breeders with Pups or Dogs Available (Both Sexes of Pups are Still Available unless otherwise noted)

  • Flusstal Kennel (2008-
  • Swan Creek Kennel (2006-

    • Breeders with Pups Expected (Breeding has taken place and a due date is estimated)

    Breeders with Pups Planned (A breeding is planned from an approved female when she next comes into heat)

    Breeders with Pups in the Recent Past and New Kennels

    Kennels that are Retired or Currently Inactive

    LMCNA has joined the Purina Parent Club Partnership Program to help fund dog health research through the Canine Health Foundation. You can contribute by joining the Purina Pro Club if you qualify and mailing in weight circles from Purina dog food bags. If you already belong, you'll continue to get the same benefits but now LMCNA and dog health research will also benefit! Click on the page for more details. The contribution made by Purina to our club is used for our rescue program.

    REGISTRATION

    As of January 1, 1983 the Large Munsterlander Club of North America® (LMCNA) maintains the official registry for all LM pups born in North America. Prior to this time registration was done through the German Verband Grosse Münsterländer and records were crosslisted. Close correspondence is maintained with the German club. In the fall of 1999, the Large Munsterlander Club of North America® was incorporated under the Animal Pedigree Act of Canada. This means that performance-based breeding has become an essential element of the breed. Only Large Munsterlanders issued LMCNA papers are recognized as purebred and/or registered. LMCNA received service-mark approval from the U.S. Patent and Trademark office in January 2001.

    All LM puppies are registered, as outlined in the LMCNA Bylaws. Once a litter of puppies have been placed, a registration certificate and annotated pedigree is issued. This LMCNA document identifies the owner, is signed by the breeder and the LMCNA Breed Warden, and the data become part of the permanent record of LMCNA. Owners can expect to receive their papers, forwarded by the breeder, before the pups are 6 months old.

    LMCNA treats registration akin to a birth certificate, which can only be issued by the organization able to verify birth and document accuracy with an "evidence trail". LMCNA breeders, sire owners and members are sufficiently familiar with LMCNA¹s operation, to recognize errors and to invoke sanctions and remediation when needed. This breed-management process is not helped by needless copying of certificates. We can assure our owners, and field- and health-certification partners that our records are accurate. When questions do arise, we are pleased to provide answers.

    The following requirements for breeding must be met for pups to receive full registration:

    Breed Management

    LMCNA not only certifies breeders and the pups they produce, but provides objective information and thus helps breeders place pups into good homes. The nature of the arrangement between breeders and owners, the fees and contracts, are none of LMCNA¹s business. LMCNA does, however, invite owners to provide feedback about their dogs and thus complete the "circle of support". Such feedback is particularly valuable if it includes testing of hunting performance and health, see Testing Information. Breed management does not begin or end with breeding. Owners of promising dogs in turn need to give of their time and make their dogs available to become breeders and sire owners and thus complete the cycle. LMCNA invites owners to contact us on how to become an approved-sire owner or breeder.

    The club provides the following services to members:

    LMCNA® provides a full "Circle of Support" to LM owners and breeders.

    ~ Club Bylaws ~
    This copy of the LMCNA Bylaws is provided to you with Adobe Acrobat.
    If you are using a PC, then save this file and rename it as Bylaws.pdf and try to open it. Most MACs should be able to open this file as is.

    ~ LM Ownership Application ~
    This copy of the LM Ownership Application is provided to you with Adobe Acrobat.
    You may visit the link below to 
    download the software to read such pdf files at no charge:
    Adobe Acrobat Reader

    Becoming a Member

    LMCNA recognizes two classes of membership: a regular member who resides in North America and has voting privileges, and an associate member who does not reside here and is unable to vote. Owners are invited to join LMCNA by sending membership dues of $15 U.S. or $15 Canadian/year for 2008 to our current Treasurer (Rita Merkel, 9275 Youbou Rd, Youbou, B.C. VOR 3E1 Canada Note that extra postage is required from the U.S.). Please include your mailing address, phone number and email address if you have one and the name of your dog. A quarterly newsletter is mailed or emailed to all members.

    Owners who have not previously been LMCNA members receive a complimentary membership for one year or portion of a year remaining. New and old owners who obtain a new pup must pledge their cooperation with LMCNA by completing an LM Ownership Application.

    MOVED? Please email your new address and/or email address to John Staley e-mail jsmunster@comcast.net for the newsletter. Rita will verify that dues are current.

    Links to Other Clubs for the Large Munsterlander

  • Germany
  • Czech Republic
  • The Dutch Large Munsterlander Breed Club
  • The United Kingdom Large Munsterlander Breed Club

    Please direct general questions about the content of this page to: e-mail joe.schmutz@usask.ca or e-mail sheila.schmutz@usask.ca