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.

This web page was first mounted in 1998 and last updated on July 29, 2010 by Sheila Schmutz.

The July Newsletter and a Poll were sent by email on Friday, July 23. If you didn't receive yours and you mailed in your renewal check for 2010, then please contact the secretary Randy Haines. If you are mailing in a check, please send it to the newly appointed Treasurer, Susan Fasenko. See http://www.lmcna.org/member.html for their contact information. We appreciate your understanding during this time of transition.
  • Performance Testing Your LM (click to see separate page)
  • Progeny Performance Awards since 2005 (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

    • Feature Dogs

    Joe Schmutz relates a remarkable pheasant track he saw at a VHDF test in Minnesota. Once Jason Raabe had released the young dog onto the track, Eagle Lake's Augustus took it up. Augustus' enthusiasm soon took him fast forward and with a high nose. Once well up-wind of the track, judging from his manners, the dog's cooperative nature likely caused him to turn to re-find the sweet scent his owner asked him to follow. Once on the scent, Augustus put his nose down and tracked deliberately to the bird (see diagram at the right).

    When Augustus encountered the first habitat transition on the track, from the short-grass hayfield to tall-grass and brush-bordered creek, his progress slowed as he needed time to sort the smells. Tracking dogs do not only cue on the scents a bird may have left behind, they also cue on the soil and vegetation disturbed by the bird trying to escape. When going from one habitat to another, this "background scent" changes and a dog, whether a hunting- or police dog, needs to go slow to sort this out. Once back on track, Augustus waved his way in and out of the brush where the rooster had walked (The pheasant's track is shown as the blue dashed line, for Augustus' track only the first part shows in black.).

    The next bottleneck in tracking happened when the pheasant turned as it approached the open road, and headed back over its own track - Augustus only yards behind but never spotting the bird. The bird's tactics did not fool Augustus, his progress was slow but he eventually he caught his bird (at X).

    Tracking over short-grass, brush and even flowing water, is demanding enough. Sorting out a track where a bird had walked over its own track minutes later and in the opposite direction, boggles one's mind! Neither modern science nor thousands of years of practice with tracking dogs has fully explained how dogs actually manage to track scent. If a dog determines the forward direction of a track by the "scent" getting progressively stronger, then detecting any of the sparse scent in a dry September stubble field is mind-boggling enough, telling the difference between younger and older scent spots only seconds apart is truly a remarkable feat. Add to that a recent track in the opposite direction - way-to-go Augustus!

    Profile of a Large Munsterlander

    The Large Munsterlander is one of several continental breeds of versatile hunting dogs. It gained breed recognition in the Münsterland 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 black and white dog with hair of medium length. They weigh 50-75 lbs with males about 60-67 cm and females 58-65 cm at the shoulder. 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.

    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 spring and summer 2010 litters are posted.

    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.

    All sires and dams have earned at least a Prize III in the NAVHDA Natural Ability test or a Fair in the VHDF HAE test or a Pass in the VJP test. Their scores and rating are shown below. Some dogs have also run in intermediate level hunt tests, such as NAVHDA UPT or VHDF AHAE, or JGHV HZP. Some have also run in the highest level tests, such NAVHDA UT or the VHDF PE test or the JGHV VGP test. All dogs were judged to be of normal temperament in their test. They have all been certified HD free. Their rating is shown. Some dogs have received Progeny Performance Awards when at least four of their pups from a single litter have passed first level tests.

    North American Breeders

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

    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)

  • Breezy Point Kennel (1991-
  • Chestnut Ridge Kennel (2001-

    • Adult LMs for Placement

    Several adult rescue dogs are currently available to both hunting and non-hunting homes. The dogs are between 3 to 7 years old and have been trained and socialized. The dogs are located in various areas of the NW United States. We will facilitate the transportation of an adopted dog, but the new owner will be expected to incur the expenses. Please email Alan & Patty Kaplan for more information or phone (630)292-9222 in the central time zone.

     
  • Sunnynook Kennel (1977-

    • 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.

    Annual membership dues are:

    Canadian or U.S. currency is accepted, depending on the country of residence. Make check payable to LMCNA and mail to our new 2010 Treasurer (Susan Fasenko, 1114 Glastonbury Court, Edmonton, AB T5T 6M7 email (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 emailed to all members, or mailed if the higher fee ($30) is submitted.

    New pup 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@gmail.com for the newsletter. Susan will verify that dues are current.

    Links to Other Clubs for the Large Munsterlander

  • Germany
  • The Small and Large Munsterlander Club of Austria
  • The Austrian 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