# Small Münsterländer Also known as: Kleiner Münsterländer, Heidewachtel - **Group:** Pointer (FCI group 7) - **Size:** Medium - **Origin:** Germany - **Height:** 50–56 cm - **Weight:** 17–26 kg - **Life expectancy:** 12–14 years - **Temperament:** Intelligent, Affectionate, Energetic, Attentive, Eager to Please - **FCI standard:** No. 102 The Small Münsterländer is a versatile German gundog that points, flushes and retrieves on land and in water. At home it is an affectionate family companion, but it needs real work and a great deal of activity. ## Overview The Small Münsterländer is a versatile hunting dog from the Münster region of Germany. It looks a little like a spaniel crossed with a setter, and it points, retrieves and tracks equally well on land and in water. It is a loving house companion, but also driven and intelligent, so it suits active people who hunt or who can offer similar hours of exercise and challenge. ## History The ancestors of this breed worked for noble families, flushing game for falcons and pointing at the catch. When guns replaced falconry, the dogs became general-purpose hunting helpers and family companions around Münster. By the 1800s the breed had nearly faded away. Around the turn of the twentieth century, enthusiasts such as Edmund Lons gathered the best remaining dogs and rebuilt the breed. Despite the name, it is not related to the Large Münsterländer. ## Appearance This is a medium-sized, harmonious and elegant dog, with a refined head, a horizontally carried well-flagged tail and an athletic, far-reaching gait. Males stand about 52 to 56 cm and females slightly less. The coat is medium length, dense, glossy and straight or slightly wavy, with feathering on the legs and breeches behind. The colour is brown patches on a white background, which may be ticked. ## Temperament Small Münsterländers are intelligent, attentive and sociable. They bond closely with one person, usually the one who hunts with them, but enjoy the whole family. They respond best to gentle, patient and consistent training and may test an indecisive owner. They have a strong prey drive and are not suited to kennel life. Raised with cats they usually get along, but unfamiliar small animals outdoors are not tolerated. ## Care and exercise Plan for at least an hour of vigorous exercise and mental work a day. Hunting, field training, retrieving and swimming suit them well, and without enough activity they can develop unwanted behaviours. The coat needs regular brushing, with attention to feathering and ears, especially after swimming or time in cover. ## Health The breed is robust, and responsible breeders test hips and other health points. Dry skin in cold climates and water trapped in the ears after swimming are the main minor problems. ## Ratings (1 to 5) - Energy: 4 - Exercise needs: 5 - Grooming: 3 - Shedding: 3 - Trainability: 4 - Barking: 2 - Good with children: 4 - Good with other dogs: 4 Page: https://techtools.cz/tools/dog-atlas/small-munsterlander Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_M%C3%BCnsterl%C3%A4nder · https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q38036 Photo: 4028mdk09 (CC BY-SA 3.0), https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kleiner_M%C3%BCnsterl%C3%A4nder.jpg Profile written by an AI model from the sources above.