Its old nickname evokes heath and moorland: Heidewachtelhund. That was still its name when the first breed club formed in 1912. Hunters were to have a medium-sized, intelligent, affectionate dog capable of everything in field, woodland and water. That ambition still makes the Small Munsterlander (Kleiner Münsterländer) a dog with a job.
| FCI | Group 7 (Pointing Dogs), Section 1.2 Continental Pointing Dogs, Spaniel type, Standard No. 102, with working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Germany |
| Size (height at the withers) | Males 54 cm, females 52 cm, plus or minus 2 cm allowed for each |
| Weight | not specified in the FCI standard |
| Life expectancy | no reliable study figure found (N/A) |
| Coat | dense, medium length, smooth to slightly wavy, close-fitting and water-repellent; feathered legs, tail with a long flag and white tip |
| Colours in the standard | brown and white or brown roan with brown patches, mantle or spots; blaze permitted; tan markings allowed on muzzle, eyes, ears and legs |
Origins
According to the standard, its breeding in the Münsterland has been documented since around 1870, with blood from old flushing and pointing dogs. Dr. Dr. Friedrich Jungklaus wrote the first breed standard in 1921; the tan Jungklaus markings bear his name. It shares a region with the Large Munsterlander, but not its standard or size: the FCI lists them as separate breeds.
Temperament
The standard describes it as intelligent, willing to learn, spirited yet balanced, friendly towards people and explicitly suitable for families. Add team spirit, steady nerves and a passionate, enduring prey drive. It wants to work with you. Without a task, that passion quickly becomes independent hunting.
Exercise and activities
It is a versatile working gundog for searching, pointing and retrieving on land and in water. Those who do not hunt replace this with daily scent work, dummy training and long walks, ideally including swimming. Allow around two hours a day and establish a reliable recall early. For another pointing dog, see the Magyar Vizsla entry.
Grooming
The medium-length coat is robust but collects burrs and grass awns. After every country outing, check between the toes, inside the ears and beneath the armpits. Thorough weekly brushing usually suffices.
Health
Its hip results are good. In Swedish X-ray screening from 2007 to 2016, 6,6 per cent of 441 young Small Munsterlanders had findings of grade C or above, meaning hip dysplasia (Engdahl et al. 2026). For comparison, the same study recorded 30,1 per cent in Lagotto Romagnolos. Still ask for the parents’ X-ray results. We found no reliable study figure for life expectancy.
Who suits the Small Munsterlander?
Hunters and active families who spend plenty of time outdoors and enjoy working regularly with a dog eager to learn.
Who is less suited?
People with little time, households where the dog spends much time alone and anyone seeking a companion without a hunting instinct.
To find out whether a passionate hunting dog fits your daily life, try the breed quiz or explore the question more thoroughly in our book “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). For the first weeks with a puppy, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. To put your Munsterlander on the wall, explore our dog portraits from your own photo or a magazine cover on canvas.
Further reading
- Weimaraner: the beautiful hunting dog that never clocks off
- Is my dog overweight? Checking body shape and ideal weight
- The first 30 days with a puppy: a plan for weeks 1 to 4
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 102 Kleiner Münsterländer (fci.be, version dated 14.11.2019, valid standard published 04.09.2019); Engdahl K et al., Prevalence of hip and elbow dysplasia in young adult dogs in Sweden, Veterinary Record 2026.
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