Small Munsterlander.

DesO'Neile · Small Munsterlander.

Much against my better judgement I am under pressure to train a Small Munsterlander for a friend of a friend. What am I likely to be getting myself into? and what in particular should I watch out for?

tashap

I rather like munsterlanders but can't have one because of the long hairy coat. They are lovely to watch working, stronger noses than alot of the weimaraners that I have seen, guns tend to like them because they give tongue when on game so warn those who are prehaps not such good shots to get ready Smile

smallmunsterlanderuk · Small Munsterlander

Hi Des,
We've got two of the first litter of Small Munsters in the Uk. We use ours for falconry and they are now just over 3 yrs old.
You can get the basics in, carefully, just sliding it in undercover, so to speak! They can be incredibly stubborn if they think they're being bullied in any way!
They are a totally different kettle of fish to the Large Munsterlander, in fact, the breeds are totally unrelated. The Smalls are much more intense hunters than the Large - and it's just a matter of channelling that fantastic ability and drive.
You also have to accept that it's a long, slow process - ours are just getting there as far as the pointing is concerned - I wouldn't expect a fully operational worker until it was 3 yrs. old. Having said that, a good trainer of HPR's would probably get there quicker than us, but they are slow to mature.
One of the second litter in the UK is with a gundog trainer in Bristol, and he appears to be getting on really well with him. (The second litter is now about 2 I think).
There are only 28 here in the UK, and two of them have temporarily moved to the Czech Republic!
Could I ask where the one you're having comes from? It's interesting to hear about another one so close!
Regards,

smallmunsterlanderuk

Hi, sorry bout the ads in my message - I didn't ask for them! Anyone know how to get rid of them?

johnhod · Ads

The ads are just something that the last post has to put up with. they should be attached to mine now.

Mike

Hi Nicky,
Welcome to the board BTW.

The ads are unfortunately something we have to live with as they pay for the hosting the forum (And so keep it free)

Although a lot of them are junk adverts I did find a good trainer with great facilities not far from me so IMHO they aren't all bad!!

Mike

Mike

Des,
Any chance of you keeping a diary for the Small Munsty? I would love to hear how you get on! Smile

DesO'Neile

I haven't decided yet if I will take on this dog. It is about 18 months old. The breeder was in HM Forces and now lives somewhere on the south coast, Portsmouth? Knowing the background of the owner I am worried that there will be all sorts of control issues with this dog, and I haven't even seen it yet. I love something new but my head says " Too much bother".

smallmunsterlanderuk · Small Munsterlander

Hi,
It sounds as if it is one of the B litter bred by Mike Melynck, who is in the forces, was at Bovington, but is now in the Czech Republic.
I can quite understand how you feel about starting on something that has already had 18 months of possibly not the right training! Some of these dogs were sold to rather unsuitable homes imo - but the B litter dog that is now with the gundog trainer in Bristol was rescued from his unsuitable home at 6-8 months and is going well. Also, one of the A litter had to be rescued at over 2 yrs (from a forces home) - and he has settled very well.
It really depends on how much inappropriate behaviour he has learnt I suppose.
Overall, the breed is very willing to please, and they have the most fantastic temperaments - they are just very hard headed persistent hunters and the majority of pet owners just can't cope with it all.
If you feel it's not right for you - and the friend of a friend is at their wits end - then I'm sure we would be able to find a suitable home from our waiting list. There are no litters on the horizon at the moment, although that may change this year.
Regards,

munstyman

I'm tempted......but I am not going to say a thing Exclamation

smallmunsterlanderuk

Munsti von Coesfeld

Hi Des,
If you are thinking on training (re-training) a nearly two year old SM, then you'll have to start from square one, if you are unsure about its previous training. You could always do an apraisal of its present state of training, and take it from there. Personally I'd start from scratch, that way you'll get rid of any bad habits or bad training.

I picked up a SM last February as a rescue dog, just over two years old, and he's ready for the hunt. Obviously he's followed onto my other SM and our Cocker, but most, if not all the bad habits are gone. Great nose, great eye contact, works well on the whistle and on hand signals. He's been worth everything I've put into him.
The SM in general shouldn't be pushed to hard. They do come from a background of very natural instinctive hunting ability. The Germans compensate for this by building the training around the dogs natural abilities. You'll also find that SM's will give tongue on game, which is part of the German test for Junghunde, not giving tongue will fail the test.

Should you take the dog on, then by all means get in touch if you have any issues or problems. I'd be glad to help.
As aye
Cliff

guy

M v C - how did you work up the eye contact? My EB will sit out and then look out rather than back at me for what seems like an age.

smallmunsterlanderuk

Spuggyhawk

A group I am with brought over a small munsterlander around March 05 from Ashton pound in Ireland. It was believed to be a GSP until it came over and was found to be a small munsterlander. Believe that its now working as a search and rescue dog.

munstyman

Did it have papers Question

If not I would be extremely dubious about it being a SM Exclamation

If based purely on how it looks, even those of us who have reasonable knowledge of our breeds sometimes have to look twice at some heinz 57 varieties, and certainly crosses between the group can throw up similarities to both parents and distant relatives Wink

Peter

Spuggyhawk

I know what you mean Peter, was sent a photo of a GSP bitch, was told by the rescue that she was a GSP bitch but a bit on the small side. When she came over I'd put money on it that she had Brittany in her parentage.

Don't quote me as its been a while, I didn't actually deal with him and there were no papers from the pound as he had been picked up as a stray, but apparently, the parentage of the Small Munsterlander was traced when he came over here. I was told that there were only approx 28 in the UK so was surprised to see one in the pound.

Munsti-Sue

We discussed this dog about a year ago on the sm munster forum and came to the conclusion it was one of the 'A-litter' and it was known that a dog form that litter did go to Ireland. All the A litter were tattooed unlike the B litter. Both Cliff and Nicky have dogs from said litter.

The dog works down in Devon doesnt she?!

Sue

munstyman

I assume that it was identified by its tattoo then, absolute disgrace that it ended up in a pound Evil or Very Mad

but glad it may have turned out all right Smile

Peter

Munsti von Coesfeld

Hit the nail on the head Munsty Man! Disgrace being the operative word. Other words are, " Irresponsible Breeder ", " Out for the money " and " Poor bloody dog " . Excuse the anger, but I knew a few hunters and falconers who were screaming out for a KlM, to be told that there were none left. That's because they went to unsuitable homes, one home being a couple of pensioners, one in a wheel chair, the other with a post stroke inability. They couldn't work out why their KlM wanted to chase the deer in Richmond Park. The owners were very genuine and caring, but the situation for the hound must have been intolerable.
And now there's the Irish return of a KlM, which we knew of some time ago. It is the sibling of my two (one of my two ALSO being a rescue) Makes the blood boil to see a good hound messed about, even more so when it is a breed close to my heart. One of the A litter, lasted a few days at the first home, and is now in the hands of a good man, who has got on well with a new breed, and she has turned into a fine dog, hats of to Aishas owner.
On a positive note, the rescue KlMs have all been rehomed to good and caring homes, and are enjoying life. As they should. Ask Hector and Brady.
As aye all
Laughing

münstermanager

Your anger, Cliff, is more than understandable. It is an absolute disgrace at best. I've been 'following' this since the A Litter were a few months old and I really must say that it is fortunate for the breed in this country that you and Nicky had dogs from that first litter and were around to sort out the mess.

I hadn't twigged that the search & rescue dog was one of the 'A' Litter. Nor did I realize that Aisha had been rehomed within a few days. We saw her at the CLA and she is a very fine dog indeed. We were most impressed by her temperament.

All the best
Sue

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