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windem bang · Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 10:02 pm Post subject: Large Munsterlanders.

I would be the first to admit I know next to nothing about Munsterlanders. That was the reason I went to the L.M.C. aptitude tests today. I wanted to see this breed under something nearer to working conditions than in their more usual show environment. For years I have thought this is a useful looking breed, it is one I find attractive.

I was unable to see working examples of this breed here in Scotland, in order to find out more I attended shows and asked questions of the Munsty people I saw. They were always friendly but the people I met could tell me nothing about their work other than the breed blurb you can read in any dog book. Even to hear of one that had done anything that I would call work was rare. I put my interest on the back burner because I couldn't find the right ingredients to start cooking with.

The tests today although very basic , do I.M.O. go some way to introducing this breeds owners here in Scotland to the actual work capabilities of their breed. Maybe it is too soon but wouldn't it be an idea to move on a little from the aptitude tests and start having a couple of puppy and novice level "normal" tests per year? As a breed in Scotland you have to start somewhere and if there was a test or two they could be restricted to L.M.'s at least to start with.

This might have the effect of encouraging L.M. owners to try just that little bit harder to train their dogs up to shooting standards. The tests could be made relatively easy until the people not the dogs got the general idea of how to train for the various elements of shooting work. I got the impression today that many of the dogs had potential but I wasn't so sure about a few of the people!

This is a personal thing but I would like to see the breed in Scotland begin to sort itself out into which of them can show and work and which of them can really only show. Maybe this is happening down in England but it doesn't seem to be happening here. I would still have no idea which lines
I could go to for a puppy with work my priority. If I cannot do this other ordinary shooting men must be giving up the idea too?

In more than 30 years of attending shoots in Scotland I have not seen one single L.M. out in the shooting field. Other relatively rare H.P.R. breeds are there such as the Brittany - why isn't the L.M. out where it can be seen doing it? In Scotland does this breed only attract show minded people? If so what happened to the dual purpose role that all the H.P.R. breeds brag about? Where are all the Scottish WORKING L.M. handlers?

This post was not meant to offend anyone but I have no objection if it stirs them up a bit !

Bill T.

BritAnnie · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 12:19 am Post subject:

lagopuslagopus · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 6:31 am Post subject:

Did you not talk to Helen about this yesterday Bill?

guy · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 8:03 am Post subject:

Congratulaitions to Karen on winning Open at Mid Wales Working Gundog GWT yesterday.

The judge said it was a strong field - hard to choose beteen the top three dogs - but on balance it was her LM who won on consistency.
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lagopuslagopus · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 8:43 am Post subject:

Thanks for that Guy. It was lovely to put a face to a name.

josie · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 9:05 am Post subject:

Excellent, well done karen!

Bill, I'm not sure if tests can be restricted to only 1 breed (certainly not if they're to be KC tests). There are several other breeds (ahem, Weims!) which could do with the owners being encouraged to get more involved in working their dogs and which it's v hard to find many strong working lines in the UK, but we don't have Weim-only tests....
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windem bang · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 9:51 am Post subject:

Well done Karen, it sounds like it was a hard test to win.

When I sent in my above post it was with the hope of getting things moving a bit more among the Scottish Munsty people. The way things are at present NO handlers with Munsterlanders ever turn up at the H.P.R. tests run by other clubs. That being the case, I was hoping to start them of gently by having a Munsty only test or two until the handlers see what is required and gain some idea of how to train for it. That the dogs can do it I have little doubt. The handlers are ,from what I could see, needing brought on to match their dogs capabilities. Unless gundog breeds are tested in the field generation after generation they begin to deteriorate until you are left with the H.P.R. equivalent of the show labrador.
I would like to see the L.M.'s devotees here in Scotland take on this responsibility a bit more than they seem to at present.

It would be a pity if the K.C. regs. were to be used as a reason for not doing this. Since it would not be a "proper"test open to all H.P.R.'s , would it not be possible to call it by another name and have a L.M. "Shoot Involvement Day?"

Bill T.

lagopuslagopus · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 9:56 am Post subject:

You could always offer to organise one for them Bill

BritAnnie · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 12:22 pm Post subject:

Hi Bill
Contact John Anderson(our FT Sec) as he runs 'Shooting Experience Days' which are perfectly within allowable meets as far as the KC are concerned. He'll tell you how to organise them - or even Training Days as we have just had in Feb and June. I can help with the paperwork side of this - you can train, I'll send out invitations, plan the day, help with basic obedience, take any payments required to pay for expenses, gifts to landowners etc. Glad to help with anything.
Annie
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josie · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 12:33 pm Post subject:

I'm sure you can run a test with just LMs, just wouldn't be KC classified.

I seem to remember from when Pippa set up the Gundog Club that the KC can't stop anyone running any sort of other tests they want to - they can only dictate how the things they organise are run.
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