Large Munsterlander Dog Breed Information
Also known as: Großer Münsterländer
A versatile German all-purpose gundog with a black-and-white feathered coat. Used in NZ for upland gamebird and waterfowl work, with a noticeably calmer house temperament than the Munsterland's pointer cousins.
A highly affectionate, highly trainable, great with young children dog. On the practical side: minimal drool.
About the Large Munsterlander.
The Large Munsterlander is a German hunt-point-retrieve gundog with a feathered black-and-white coat, used in NZ by upland gamebird and waterfowl hunters who want a single dog that does it all. The breed is calmer in the house than a German Shorthaired Pointer or Vizsla but every bit as driven in the field, and the off-switch indoors is the trait NZ owners mention most.
Personality and behaviour
Friendly with the family, reserved with strangers in a thinking-rather-than-barking way. The breed bonds tightly to one or two people and prefers to be in the same room rather than nearby. Vocal habits are low: the Large Munsterlander is not a barker. Adolescence runs from about 10 to 18 months, and skipped exercise during that window often shows up as kitchen-counter surfing or digging.
Care and exercise
Plan on 90 minutes of structured exercise a day, ideally including off-lead running and water access. Less on a quiet day, more on a shooting day. Brush the feathering twice a week and daily during seasonal coat blow. Check the ears weekly, and trim the leg and tail feathering every 6-8 weeks to keep mud and burrs off. NZ households in Northland should manage hot afternoons by walking early and late, while the breed handles Otago and Southland winter shooting comfortably.
The Large Munsterlander, by the numbers.
Each trait scored 1 to 5 on the AKC scale. The verdict synthesises the data; the panels below show the strengths, group averages, and the full trait table.
Top strengths
Family Life
avg 4.3Affectionate with Family
Good with Young Children
Good with Other Dogs
Physical
avg 2.3Shedding
Grooming Frequency
Drooling
Social
avg 3.3Openness to Strangers
Playfulness
Watchdog / Protective
Adaptability
Personality
avg 4.3Trainability
Energy Level
Barking Level
Mental Stimulation Needs
Living with a Large Munsterlander.
A 24-hour breakdown of how this breed's day typically goes, scaled to its energy, mental-stimulation, and grooming needs.
What a Large Munsterlander costs to own.
An indicative NZ lifetime cost: purchase, setup, then food, vet, insurance, grooming and other annual outgoings. Adjust the inputs to see how your choices change the total.
A Large Munsterlander costs about
$302per month
$70
$10
$47,136
Adjust the inputs:
Where the monthly cost goes
Food
$113 / mo
$1,355/yr · breed-appropriate dry & wet food
Insurance
$84 / mo
$1,013/yr · lifetime cover protects against breed-specific claims
Vet (avg)
$44 / mo
$530/yr · routine checks plus breed-specific risk
Grooming
$23 / mo
$280/yr · brushes, shampoo, professional clips
Other
$38 / mo
$450/yr · toys, treats, dental, boarding
Indicative NZ averages calculated from breed weight, grooming need and screened-condition count. One-off costs (purchase $3,150 + setup $450) are factored into the lifetime total but not the monthly figure.
How does the Large Munsterlander compare?
This breed
Large Munsterlander
$47,136
12-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$3,600
- Food (lifetime)$16,260
- Vet (lifetime)$6,360
- Insurance (lifetime)$12,156
- Grooming (lifetime)$3,360
- Other (lifetime)$5,400
Reference
Average NZ medium dog
$38,920
12-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$2,200
- Food (lifetime)$13,200
- Vet (lifetime)$6,000
- Insurance (lifetime)$11,400
- Grooming (lifetime)$2,400
- Other (lifetime)$3,720
A Large Munsterlander costs about $8,216 more over a lifetime than the average nz medium dog, mostly higherfood and higherother.
What to ask the breeder.
Reputable NZKC breeders test for these conditions and share results without being prompted. If a breeder won't share screening results, that is itself an answer.
Common
1 conditionOtitis externa
Hanging feathered ears trap moisture.
Occasional
1 conditionHip dysplasia
Reputable NZ breeders score parents under the BVA/KC scheme.
Rare but urgent
1 conditionBlack hair follicular dysplasia
Rare in the Large Munsterlander but worth knowing the warning signs.
The Large Munsterlander in NZ.
- Popularity: Small numbers, mostly with active gundog handlers. Under 10 NZKC registrations in most years.
- Typical price: NZ$2500–3800 from registered breeders
- Rescue availability: rare
- NZ climate fit: Coat handles wet South Island duck shooting well, runs hot in Northland summer.
- Living space: Suits lifestyle blocks and farms with daily off-lead access.
Who the Large Munsterlander is for.
Suits
- Upland gamebird hunters and gundog triallers
- Active rural and lifestyle block households
- Owners who can commit 90 minutes of off-lead work daily
Less suited to
- Apartment living or under-exercised households
- First-time owners who want a couch dog
Common questions.
Is a Large Munsterlander a good first-time gundog?
How does it compare to the German Longhaired Pointer?
If the Large Munsterlander appeals, also consider.
Breeds with a similar profile that might suit your household.
Small Munsterlander
A medium versatile German HPR gundog, brown-and-white feathered coat, smaller and lighter than the Large Munsterlander despite the similar name.
German Longhaired Pointer
The long-haired sibling of the German Shorthaired and Wirehaired Pointers, a versatile HPR gundog used in NZ rural shooting circles for both upland gamebirds and waterfowl.
German Shorthaired Pointer
Versatile German hunting dog bred to point, retrieve and track on land and water. The most-used pointing breed in NZ deer, gamebird and small-game hunting communities, with high drive, high trainability and a serious daily exercise need.
English Setter
A tall, gentle, speckled gundog. Calmer than the Irish Setter and easier on the household, with the same long coat to manage and a real daily running need. Held mostly by NZ gundog and active rural households.
Last reviewed:
Sources for this pageInformation only. Breed traits and health notes on this page are aggregated from public registry and breed-authority sources. Individual animals vary; this page is general information, not veterinary, behavioural, or insurance advice. Always consult a registered NZ vet or breeder for guidance specific to your situation.