Country of Origin: Germany.

Official AKC Standard for the Small Munsterlander    

      I.        General Appearance: The Small Munsterlander has a strong and harmonious build of medium size, showing balanced proportions with a lot of quality and elegance. Distinguished head. In upright posture the dog displays flowing outlines with horizontally carried tail. Its front legs are well feathered, the hind legs with breeches, the tail has a distinct flag. Its glossy coat should be straight or slightly wavy, dense and not too long. Its movement is harmonious and far reaching. The overall appearance of the breed must always show its utility as a hunting dog.

    II.        Size, Proportion, Substance:

                      i.        Size  Height of dogs (male), measured at the withers, 20.5-22 inches. Sever fault if: 

Severe fault if Measurement is between 22-22.5 inches or 20-20.5 inches.

Disqualifying fault if greater than 22.5 inches or less than 20 inches.

Height of bitches (female), measured at the withers, 20 -21 inches.

Severe fault if Measurement is between 21-22 inches or 19-20 inches.

Disqualifying fault if greater than 22 inches or less than 19 inches.

                     ii.        Proportion The length of the body, measured from the prosternum to the point of the buttock, should exceed the height at the withers. The goal is a ratio 1.1. 

The distance from the ground to the elbows should be approximately equal to the

distance from the elbows to the withers.

The length of the skull from the occiput to the stop is equal to the length of the muzzle from the stop to the nose. Serious deviations from the correct proportions of body, neck and height and withers is a severe fault.  

                    iii.        Substance- The substance is strong. Clumsy, big-boned conformation is a severe fault

   III.        Head: The expression of the head is part of the type.

                      i.        skull is distinguished, lean, flat to slightly arched.

                    ii.        stop is only slightly pronounced but distinctly recognizable.

                   iii.        nose is solid brown. More than 50% of the nose flesh-colored or spotted is a severe fault. Completely depigmented nose is disqualifying.

                   iv.        muzzle is powerful, long, and straight. Pointed muzzle or dished nose bridge are severe faults.

                    v.        lips are short, tight closing, well pigmented – solid brown.

                   vi.        teeth are large, white with regular and complete scissor bite with the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws. 42 teeth according to the dentition formula. All deviations from the correct scissor bite except the lack or excess of two P1 are disqualifying.

                  vii.        jaws are powerful.

                viii.        cheeks are strong and well-muscled.

                   ix.        eyes are of medium size, neither protruding nor deep set. As dark brown as possible. Eyelids tight fitting to the eyeballs, covering the haws. Eyes too light or light-yellow hawk eyes are severe faults. Bird of prey eye, ectropion, entropion, distichiasis, (double eyelash line) are disqualifying

                     x.        ears are broad, set on high, lying close to the head tapering towards the tips, ear leather should not reach beyond the corner of the mouth. Short smooth coat on the ears or too long and curled fringes on the ears are severe faults.

  IV.        Neck, Topline and Body:

                      i.        neck length in balance with the general appearance; gradually widening towards the body. The nape line is slightly arched and very muscular. Tight fitting throat skin.

                     ii.        topline Slightly sloping in a straight line.

                    iii.        withers are pronounced.

                             iv.            back is firm, well-muscled. The spinal processes should be covered by the musculature. A Distinct roach back, pronounced swayback, crooked spine are all disqualifying.

                               v.            loins are short, broad, and muscular.

                   vi.        croup is long and broad, not short slanting, only slightly sloping towards the tail, well-muscled with a broad pelvis.

                  vii.        chest is rather deep than broad, the breastbone reaching as far backwards as possible. Ribs well arched. Serious lack of depth of chest or too flat sided brisket or barrel shaped brisket are severe faults. Malformation of the ribcage, e.g. sternum cut off is disqualifying.

                 viii.        underline and belly have light tuck-up towards the rear in an elegant curve; lean.

                   ix.        tail is set on high, with long flag following the topline, strong at the base, then tapering. Of medium length to the hock. Carried downwards in repose, horizontally and not too high above the level of the topline with a slight sweep when in action. In the lower third it may be curved slightly upwards. Kinky tail, curled tail are all disqualifying.

    V.        Forequarters: The general appearance is viewed from the front straight and rather parallel, viewed from the side legs set well under the body. The distance from the ground to the elbows should be approximately equal to the distance from the elbows to the withers.

                      i.        shoulders the shoulder blades lying close to the body, strongly muscled. Shoulder and upper arm forming a good angle of approximately 110°.

                     ii.        upper arm is as long as possible, well-muscled.  

                    iii.        elbows are close to the body, neither turning in nor out. Elbows heavily turning out or in is a severe fault. The upper arm forming a good angle with the forearm. The forearm has strong bones, perpendicular to the ground.

                   iv.        carpal joint is strong.

                     v.        pasterns are very slightly sloping. Steep pasterns are a severe fault.

                   vi.        front feet round and arched with well-knit toes and sufficiently thick, tough, robust pads Excessive hair extending beyond the toes is undesirable. Parallel in stance or in movement, neither turning in nor out. Splayed toes or flat feet are severe faults. 

  VI.        Hindquarters: The general appearance of the hindquarters viewed from the rear is straight and parallel with correct angulation in stifles and hocks. Strong bones.

                      i.        upper thigh is long, broad, muscular, forming a good angle with the pelvis.

                     ii.        stifle is strong, upper and lower thigh forming a good angle.

                    iii.        lower thigh is long, muscular and sinewy.

                   iv.        hock joint is strong.

                     v.        metatarsus is short and perpendicular to the ground.

                   vi.        hind feet are round and arched with well-knit toes and sufficiently thick, tough, robust pads, not too heavy coat. Parallel in stance or in movement, neither turning in nor out. Strongly cow hocked or barrel legged, in stance as well as in movement is a severe fault. Splayed toes or flat feet are severe faults. 

 VII.        Coat: The hair is dense, of medium length, not or only slightly wavy, close lying, water-repellent. The outlines of the body may not be hidden by too long coat. By its density it should provide as good a protection against weather, unfavorable terrain conditions and injuries as possible. Short smoot coat on ears is faulty. Forelegs feathered, hindlegs with breeching down to the hocks, tail with a long flag and white tip. Abundant coat on the fore chest is undesirable.  A curly coat is a serious fault.

VIII.        Color: The color is brown-white or brown roan with brown patches, brown mantle or brown ticking; blaze permitted. Tan colored markings on the muzzle, the eyes and around the anus, and on the ears, tail and legs are permissible. These tan markings are called “Jungklaus markings”. Solid colored dog is disqualifying.

  IX.        Gait: The gait is ground covering, with good drive and appropriate reach, straight forward and parallel coming and going, with well upstanding posture.

    X.        Temperament. The Small Munsterlander is intelligent and capable of learning, full of temperament but even, with steady character; its attitude towards people is alert and friendly (suitable for family life), with good social behavior and keeps close contact with his master (team spirit); with passionate, persevering predatory instinct, versatile hunting aptitudes and strong nerves and keenness for game. The dog must have the natural abilities required to hunt in close cooperation with its handler in the field, forest, and water (versatility), and to retrieve game to the hunter. Aggressive or overly shy dogs is disqualifying. Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioral abnormalities; fearfulness, aggressiveness, game or gun shyness is disqualifying.

FAULTS: Any departure of the foregoing points must be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS

·         Completely depigmented nose.

·         All deviations from the correct scissor bite except the lack or excess of two P1.

·         Bird of prey eye.

·         Ectropion, entropion, distichiasis, (double eyelash line).

·         Kinky tail, curly tail, other tail abnormalities e.g. too short or too

long tail.

·         Solid-colored dogs.

·         Disqualifying fault if greater than 22.5 inches or less than 20 inches for a dog.

·         Disqualifying fault if greater than 22 inches or less than 19 inches for a bitch.