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Large Munsterlanders are often described as an 'all round gundog', making them an ideal 'rough shooting' dog. Ideal for working in woodland, banking, rough cover and root fields, they will work steadily and thoroughly.
The Large Munsterlander's love of water makes it a good duck or wildfowling gundog. They have excellent natural ability for tracking and retrieving wounded game, giving them great popularity as a 'deer dog'. We are committed to promoting the breed as first and foremost a useful working gundog and would like to see more LMs competing in Field Trials and Working Tests, attending our training days and Natural Aptitude Tests, as well as earning their keep on grouse and pheasant shoots. |
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Fancy giving it a go?
If you are interested in working your Large Munsterlander, contact the Club's Working Test Coordinator. This post helps to direct owners to sources of advice and information, in particular other more experienced owners of Large Munsterlanders who could perhaps offer advice, meet up with you or recommend trainers or groups in your area.
If entering a working test or field trial is too daunting a prospect, all dogs are welcome to come and watch, including unentered dogs. It is a good opportunity for new owners to come and see what gundog work is all about, as well as providing an opportunity to meet experienced owners who could offer advice and recommend local HPR trainers and groups.
The LMC holds one working test a year, in July, at Beaconsfield, but there are many other tests held by other HPR clubs over the summer months, a list of which can be found at www.hprftinfo.co.uk.
As well as its working test, the Club holds an annual Natural Aptitude Test. The NAT is a perfect starting point for any owner wishing to learn more about the natural inbuilt capability of their Large Munsterlander. There are also experienced owners on hand, to offer help and advice.
If entering a working test or field trial is too daunting a prospect, all dogs are welcome to come and watch, including unentered dogs. It is a good opportunity for new owners to come and see what gundog work is all about, as well as providing an opportunity to meet experienced owners who could offer advice and recommend local HPR trainers and groups.
The LMC holds one working test a year, in July, at Beaconsfield, but there are many other tests held by other HPR clubs over the summer months, a list of which can be found at www.hprftinfo.co.uk.
As well as its working test, the Club holds an annual Natural Aptitude Test. The NAT is a perfect starting point for any owner wishing to learn more about the natural inbuilt capability of their Large Munsterlander. There are also experienced owners on hand, to offer help and advice.
Working TestsGundog Working Tests are events held out of the shooting season. The various elements are designed to test the ability of the dog in all areas of gundog work, relevant to the HPR in a non-shooting situation.
Split into three classes, puppy tests are generally very simple and test the basics - obedience, heelwork, steadiness and simple retrieving. Novice tests are more difficult and are designed to test the mature HPR's abilities, with more complicated retrieves over longer distances, blind and seen retrieves, often with the sound of a shot, multiple retrieves in the same test, maybe over obstacles, through gaps in hedges, round corners. Open tests are over much longer distances - cold game and shot is often used. Working Tests are very sociable, and provide an excellent forum within which to see HPRs working. All dogs are welcome. Unentered dogs may attend. It is a good opportunity to both socialise puppies and for new owners to come and see what gundog work is all about. Below is a link to a video from the 2023 HPR Home Internationals with Christine Ogle's and Dr Robert Suchett-Kaye's Large Munsterlander Ch. Raycris the Temptress handled by Rory Major. This gives an idea of what the Large Munsterlander can do. |
Field TrialsField Trials are the pinnacle of competition for the working dog - held during the shooting season they endeavour to simulate, as closely as possible, the conduct of a normal day’s sport. A pair of experienced and qualified judges observe the dogs entered and evaluate their working ability.
Each dog is allocated an area of ground in which it is expected to seek and find game, indicate the presence of said game, and present the game to be shot. The dog is then required to retrieve the game and deliver it undamaged to its handler. Having performed these functions, the dog is then tested on its retrieving ability in water. Before you consider entering a field trial, you and your dog should have some experience of rough shooting. Your dog must be steady to shot, and retrieve on command. The retrieves may be seen or blind, so you must be capable of directing your dog onto a bird at some distance. |