Preface:

The Small Münsterland Setter (MMS) is a medium-sized, long-haired, versatile dog that has been bred for more than 100 years in its country of origin, Germany.

The MMS has some  peculiarities typical of the breed, which developed over the centuries during its use as a hunting dog in the northwestern German lowlands.

On the one hand, we must emphasize the intelligence of the MMS, which it uses to hunt as effectively as possible with all its senses, and on the other hand, its enormous attachment to the driver, which makes it an excellent cooperative hunting companion. It is a naturally friendly and balanced dog with   high temperament  , and therefore requires rigorous obedience training. Sharpness is desired, as well as shot resistance on land and in water. Thanks to these features, MMS has become a popular hunting companion far beyond the borders of Germany.

They are dogs with great working potential when working in the field, in the water and in the forest, and they can make full use of their hunting passion, mind, joy of work  and aptitude for teamwork.

​

A. Work in the field

   1. Smell

The MMS has excellent nose performance for pre- and post-shot work, but especially for searching. He is always able to make good use of the wind to find game quickly and often, sometimes to mark  the hangout, find tracks  and work them out. It can quickly wind the animal and stabilize it while moving.

  2. Work on the trail

When working on a trail, the MMS should demonstrate a willingness to follow the trail.

The will to track can be recognized by how he adapts to the work and, taking into account the given circumstances (soil conditions, weather, etc.), he works willingly and in a controlled, concentrated manner and tries to progress even in difficult conditions. Track work  is typical  by calmly staring, after picking up the animal by chasing it  and when losing contact with a hare or fox, trying to find the trail again by looking for it randomly. Ideally, he should follow the warm trail loudly.

Tracking is manifested in the behavior of a dog that has the will to track (prey) as an expression of its innate qualities, i.e. especially in difficult conditions   to search for the path of the trail by calm process and   to work it out exactly.

When evaluating trail work, the will to follow and hold the trail in difficult terrain, weather, wind, and the age of the trail should be evaluated more than just its length.

   3.Searching for

When searching, the body is tense, it moves elegantly, and after catching the scent of the animal, it stops with a distinct position of the head, body and legs. Holds the nose up, semi-high or low against the wind. Often searches with a low nose when working on tracks. The position of his nose always depends on where he can best catch the animal.

His search is close to hunting, characterized by the will to find, he works systematically, comprehensively, briskly  and persistently. At the same time, it also orients itself independently according to the direction of the wind. He shows the joy of work, passion, hunting spirit and feeling for teamwork. He always likes to work for the success of his leader, even without influence and largely on his own.

It adapts to the terrain,  kinds of animals and wind.

When working, it advances against the wind in a transverse search, runs forward after the wind  and returns against the wind. His search speed depends on the quality of his nose.

The search is spacious, but the distance from the leader  about 100 steps should not be exceeded often. 

He allows himself to be controlled at work, even over long distances (leadership, ability to work in a team). At the same time, he repeatedly maintains eye contact with his leader and is ready to fulfill the commands issued (by voice, eye contact,  whistling).

He quickly learns that any activity is prohibited for him until the appropriate order comes from the leader. When he understands that this reduces the overall hunting success, he no longer pursues healthy game. He always tries to help his leader to shoot so that they can catch prey together.

However, MMS must not be wild, because when hunting, it should and must work on the trail of wounded game. He must not pursue fleeing fur or feathered animals without a warrant.

He does not change his search style, even if he has to work with several dogs at the same time (pair search), because he always works for joint hunting success.

Frequent running away and disturbance, aggressive behavior towards a cooperating dog, lack of obedience, weak searching, as well as many loud commands and frequent whistling of the leader are undesirable.

   4.Exhibiting

MMS does not have a special form of expression when exposed. Exhibits in all possible positions. By turning its head against the wind, it remains in a tense position and no longer moves its tail. When exhibiting, all four feet are on the ground, or one front or rear leg is raised. It is also typical for the breed that some MMS crouche   or lie down upon olfactory contact with the animal.

Once the  MMS approaches the animal, he should mark it by exposing it and advancing cautiously or purposefully circling and standing in front of it, or remaining in place until his leader approaches, even for a long time and distance, allowing him to shoot without haste. He knows exactly how to create the best conditions for the leader to shoot. The handler can usually see very well when the animal is no longer fixed in front of the dog or when it has run away. Because the tension in the dog is released and the end of the tail begins to wag slightly. 

It stands equally well with fur or feathered game, although it usually exposes the feathered game at a greater distance.

Balamuting is undesirable when it repeatedly, significantly and for a long time exposes breathing passages without animals.

If the MMS searches with several dogs at the same time, it should also expose or admit simultaneously.

Concurrent exposure means that the second or third dog also exhibits the same animal as the first dog.

Acknowledgment in this case means that the second or next dog stays in the show position if it sees another dog in the same position. The second does not exhibit smell, but only  to a visual signal. The awarding dog should remain in the exhibit until the first dog has completed its work on the game.

 

B. Water work

It is requested that the dog be quiet near the water. On command, the dog should immediately enter the water and do its job.

​   1.Chasing in the reeds

 Working before the shot means MMS has to find waterfowl even in deep water with extensive reeds. It is a job that requires high physical and mental abilities from him. He must have sufficient resistance, endurance and passion for working in the water. It is a work of smell, as in the field, trying to find a waterfowl to displace and force it to take off or leave cover.

   2.Search

 If the dog is sent out looking for shot waterfowl, the MMS should be guided towards the duck. Found waterfowl should be brought without the leader's order.

   3.Live duck track

If the waterfowl is only winged, it tries to get to safety from the dog that is following it. The dog has to concentrate on working with his nose to be able to follow the bird's track on the surface of the water. Ignoring or avoiding live waterfowl are serious mistakes.

If the dog caught a duck in the reeds or drove it out of the cover to the open surface and  there the handler shot her, the dog must retrieve her correctly.

The dog must first hand over the duck before it can shake.

​

C. Work in the forest

In addition to work in the field and in the water, the little Münsterland setter can also handle a lot of work before and after a shot in the forest.

​   1.Stalking in the forest

Stalking in the forest corresponds to  searching in the field with one big difference, in the forest, eye contact is very limited even due to the size of the MMS, and therefore the dog in this case is required to work consistently "under the gun".

Working under rifle means that the small Münsterland setter can only search as far as the handler is able, given local conditions, to shoot game that is standing or moving away from the dog.

So, while the small Münsterland setter can search in the field at a great distance from the leader, in the forest  he has to search the thickets in the hilly terrain at a distance of about 25-30 m. A winded animal must be exposed, a raised animal must not be chased so that it does not escape the shooter.​

   2.Chase in the woods

A small Münsterland setter is required to be more independent, as he has to go to the assigned area without his handler and be completely alone, without any connection with his handler, who is often far away. He should chase the found animal and, if possible, direct it to one of the hunters or to his leader.

It is essential that the dog has a sense of direction and is loud at least when seen, preferably even on the trail. A dumb dog is absolutely useless for forest hunting. While the handler can follow the dog's hunting with his eyes when searching and working in the field, here he has to rely on hearing. A dog that only hunts visually leaves the hunter or hunters waiting without knowing what is happening in the thicket.

Furthermore, it is very important that the small Münsterland setter does not hunt excessively, i.e. j. to hunt only in  the area intended for hunting and not to leave it, to possibly continue hunting in the adjacent thickets that are yet to be hunted. 

The small Münsterland setter, which hunts only in thickets surrounded by archers, hunts in arches. After finishing work or on command, he quickly comes to his master and allows himself to be tied. Dogs that are only a few meters from their handler   and move back and forth only on the edge of the cover are undesirable.

A dog that is not used for work and stays with its handler must behave absolutely calmly. A dog placed next to its handler must not get up or move away from the place. He must not whine or make noise. All these manifestations would lead to a failed hunt.

Just like when shooting in the field, also when shooting in the thicket or with the noise of the hounds, the dog must behave calmly and must remain controllable.

   3.Work on paint

MMS is very suitable for  track work, because it has the necessary skills and physical prerequisites for it. This includes persistence on the trail, the ability to concentrate and stay calm, a fine nose and a fair amount of controlled sharpness. By constantly circling and barking, he can face a large, defending animal. However, it can also annoy and finally pull down an injured deer animal. Thanks to its loudness, its leader  can also follow it by hearing.

On the painted track, the MMS tucked into the belt works calmly and firmly holds the track. He doesn't get distracted and always tries to successfully complete the trail together with his leader.

​

D. Bringing

A small Münsterland Setter must only start retrieving at the command of its handler. He should find the piece in the most direct direction possible, immediately pick it up and quickly bring it by the shortest route. After arriving at the handler, the dog must sit down and hand over the piece on command. The fault is squeezing, slow or hesitant bringing of game, as well as lack of obedience   when handing over or incorrectly serving (e.g. throwing, releasing without command) a piece of game brought in.

​