Plummer Terrier vs Large Munsterlander - Breed Comparison

The Large Münsterländer hails from the Münster region in Germany. It was in 1919 that the first breed club was founded.

The dog’s ancestors were different Spaniel breeds as well as the German Longhaired Pointer. The dog quickly became a sought after hunting dog in Europe.

The Large Munsterlander Association of America is the only official breed organization for this dog. The dog was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 2006.

This purebred dog was developed by Dr David Brian Plummer in the UK. The whole idea for developing the dog was for it to be an all-purpose dog that could also hunt down vermin.

Developed in the 1960s, the Plummer Terrier combines Jack Russell Terrier, Beagle, and red Fell Terrier blood. Later on, a Bull Terrier was brought in too. This created some problems and certain characteristics were selectively bred out of the Plummer.

Today, as a working terrier, the dog is versatile and has many uses. He may not be recognized by any major organizations, but there is at least a well-established Plummer Terrier club in the UK.

The medium to large Large Munsterlander stands between 60 to 65cm at the withers and weighs about 28 to 32kg.

When you look at him, you get the feeling that you’re looking at a springer spaniel. He has long broad feathery ears and also a long feathery tail. The head is fairly broad and somewhat rounded.

The coat of the dog is long and dense, and is quite wavy with feathering around the legs and tail. He can be black and white or be a reddish brown with patches or ticking because of the piebald gene. If you allow your Large Munsterlander to become a parent, the average litter of this dog is 5 to 10 puppies.

Temperament:

The Large Munsterlander is essentially a tracking, retrieving dog. He makes an excellent hunting dog and these instincts are strong within this particular breed. It is why some breeders only give their puppies to serious hunters.

He is an active dog, and because he loves to retrieve, ball games will suit him down to the ground. Take him with you on your walks as he is a naturally athletic, active dog.

He loves water too and won’t need a second invitation from you to jump right into dams or pools. He is such an easy going dog, getting on well with children and pets in the home and being a good first choice for first time dog owners too. However, he requires plenty of exercise.

Because he is a hunting and retrieving dog, he will be far better suited to living in a home where there is a fair sized garden. He isn’t regarded as a city dwelling dog. These are dogs that just love to be outside and running around.

The Large Munsterlander can be a boisterous dog, so teaching him some basic commands such as ‘come, stay, lie-down, sit or heel’ will improve the way he behaves inside the home and when in the company of other people.

Training and socialization will do him the world of good and it means you can take your dog anywhere – he’ll always be well behaved, becoming a calm, gentle dog.

The Plummer Terrier is a small, working terrier standing at between 28 and 36cm both male and female and weighing between 5 and 8kg.

The ears of the dog are high set and are fairly short, being floppy. The Plummer Terrier has a white and red/orangey coat which is short. He is an average shedder.

The tail would traditionally be docked, giving him an attractive, compact look, but these days the tail tends to be left long. The eyes are almond-shaped, dark brown and alert.

Temperament:

Your Plummer Terrier is active, hardy and adaptable, making it that he can settle down into life in the city or in the countryside. They will however, require regular exercise.

They’re the kind of dogs which are at home inside or outside. They’re very intelligent and can easily be trained and socialized. They’re also loving and loyal towards their human family. He is good with kids too and is playful and energetic around them, giving as good as he gets. His alert, intelligent nature makes him a good watchdog.

As a sporting dog, the Large Munsterlander loves his exercise. You can involve him in all kinds of outdoor activities, and he’ll readily join in, from swimming, to hiking to ball games to just plain running for the fun of it.

Always be careful with puppies though, before you involve such a young dog with such strenuous exercise. For a better chance of avoiding hip dysplasia, it is better to wait till he is about 12 months old before you involve him in too many lively activities.

He’s an easily trainable dog too, and the fact that he is a calm, gentle dog who is loving and loyal makes him an excellent pet choice.

Your Plummer Terrier promises to be a great companion and family pet, getting on well with children.

They’re intelligent too, so they’re easy to train. Being low maintenance and being a healthy breed too, the Plummer Terrier has got everything that people want from a canine friend - love, devotion, action, low maintenance, health and a wonderfully companionable nature.

All dogs can develop some health problems no matter how healthy they are, but when they are happy dogs, they’re well fed, exercised and loved, they have a better chance of reaching a ripe old age.

Large Munsterlanders are generally healthy dogs. Some conditions reported in the breed which are highly unlikely to affect your dog, but are good knowing about are hip dysplasia, cataracts and osteochondrosis.

Osteochondrosis:

This is a common condition where the joints of quickly growing puppies are affected. The surface of the joint doesn’t convert into bone in certain areas. The result is thickened cartilage which detaches from the surrounding normal cartilage, forming a flap.

Osteochondrosis causes the development of osteoarthritis, affecting certain joints of the dog. Both genetics and the wrong diet are causes of osteochondrosis.

It isn’t always possible to feed your dog wholesome food, but always try to get the very best quality food there is. Also, don’t allow your young Large Munsterlander to be involved in strenuous exercise before he reaches one year of age. Pounding around can put abnormal weight on the joints which can spell problems when the dog is older. Osteochondrosis mostly affects large and giant breed dogs.

These feisty little dogs are known to be a robust, healthy breed and with good care can reach between 12 and 15 years of age, and maybe older.

Some common dog diseases that your Plummer Terrier might succumb too, but which is highly unlikely.

Infectious Diseases:

Distemper and parvovirus are two example of these infectious diseases. Parvovirus is deadly and can be picked up through contact with the feces of an infected dog. Your dog will be vomiting, won’t want to eat and will no doubt also have bloody diarrhea.

Distemper is transmitted through contact with an infected dog’s urine or blood. Symptoms include difficulty with breathing, fever and diarrhea. There are vaccines available for the prevention of these life-threatening diseases.

Lower Urinary Tract Problems:

This disease can be debilitating for your pet and can include incontinence and bacterial infections. You’ll find your pet trying to urinate frequently but producing small drops of urine. Don’t hesitate – get your pet to the vet immediately.

Dental Disease:

You have to be careful with dental disease because many people think it affects just the teeth but it is linked to problems with the heart, kidneys and to diabetes. To prevent dental problems, look inside your dog’s mouth regularly and get him to a vet or professional dog groomer to attend to the tooth.

Diet:

The Large Munsterlander puppy will require 4 meals a day. When he reaches a year of age, you can give him two smaller meals a day.

He is a large, active dog and if you feed him manufactured dog food, make sure its high quality and that it caters to his age and energy levels. His dry kibble can be mixed with cooked chicken, brown rice or pasta and cooked or raw vegetables occasionally.

Raw meat can be expensive, but every dog requires some raw meat in the diet every now and then. Without some raw meat, you dog may well suffer with skin problems and a dull coat.

If your dog is still an active hunting dog, a high fat, high protein diet will be good for him. When in any kind of doubt, speak to a dog expert or your vet about how to feed him for health and longevity.

Exercise:

As a sporting hunting dog, the Large Munsterlander has high exercise needs. He most certainly won’t do well in a tiny city garden as he is an outdoor dog wanting to be running and exercising. If you choose this particular dog breed, make sure that you take him on walks, allow him off his leash in the park, play ball games with him and take him with you when you go on hikes.

Grooming:

With his silky coat, you want to be brushing your pet twice a week. If he has been out hunting with you, while brushing him, check for twigs, grass and burrs tangled in the hair.

Other basic care includes trimming the nails, keeping the ears clean and dry inside, brushing the teeth with a canine-approved pet toothpaste and toothbrush for good overall health.

Exercise:

He is an active, energetic little dog and loves nothing more than to be darting after a ball, going for long walks with you or jumping into a pool. He’s happiest when active and busy with his beloved family members.

Grooming:

With his short coat and being a moderate shedder, you’ll just have to give your Plummer a good brush twice a week to keep the coat free of loose hairs and dust.

Diet:

Always aim to give your dogs the best food there is. Dogs are just like people when it comes to food – nutritious, quality food helps towards good health and longevity. Apart from a good quality commercially manufactured food, give him some homemade food as a treat too. Simple, tasty food is best appreciated by dogs. They don’t want spicy, exotic foods that can upset their stomachs.

They love boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and healthy vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach. You can add this into the dry kibble occasionally as a treat, and also some raw meat from time to time. Your pet will be healthy and happy with such a diet. Make sure he always has a bowl of cool, fresh water within reach.