The Large Munsterlander Association of Canada (LMAC)
LMAC commits to maintaining the Large Munsterlander (LM) as a dog for
hunters, their families and ethical hunting. The Large Munsterlander is
a long-haired versatile hunting dog, developed in Germany, which has
been bred to performance standards in North America for over 40 years,
LMCNA (Large Munsterlander Club of North America)
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34 Years of Large Munsterlanders and Counting
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Larry Strong took home his first Large Munsterlander in 1992. He has lived with and hunted with LMs for 34 years, 2/3 of the time of LMAC’s existence. He was a Wildlife Biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in North Dakota. His LMs were/are:
- Sunnynook’s Hunter LMCNA 15/92
- Snowy Oaks Abe LMCNA 76/03
- Breezy Point’s Ute LMAA 38/15
- Muddy Waters’ Ed LMAC 12/25
Now in retirement in Colorado, he goes hiking with his dogs. Ute the elder is on the left and Ed on the right. Young Ed had been in the water for a break from hiking. Larry is taking every opportunity to let Ed grow into a capable hunting partner, on land and in water.
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This web page was first mounted in October 2011 and last updated on April 27, 2026 by Sheila Schmutz.
LMAC Bulletin Board
- A LMAC AGM was held on Sunday April 12, via Zoom, 3 PM Saskatchewan time. The minutes have been sent to members..
- Newsletter The Spring 2026 newsletter was mailed in late March. Please submit articles, photos, etc. for this Newsletter to John Staley (jsmunster@gmail.com) by March 15.
2026 Zoom Discussions/Presentations (coming soon)
Profile of a Large Munsterlander
The Large Munsterlander is one of several continental breeds of
versatile hunting dogs. It gained breed recognition in the Münsterland
of northwestern Germany in 1919. Although this makes the LM the last of
the German breeds to gain official representation by a separate breed
club, the LM was recognized as a black color variant of the brown German
Longhaired Pointer going back to its breed club formation in 1878. Even
before that time, the forerunner of the modern LM can be recognized in
artists' representations of hunting scenes as far back as the Middle
Ages.
The LM is a black and white dog with hair of medium length. They
weigh 50-75 lbs with males about 60-67 cm and females 58-63 cm at the
shoulder. In its German homeland and some other countries, this dog has
been bred for over a century for hunting and not show. Hence coat color
is highly variable, ranging from predominantly white to predominantly
black. Markings occur as solid white patches, or ticked or roan regions.
This field dog characteristically is calm, gentle and intelligent,
and therefore also valued as a family dog. The versatile and cooperative
characteristics of the LM provide for a reliable companion for all
facets of hunting. It is well suited for a variety of game, including
the tracking of big game as practiced by some owners. On average, LMs
search well outside of gun range in open country but are still
responsive and not independent. LMs excel as bird finders before and
after the shot due to excellent noses and a purposeful searching style
with good coverage, rather than speed. Many LMs point with intensity
from puppyhood on, and many honor naturally. Given their passion for
retrieving, steadiness needs to be encouraged through training,
especially in the exuberant youngster. LMs tend to be strong in the
water. The LM's long and thick coat protects them against cold and
allows them to search dense cover thoroughly. Even so, their coat is a
compromise well suited for temperate climates. Short-haired breeds may
be better suited for upland hunting in the hot South, while the oily and
dense coat of retrieving specialists makes them better suited for
prolonged water work in the late-season North.
Available Pups

The best method of obtaining a pup of your choice is by reserving
from a breeder who plans a litter. Most pups are born in spring
or early summer. LM breeders, see below, will place pups only in hunting homes for
several reasons. The criteria for breeding are shown below.
Litters Expected in 2026
- Sunnynook Kennel (1977-
- Joe & Sheila Schmutz Saskatoon, SK e-mail joe.schmutz@usask.ca 306-382-8964
- Dam = Sunnynook's Joli
- VHDF Hunting Aptitude Evaluation 65 (Very Good)
- VHDF Advanced Hunting Aptitude Evaluation 170 (Very Good)
- Hips Excellent & Elbows Normal @ 1.6 years
- LMAC Conformation: Body Very Good, Coat Very Good
- Sire = Prairie Sky's Church
- VHDF Hunting Aptitude Evaluation 67 (Very Good)
- VHDF Advanced Hunting Aptitude Evaluation 163 (Very Good)
- NAVHDA Utility 156 Prize III
- Hips Good & Elbows Normal @ 5 yr & 4 months
- LMAC Conformation: Body Very Good, Coat Very Good
- 10 Pups were born on March 11, 2026 - 5 females and 5 males. Male pups are still available.
- Eagle Rock Kennel (2016-
- John & Janice Staley, 338 Green River Circle, Evanston, Wyoming 82930 801-725-3689 e-mail jsmunster@gmail.com
- Dam = Eagle Rock’s Breeze
- VHDF Hunting Aptitude Evaluation 43
- VHDF Advanced Hunting Aptitude Evaluation 140 (Good)
- Hips Excellent & Elbows Normal @ 27 months
- LMAC Conformation: Body Very Good, Coat Good
- Sire = Sunnynook's Jet
- VHDF Hunting Aptitude Evaluation 65 (Very Good)
- VHDF Advanced Hunting Aptitude Evaluation 165 (Very Good)
- Hips Fair & Elbows Normal @ 34 months
- LMAC Conformation: Body Very Good, Coat Good
- Pups born April 14. Pups are spoken for.
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LMAC Breeders
Some of these kennels have not breed a litter recently, or have retired from breeding, but are shown here so that owners of pups in the past have their current contact information.
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Active Breeders
Eagle Rock Kennel (2016-
- John & Janice Staley, 338 Green River Circle, Evanston, Wyoming 82930 801-725-3689 e-mail jsmunster@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jsmunste
Muddy Waters
Kennel (2002-
- Rick & Sheri Hallwyler, 12401 S Casto Rd, Oregon City, Oregon 97045
503-651-1884
e-mail
hooch@teleport.com
Prairie Fire Kennel (2018-
- Tracy Fisher and Rick Espie, Regina, SK 306-530-7797
e-mail sturm1@sasktel.net
Sunnynook Kennel (1977-
- Josef & Sheila Schmutz, R. R. 2 Site 202 Box 123, Saskatoon, Sask. S7K 3J5 306-382-8964 e-mail
joe.schmutz@usask.ca or sheila.schmutz@usask.ca
Future Breeders
- ______ Kennel
- Michael Maksymchuk, Arborg, MB, Canada
e-mail
- Hunters Creek Kennel
- Jurgen Krause, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada
e-mail
Past Breeders
- Bear Hills Kennel (2008-2015)
- Byron and Kaley Pugh, British Columbia as of summer 2018
- Cariboo Kennel (2006-2013)
- Gerhard Loeffeler, Canim Lake, British Columbia, Canada 250-397-2826
e-mail gerhard@loeffeler.org
- Dogwood Hill Kennel (1982-1989)
- The late Helmut and Rita Merkel of Vancouver Island, BC
- Jägermatt Kennel (1987-1991)
- Ilse and Mike Vallee of Quebec
- Manapi Kennel (2009-2010)
- Clint & Colleen, RR3, Prince Albert, SK 306-764-1892 e-mail c-r@sasktel.net
- Northwind Kennel (1998-2002)
- Francois Messier of Saskatoon, SK
- Prairie Sky Kennel (2003-2019)
- Lynn Oliphant & Rhonda Shewfelt, Box 80 Site 60 RR6, Saskatoon,
SK S7K 3J9 306-374-1068
e-mail rhonda.shewfelt@usask.ca or lynn.oliphant@usask.ca
- SaskElkana Kennel
(2004-2007)
- Vance Lester and Sue Echlin, Box 32, Perdue, Sask. S0K 3C0
306-290-1693 cell e-mail
vlester2@yahoo.com
Eligible Sire Owners
Registration Criteria
Performance Requirements for Breeding LMs
All LMs in North America that were eligible for breeding in LMCNA® as of Dec. 31, 2011 will continue to be eligible to breed until they are 10 years of age (see list of eligible sires) in LMAC. From January 1, 2012 to June 30, 2020 LMs registered by LMAC could be registered in the standard fashion or in the Original Stream.
Based on the LMAC Bylaws of July 1, 2020, to be eligible to breed a dam or sire:
- is a Large Munsterlander registered by LMAC, or if imported to North America, registered by a breed association that, in the judgment of the Board, employs registration requirements similar to the Association's, including performance requirements intended to maintain the breed's versatile hunting traits
- has participated in a recognized test (e.g. JGHV, NAVHDA, VHDF) of a young dog's (1.5 years old or less) natural aptitude to search, point, and track upland birds and to swim
- has qualified in a test of advanced subjects including work before (e.g. search, point) and after the shot (e.g. track, retrieve) on land and water (e.g. HZP of JGHV, Utility Test - UT of NAVHDA, or AHAE of VHDF) or equivalents approved by the Board. (Note the NAVHDA UPT test ceased to exist as of January 2025)
- is free of genetic defects that are highly heritable and/or carry with them a significant burden to the dog or its owner, and has been certified free of hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia by radiographic assessment
- is of normal temperament and not gun shy, as assessed in the young dog's test
- has passed a conformation test carried out by LMAC-trained and -approved judges that ensure that the dogs conform to the breed standard and possess a body form (e.g. smooth gait) and coat (e.g. protective) that enables optimal hunting function in fall and winter on land and in water, or passed a conformation test deemed equivalent by the Board

Breeders who plan to have a litter or have pups to be registered by
LMAC should contact the LMAC Registrar, Derek Oderkirk.
Please direct general questions about the content of this page to:
e-mail