History of the Large Munsterlander in North America - 50 Years

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)

In keeping with LMAC's inherited century-old breed-management tradition, the LM is both a versatile hunting and intelligent family dog. It's not meant to be one or the other, but by design both. In his recent book entitled "Mein Freund, Der Große Münsterländer" (see LMAC News, Vol. 49, #2), Bruno Oelmann writes The Große Münsterländer is a cooperative and loyal hunting companion and family dog. It has been and continues to be bred for hunting. In hunting families is where it belongs.

Hunters and their families are best positioned to understand the dog's behaviour in and out of the home, and manage it for their combined advantage. In this photo, Sunnynook's Merlin has joined Sunnynook's Ivan and their family close to 70 degrees North. Hunting season comes earlier in the year in the Northwest Territories but game birds are similar. Merlin will no doubt join Ivan hunting waterfowl, Ruffed, Spruce and Dusky (formerly Blue) grouse. There are also Sharptailed Grouse, if a hunter can reach old burned or otherwise open, shrubby areas.

featured June 2026

2026 marks the 50th year of LMAC, 1977-2026. The LM's existence in North America started a little before that. Baron Kurt von Kleist is pictured here with his first imported Großer Münsterländer: Dux von Arensburg. Baron von Kleist was a U.S. Prisoner of War. When his family's estate had been confiscated in what became east Germany, the United States government offered him a second homeland. His wife joined him in Pennsylvania, where they raised their family and Large Munsterlanders under the kennel name vom Waldeck, starting in 1970.

The second LM litter born in North America, was raised by a member of Germany's occupying force, Albert Gonzales. He returned to California with two Großer Münsterländer and had his one and only Green Valley litter in 1972.