Appi on point.

If one should be chosen to own a Munsterlander, he or she will get, at a minimum, a three-generation family tree from both the sire and dam. Both the parents will have proven field trial and hunting credentials. A potential Munster owner should note that the breeder will likely check you out more than you scrutinize his pups. To maintain the integrity and purity of the breed, people who purchase a pup agree to only breed the Munster after it has passed the NAVHDA field tests, where the dogs are scored on criteria that include eagerness to hunt, pointing game, retrieving (both land and water), etc.

I've been around bird dogs before and I owned a Brittany for years but I've never seen dogs as good as these. Most birders are loath to let their pooches run rabbits and the pointers, setters and spaniels are quickly pulled off a bunny trail. No one was allowed to shoot a rabbit while hunting with a regular bird dog. I was amazed when we kicked up a rabbit and the Munster master said, "If you want to take rabbits go ahead."

The hunters I hung with for four days were all members of the Northeast Chapter of Small Munsterlander owners and they enjoyed the camaraderie as though they were members of a close-knit fraternity or a secret society. Paul Jensen was there to hold court. Everyone renewed friendships. The group joins forces to help train and test their dogs.

Field tests are important.

Mike had a less than perfect score on his dog, Dieter, at a NAVHDA test. The breeder "grandparent" of Dieter, Mark Bulvanoski, drove five hours to Mike's place to help correct the water hesitation. The fix involved wiring a steak--yes a steak--to a retrieving dummy bumper. Dieter was eagerly plunging into freezing water within minutes.

I quizzed the hunters after their first two days, and I couldn't believe it. For the group's first two days of hunting on public lands, two groups, one of three men, one of four, and their Small Munsterlanders had 64 grouse flushes and 48 woodcock flushes. The refrigerator at Mike's place was groaning with the weight of three five-quart bowls filled to overflowing with the cleaned game birds.

I truly enjoyed the company of the Munster owners. All were very personable guys and I would hunt with any one of them anytime. And I will add that these guys are dedicated to their dogs. I stood in Mike's kitchen, soaking up the pleasant hunting banter. It was suppertime--way past my suppertime. The men had been hunting hard since early morning. None had returned to Mike's place before the end of legal shooting time.