Large Munsterlander vs Berger Blanc Suisse - 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.

The Berger Blanc Suisse is also referred to as the White Swiss Shepherd. The dog shares the same ancestry with the German Shepherd. The beautiful white dog from Switzerland, is closely related to the White Shepherd. Both breeds are descended from the German Shepherd breed.

It was in 1967 that a certain Agatha Burch brought a White German Shepherd with her to Switzerland and also importing a female white German Shepherd from the UK. It was these 2 dogs who were believed to be the first breeding dogs for the Berger Blanc Suisse. After a number of years, the breed was officially recognized in July 2011. In the USA and Canada, these White Shepherd dogs have been accepted as a distinct breed.

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.

Good Looks

The medium-sized, well muscled Berger Blanc Suisse looks so much like the popular German Shepherd, and apart from its white coat, it has much the same physical standards. The females are about 55–61cm in height while the males are 60–66cm in height. The dogs dense, medium-length double coat tends to be slightly wavy but straight is more common. He has a long bushy tail.

The Berger Blanc Suisse is somewhat longer than it is tall, but like the German Shepherd, it also has erect ears. In contrast to the white coat, the nose is black and the dog had dark, alert eyes.

Temperament

This is an intelligent, confident dog and if you buy a puppy, of which the average litter size is 8, you will need to provide training and socialization to ensure he doesn't act totally independently and behave in a manner not pleasing to you. Once he is trained and socialized, he makes a wonderful pet and is social, playful and gentle. He is loyal and devoted to his human family, wanting to protect them. He is good around children and other pets in the home.

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.

When you first set eyes on the Berger Blanc Suisse or White Shepherd, you can see that this is a strong, well-muscled, energetic dog, full of life and intelligent too. Add to that the fact that he is beautiful to look at.

Your Berger Blanc Suisse dog is gentle and loyal with his own human family and will be somewhat wary of strangers. This dog is balanced, good-natured, friendly and affectionate and he just loves spending time with his family, being a good watch dog as well. He’s got so much going for him – good looks, a great personality, he is loyal, loving, strong, healthy and he’ll make one hang of a pet.

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.

Your White Swiss Shepherd is a healthy, energetic, strong dog, but even so when you find him lethargic and listless, you want to get him to the vet for a check-up. It is always a good idea to be alert to common dog illnesses so that you know what to look out for in your dog.

Bloat

A common problem with dogs. The dog becomes restless and the abdomen is often enlarged. Get your dog to the doctor immediately.

Hip and Elbow Dysplasia

This is a developmental defect of the hip and elbow joints and you’ll notice your pet battling to rise again after lying down.

Degenerative Myelopathy

This is a disease of the nervous system where the hind legs and feet drag. Sometimes the dog loses control over the bladder.

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.

High Quality Food

Apart from your Berger Blanc Suisse puppy need an excellent quality puppy food 4 times a day, as he gets older you will need to adjust his food to suit his high energy needs. Once your pet reaches a year of age you will know whether he requires one or two helpings of food a day. You can feed him a top quality commercial manufactured food or you can make your own home-made food for him which includes meat, rice and vegetables.

You want to make 100% sure he is getting the correct dosage of minerals and vitamins to ensure good health. To keep his eyes bright and his nose wet, include some raw meat into his diet as well. Make sure that he always has access to fresh, cool water.

Lots of Exercise

Remember that your Berger Blanc Suisse is a working dog and he will need plenty of exercise. Apart from taking him on long walks, you can throw balls for him, buy rope toys for him and give him some rough and tumble. He is an intelligent breed and he will require some games that give him mental stimulation too.

Grooming

Check regularly for fleas and ticks. You’ll pick this up with brushing his beautiful coat. Frequent brushing will help keep your dog clean and also remove all those loose hairs. Your White Swiss Shepherd Dog is a moderate, but constant shedder as well as being a heavy seasonal shedder so you will need to give him a good brush at least twice a week.