Sharing our love of Large Munsterlanders

Dick and Ann Eve with Munsterlanders Bentley & Mathilde

We are Dick and Ann Eve, and we live in a farmhouse near Lavenham, in Suffolk.

To fill the holes left by the teenagers we had a lovely Springer Spaniel bitch, Wren.

Wren, was our first dog, and was like a canine dynamo, with health problems.
 

When we started to consider an addition to our canine family, we did some research, found the Ichbin web site and fell in love with the breed. The final decision was made when, on one of Wren's many visits to our vet, Heather Bentley, Ann mentioned we were thinking of getting a second dog. “How about a Large Munsterlander?” Heather says. Straight after Christmas we happened to call Trevor and Sue Chambers on the very night that Zilka was starting to whelp (with a litter sired by Elle’s Zeb). As soon as possible we went to visit, and joined the queue for a pup. Bentley was the only puppy we said we didn’t want because he was so big but, of course, you’ve guessed it, after visiting again we decided he was the one. Thanks Trevor, I know it was a wrench for you. And what better name than Bentley – a class act from a breed recommended by our valued vet Heather Bentley.

As soon as Bentley’s vaccinations were effective, off we went to training. This time, although we used the same Trainer as we had used for Wren, Annie Clayton, she now used the clicker training method. We have found Bentley to be very intelligent and responsive and although Wren was very intelligent she was not as calm and was never able to concentrate as well. We certainly liked the clicker training method better and with Bentley being a good boy this went reasonably well, at least in the training area. We have found the recall and stopping him from pulling extremely difficult outside this area, and he, like Elle’s dogs, is an escape artist although fortunately not by digging the garden up. He squeezes through gaps in hedges or goes through ditches and as he gains confidence goes farther from home. This does often give us cause to worry both for other people’s safety, particularly children or the frail, as he jumps up to greet them, but also for his own safety.
 

We have found Bentley to be intelligent, responsive, and extremely affectionate but can get jealous and attention seeking. He does also suffer from separation anxiety, which was never a major problem with Wren and also like many of his breed does bark a lot. Bentley’s energy levels seem more normal than Wren’s (who suffered from hypoglycaemia) and although very active he knows his limitations and will settle down when he is tired.
 

We showed Bentley for the first time at Darlington in September 2003 and this won him a place at Crufts. Although he is a bit excitable when going into these new surroundings, he coped extremely well and considering he was not much more than a puppy, he seemed to take it in his stride. He certainly coped better than Wren would ever have done. He is also a show-off and he is in his element when being made a fuss off. This was most obvious when he did a turn on the ‘Discover Dogs’ at Crufts – he loved the attention and didn’t want to go home. But we made it home, after we lifted him in the car – oh didn’t we say, he is a perfectionist, he won’t do anything until he can do it properly. He took a long time to master the stairs but now he climbs one step at a time with regal grandeur. Maybe soon he will learn to jump in the car. Or is it just that he is smart and thinks “Why jump when these humans can lift me”.
 

Never mind we’re very proud of him even if we have had our problems, we have a great admiration for the breed and a great love for Bentley.  In fact we love the breed so much - we would like to introduce - Mathilde

Mathilde joined us in the Summer of 2007, a Blitzan Babe.  At first Bentley was not quite sure what to do with this little madam, so different in every way to poor Wren, who had passed away.  Actually, Bentley is still not quite sure how to handle Mathilde!

Mathilde made her debut in the show ring at Windsor 2008, and was second out of three despite her best efforts to misbehave!!!  We are planning on doing some more shows, and, having qualified,  maybe we will be at Crufts in 2009.

Either way both Bentley and Mathilde are wonderful dogs and I am very proud of them. Mathilde has just started an Agility training class and maybe that is the direction we will take.  Who knows - but we will enjoy ourselves.

Updated 17th March 2009.  

Mathilde is doing well with her agility training, and there is a new addition to the family - meet Dudley  - one of the “Eternal” litter of Blitzan Babes.  

Dudley seems happy to explore - and then relax with the older dogs - a happy confident puppy.....  Very striking in colour! And a lovely nature.  We hope to bring you regular updates on his progress....

Mathilde, taking a break at Crufts March 2009.

Photo kind permission Suzanne Hall.