Concord, Massachusetts, 1976.

This might be the last town in America where you’d expect the announcement of something new in this Bicentennial year. When the residents of this handsome colonial town talk about the events of ’75 and ’76 they usually mean 1775 and 1776.

But ’76 – 1976, that is – may be a memorable date in Concord, too, for the word is out that the M’s are coming. Muensterlaenders?

Yes. Small Ms, a breed of sporting dog familiar to Europeans, but so little known in the United States, that as far as we know, there are apparently only two in the country – ours. And that, my wife and I decided, is America’s loss. We knew and had experienced Ms in Denmark. And we found them superlative animals, friendlier and more versatile that all other dogs we have known and loved – the mongrels my brother and I owned as youngsters, the many dogs my wife "borrowed" to walk as a young girl (as an apartment dweller, she couldn’t own one), the two poodles and the Doberman who have been part of our family. But the three Small Ms were the best of all, bright, loyal, unbeatable as hunters, excellent watchdogs and family pets.

The breed emerged in Germany. Work on perfecting the dog was performed by many breeders, starting in 1897. In 1912 Germany recognized a new breed: The Small M.

Ms reached Denmark in 1955. Within two short years, a Small M took first place in a sporting class in Denmark. Oddly, however, the breed did not become popular until 1963, when the Small M, brought in from Germany, was trained with forest ranger for just four days. On the fifth day she took first place in field trials. Small Ms were recognized in Denmark in 1965.

Last year, my wife and I brought to America a pair of Small Ms, the first, we believe, in this country. Both were born in Denmark of champion lines (in Denmark a dog becomes a champion only if he proves himself both in shows and in the field). We will breed our animals, and we expect the first American born litter of Small Ms in August 1976.

General Appearance: Elegant strong dogs with much self-confidence. The Small M is a sporting dog that combines intelligence, passion and loyalty (faithfulness) to varied hunting grounds and his master’s preference of hunting method. As a hunting dog, it is irreplaceable as a helper and friend, and in the house, he is the family’s good-natured, but incorruptible, watchdog. Typical characteristics of the dog are diligent ingenuity during field work; solid stand; reliable following of foot trail; great endurance – even under difficult climatic conditions; willingness to retrieve; passion for water hunting, often accompanied with barking; easy handling. As one of the smallest of the bird dogs, the Small M is tough, strongly built, and full of nobility, an extremely versatile sporting dog. The coat should be smooth, and there should be feathers on the tail. The hair on the ears should be slightly curled. The ears show during running beautiful movements. Too much, too curly, or too straight hair is a disadvantage during the hunt and is considered a defect.

Our goal is to get this breed recognized in the United States. Are you interested? Would you like to enter a new Breed in shows and field trials? Are you a hunter still seeking the perfect companion and work dog? Want more information?

We’ll be glad to share our knowledge and affection for the Small Ms with you.

Just write us, in Concord, about our revolutionary new breed.