[2] The pointing dog breeds of Europe all derive from the now-extinct Old Spanish Pointer, which spread through France and the Low Countries and reached the princely houses of the German-speaking world,[3]: 2 [4] where at first they were used in bird-hunting with nets or falcons, and later by huntsmen with guns.

[4] Bird dogs were also brought from England; Carl von Heppe [de], in his Aufrichtiger Lehrprinz of 1751, describes these as taller and stronger than the local type.

[4] In 1919 a breed society, the Verein für die Reinzucht des langhaarigen schwarz-weißen Münsterländer Vorstehhundes, was formed in Haltern in Münsterland by breeders of these long-haired black-and-white pointing dogs, for which the name Großer Münsterländer Vorstehhund was chosen – most of them were either in Westphalia or in Lower Saxony.

[11] The standard is set by Fédération Cynologique Internationale and the translation was done by Mrs. Peggy Davis from the original German.

The Large Munsterlander was included in a genetic research study, and all were homozygous for the sp allele in the MITF gene that causes piebald spotting.

This field dog characteristically is calm and gentle with children and well-adjusted to living in the master's dwelling.

[14]: 126 Their long and thick coat protects them against cold and allows them to search dense cover thoroughly, but as a result leaves them more susceptible to burrs.