Pachón Navarro

The Pachón Navarro is a Spanish pointing dog notable for a split or double nose in many individuals — a feature once believed to improve scenting and now understood not to.

History

It is an old Navarrese hunting breed, documented for centuries and once widespread in Spain. The divided nose was actively selected for on the theory that it doubled the dog's scenting power; it does not, and the breed declined almost to extinction before being revived from the 1980s.

Temperament

The breed is known for being calm, affectionate and deliberate, working close and slow rather than ranging wide, and settling easily at home.

Care and training

It needs regular exercise and hunting-style work. It is biddable and responds to gentle handling. The short coat is easy to keep.

Health

The split nose is cosmetic rather than harmful; nothing else is widely documented as specific to the breed. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.