Pachón Navarro: the two-nosed Spanish pointer pulled back from extinction

In 1975, two Spanish veterinarians, Carlos Contera and Carlos Salgado, drove through the isolated valleys of the Navarrese Pyrenees looking for something almost no one expected to find: the last survivors of a breed widely assumed to be extinct. They located twelve dogs. From that minimal gene pool they launched, in 1980, one of the most thoroughly documented canine recovery programs in Spain, rebuilding a dog that Habsburg kings once bred at the El Pardo royal estate, that royal hunters worked on mounted partridge hunts, and whose silhouette appears in Velázquez's Las Meninas. Today roughly 700 dogs are registered with the Real Sociedad Canina de España (RSCE), which officially recognized the breed in 1990. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) has not yet granted international recognition, though the process is underway, and in the US the breed sits in the AKC Foundation Stock Service rather than the regular registry. The one feature that makes this Spanish pointer unmistakable is the nose: split by a central groove into two partial lobes, a trait selected over centuries on the belief that it sharpened scenting. No controlled study supports that claim, but it does set the Pachón apart from every other pointing breed in the world.

What the breed looks like

The Pachón Navarro is a large, sturdy pointing dog. Males stand 20 to 24 in (50 to 60 cm) at the shoulder and weigh 55 to 77 lb (25 to 35 kg); females run a little smaller, at 19 to 22 in (48 to 57 cm) and 44 to 66 lb (20 to 30 kg). The build is classic working braque: compact body, broad chest, well-angulated hindquarters, muscular loin. This is an animal engineered to last through long days on rough terrain, which is exactly the kind of hunting practiced across Navarre.

The head is large and distinctive. The skull is broad, the forehead slightly arched, the stop well defined. The ears are long, low-set, hanging at the sides of the face with a soft fold and a slightly curled tip, a hallmark of the old Iberian pointing types. The eyes carry a gentle expression, ranging from hazel to dark depending on coat, with eyelids that tend to be somewhat loose, which is what predisposes the breed to ectropion.

The coat is short and dense, lying flat against the body, with no feathering and little undercoat. The RSCE standard allows white with liver markings, white with tan markings, and tricolor (white, liver, and tan). Marking distribution varies widely: some dogs are nearly all white with few patches, others carry a broken mantle or even more color than white.

The split nose: what it is and what it isn't

The most photographed and most discussed feature of this Spanish pointer is the divided nose. A vertical groove runs across the surface of the nose from top to tip, splitting it into two partial lobes. The division can be complete, with the two lobes fully separated, or partial, a cleft that does not reach the base. The RSCE standard accepts both variants; it also accepts dogs with a conventional nose, because not every Pachón has the split.

This is not a deformity or a fault. The groove is present from birth, does not affect breathing, and produces no documented nasal pathology. The historical hypothesis is that the split widens the receptive surface of the nasal mucosa and improves scent capture, especially on the damp ground typical of northern Navarre. No controlled scientific study has measured whether split-nosed Pachones scent better than single-nosed ones, so the theory remains reasoned speculation, not verified fact.

What is documented is that breeders actively selected for the trait over centuries. The nobles and hunters who worked this pointer at the Spanish court treated the split nose as a sign of quality and folded it into their selection criteria. The result is a fixed, morphologically stable, fully functional feature of the breed.

Temperament

The two-nosed dog is one of the few Iberian pointing breeds that has kept its dual aptitude intact: hunting dog and family dog. Away from the field it is calm, affectionate, low-strung. At home it seeks human contact, enjoys long stretches on the couch, and tolerates children reasonably well when socialized from puppyhood. The bond with its primary owner runs deep without tipping into the anxious dependence some working breeds show.

In the field, the Pachón is a different dog. The pointing instinct is strong and triggers easily on any game scent. It points with precision, works slow and methodical, and holds position until released. Hunters who run it on partridge in Navarre note that the dog matches its pace to the terrain: it does not rush, does not blow out the cover, and manages its own effort. For a breed rebuilt from twelve founders forty years ago, the preservation of that instinct is a real achievement of the recovery program.

With other dogs, it usually gets along without trouble, especially with pointers or hounds it shares hunting days with. Around small dogs or very dominant personalities some tension can surface, though that is not a defining trait of the breed. Early socialization resolves most situations.

This is not a guard dog. It will give a moderate alarm bark at strangers, but its temperament is far too open for protection work. It is not especially reactive on the street either: a well-socialized Pachón handles an urban environment with composure.

Trainability is high. The bond with the owner makes the work easy, and positive reinforcement produces fast results. The breed has no reputation for stubbornness or for working only when it suits itself, which sets it apart from some more independent Central European pointers.

Health: what the breed carries

The narrow genetic base of the recovery program, with only twelve founders, is the main long-term health risk. Genetic diversity is lower than in breeds with large populations, which makes a responsible breeding program especially valuable for avoiding the buildup of defective alleles.

Ectropion and entropion

The loose eyelids typical of the Pachón's conformation predispose it to ectropion, where the lid rolls outward and exposes the conjunctiva, and, less often, to entropion, where the lid rolls inward and rubs against the cornea. Moderate cases are managed with eye drops; severe cases require surgical correction. Check the eyes regularly from puppyhood.

Hip dysplasia

Prevalence in this breed is low compared with other large dogs, but the available sample is small because of the limited number of registered dogs. Responsible breeders radiograph breeding stock for dysplasia before mating, and in the US the equivalent step is to verify OFA or PennHIP hip evaluations on both parents.

Dental and bite issues

The standard notes a mild tendency toward slight brachycephaly in some dogs, which can produce malocclusion and faster tartar buildup. Annual veterinary dental exams and regular brushing from puppyhood help.

Heat intolerance

The short coat helps in summer, but the Pachón is a northern dog used to cool temperatures. In hot inland climates, field work or hard exercise should be limited to the early morning hours. Heatstroke has been documented in dogs worked through the height of summer in hot, dry regions of Spain, and the same caution applies in the warmer parts of the US.

Skin allergies

Atopic dermatitis appears at moderate frequency, especially in areas with sharp swings in humidity. The skin is sensitive to some shampoos and to harshly formulated parasite treatments.

Grooming

Minimal. The short, close-lying coat needs very little upkeep. A weekly going-over with a rubber curry mitt or short-bristle brush pulls out dead hair and spreads the natural oils. During seasonal shedding, two brushings a week are enough.

A bath every four to six weeks with a neutral shampoo covers it. If the dog works in the field through mud, brush, and water, a quick rinse after each day prevents buildup. With no heavy coat, the skin dries fast.

Check the ears weekly: the long, hanging ears trap moisture, especially after water work. Clean with a dog-specific ear solution if wax accumulates. Trim nails monthly. Brush the teeth three times a week from puppyhood, with extra attention to dogs that carry slight brachycephaly.

No professional grooming required. The one breed-specific task is the regular eye check, given the ectropion risk: any persistent redness in the conjunctiva or excessive tearing warrants a vet visit.

Cost in the US

The Pachón Navarro is extremely rare outside Spain. Almost all breeding stock sits in Navarre and neighboring regions, and a US buyer will typically be importing a puppy or joining a long waiting list with one of the few breeders recognized by the Club Español del Pachón Navarro and the RSCE. A puppy from an accredited Spanish breeder runs roughly $700 to $1,200 before import. Add international transport, USDA-APHIS and CDC import requirements, and veterinary paperwork, and the landed cost in the US commonly reaches $2,500 to $4,500.

Below the breeder price, the odds rise that a puppy comes from informal breeding with no health screening or verifiable pedigree. With a breed still in active recovery, genetic traceability has concrete value: a poorly bred puppy can reproduce the very faults the program has spent decades trying to eliminate.

Annual costs

Item	Annual cost
Premium large-breed food	$500-800
Routine veterinary care	$400-700
Eye, dental, and allergy monitoring	$200-500
Pet insurance	$400-700
Gear and accessories (leash, harness, bed, toys)	$150-350
Total	$1,650-3,050

For its size, this is an inexpensive breed to maintain, provided the dog comes from serious breeding with healthy parents and no acquired pathology.

Living arrangements

Apartment: conditional. The Pachón is calm indoors, but it needs daily field-style exercise and room to move, so apartment life only works with a very committed exercise routine. Homes with a yard suit it far better.

House with yard and field access: ideal. This is a dog built for long days on varied ground.

Hot climates: tolerated with care. The northern origin and short coat mean summer work belongs in the cool early hours, with shade and water always available.

Cold climates: handled comfortably. The breed adapted to the cooler temperatures of northern Spain.

Training

The breed responds very well to positive reinforcement. The strong owner bond makes it eager to work, and force-based methods are both unnecessary and counterproductive given the dog's sensitivity.

Critical socialization window: 8 to 16 weeks. Exposure to a wide range of people, places, surfaces, sounds, and other animals during this period prevents fear-based behavior later. For a pointing dog destined for field work, early bird and gun introductions, done gradually and positively, set up a stable working partnership.

Is the Pachón Navarro for you?

Yes, if you live in a house with a yard or easy access to open country, if you hunt or simply value a calm-tempered dog off the field, and if you are drawn to a native Spanish breed with documented history reaching back to the 16th century. The scarcity of dogs makes acquiring one a commitment: the breed's future depends on a small number of serious breeders being able to continue their work with informed buyers.

No, if you want a low-maintenance pet, have limited time for daily exercise, live in a small space with no field access, or are not prepared to monitor eye and dental health consistently. The Pachón gives a great deal, but it asks for the right environment and an involved owner.

FAQ

Does the split nose affect breathing or scenting? The divided nose does not affect breathing. The groove between the two lobes is superficial and does not alter the internal nasal anatomy. The theory that it improves scenting is old and reasoned, but no controlled study confirms it. Split-nosed and single-nosed dogs show the same field performance in breeder records.

Is the breed recognized by the AKC? No. The Pachón Navarro is not an AKC-recognized breed; it is listed in the AKC Foundation Stock Service, the registry for emerging breeds. Its primary recognition is from Spain's RSCE (since 1990), and FCI international recognition is still in process.

Does it appear in historical paintings? There is documentary evidence. The dog in the foreground of Velázquez's Las Meninas (1656) has morphological features consistent with the Spanish pointing type of the period, though identifying it specifically as a Pachón Navarro is a historical hypothesis, not a certainty. What is documented is that Philip IV and Philip V kept Spanish pointers for the royal hunts at El Pardo, and that the Habsburg kings bred them actively.

Is it still used for hunting? Yes. A share of the registered dogs currently works small game, especially red-legged partridge and quail, in Navarre, La Rioja, and northern Aragón. The hunters who use them point to their methodical pace, their ability to match the work to mountainous terrain, and their stamina over long days. Active hunting use is one of the breed club's arguments for advancing FCI recognition.

Is there a waiting list for a puppy? With most accredited breeders, yes. With fewer than 700 registered dogs and few active kennels, puppies from health-screened parents are not easy to find, and US buyers face the added step of import. The usual route is to contact the Club Español del Pachón Navarro for a list of active breeders and wait for an available litter. Avoid generic classified-ad platforms.

Can it live with a cat? Yes, with early socialization. The Pachón's pointing instinct is oriented toward birds and small field mammals, but living with a household cat is workable if the dog knows the cat from puppyhood. With unfamiliar cats outdoors, the instinct can switch on. Supervision through the first months of cohabitation is the difference between a calm home and a complicated one.

What is the difference between the Pachón Navarro and the Spanish Pointer? They are distinct breeds. The Spanish Pointer (Braco Español), also in recovery, has held provisional FCI recognition since 2022; the Pachón does not yet. Morphologically the Spanish Pointer is finer and lighter; the Pachón is more compact and heavier, with a broader head and the split nose as its exclusive trait. Both share Iberian pointing-dog origins, but their recovery programs ran independently.