The origin of the catalburun breed and its purpose, exterior, character, description of health, advice on care and training, interesting facts. Price when buying a puppy. Catalburun is a rare hunting dog-pointer with a very cute face and an unusually split nose. Even the very name of this breed for a European or American ear sounds very exotic. And to meet such a dog somewhere on the streets of New York or Moscow is a pipe dream. And although the history of these amazing dogs goes back several centuries, they still remain almost unknown to a wide range of animal lovers around the world.
The history of the origin of the Catalburun breed
The catalburun dog or, as it is also called by European cynologists, the Turkish Pointer traces its pedigree history from the ancient Ottoman province of Cilicia (now the Turkish province of Tarsus), where for several centuries local peasants cultivated these unusual dogs for hunting partridges, hares and other small animals.
When and where the first dog appeared in Cilicia, with an unusually split nose, history is silent. It is likely that after the years are old, we will never know. Nevertheless, it is quite obvious that the mutant dog, who showed up once, somehow attracted the locals of those years. It may be an unusual appearance, or it may have a special instinct or other working qualities. Be that as it may, and "two-nosed" dogs gradually gained recognition, becoming the main aboriginal dogs and the pride of the province.
It should be noted that in Turkey itself these dogs are called not "catalburun", but somewhat differently - "chatalburun", which literally translated from Turkish means "vilkonos" ("chatal" - "fork"; "burun" - "nose "). Indeed, the special bifurcated shape of the animal's nose is very well consistent with this name.
The first mentions of such unusual hunting dogs in Turkey date back to 1650. It was then that in the annals of the city of Mersin (southeastern coast of Turkey), hunting dogs with a split nose, having an excellent quiet disposition and excellent working qualities, were first mentioned.
Despite the fact that the breed has become quite famous in its homeland in Turkey, where it is considered the best hunting dog breed when hunting partridges, the population of these animals (quite numerous in the past) is now small in number. And the habitat has not changed much. Catalburuns can still only be found within the province of Tarsus. And according to the last count, there are hardly more than 200 specimens of "Vilkonos" in all of Turkey.
Needless to say, the existence of the Turkish Pointer in other countries is not even suspected. The fact that there is such a dog with a special nose structure is known only to a narrow circle of dog handlers. Well, and the small number of the existing species also does not allow for the time being to receive the recognition of the international federation FCI, despite all the efforts of the fans of the catalburun dogs.
Nevertheless, in Turkey itself, since the 80s of the XX century, there has been a club of catalburun lovers, actively promoting their wards, and a group of Turkish enthusiasts conducts all the necessary measurements and laboratory research to develop the breed standards of their beloved dog. Well, we hope that everything will work out for them and the world will soon learn about a new wonderful dog, by a whim of fate, born with a split nose, but has not lost its charm.
Purpose and use of catalburun
For a long time, the main occupation of Turkish pointers was hunting for partridges. It was in this craft that the "two-nosed" dogs had no equal throughout Turkey.
Later, they began to train the catalburun on other types of game, using it as a multipurpose gun dog, capable not only of detecting game and indicating the direction of the target with a silent stance, but also bringing the shot carcass to the hunter.
Already today, there are known cases of the use of catalburuns, which have a wonderful sense of smell and balanced silent behavior, for police and customs purposes - for examining luggage, detecting explosives and drugs. Also, "fork-nosed" pointers do an excellent job with the functions of search and rescue dogs during mine rescue operations. And also - this is a wonderful companion dog, unfortunately, so rare in real life. Even in the capital of Turkey, Ankara, there are only a few such dogs.
Exterior and description of Turkish pointers
The small number of the Catalaburun breed did not allow the Turkish Pointers to gain international recognition. Therefore, at the moment there are no clear breed standards for the "two-nosed" pointer. The exterior of dogs can only be described in general terms, based on the scant data published by a few breeders.
So, the Catalburun is a harmoniously built, muscular, medium-sized, short-haired dog, reminiscent of the article of an Old Spanish or English Pointer. The size of the "Vilkonos" is quite consistent with the average pointer. Moreover, the sizes of males and females are almost the same. The maximum height at the withers in females reaches 62 centimeters, and in males - up to 63 centimeters. The body weight of an adult catalburun male is 18-25 kg, and that of a female is 14-22 kg.
- Head medium in size, harmonious in proportion to the body of the animal, slightly elongated, with a smooth stop and a well-developed occipital protuberance. The bridge of the nose is wide. The nose is large, distinctly bifurcated by a deep groove (not to be confused with a serious defect - "cleft lip"). In some individuals, the halves of the lobes do not even touch, creating the effect of two noses. The nose is the main "breed" feature. The color of the lobe depends on the color of the coat. The lips are soft, thin, with small flecks. The jaws are quite strong, the number of teeth is standard. The teeth are large and white. Scissor bite.
- Eyes medium in size, oval or almond-shaped, set wide apart. Eye color is very different.
- Ears in catalburun, they are set high, triangular in shape, with rounded tips, drooping, soft and thin, hanging below the jaw at rest.
- Neck Set on high, strong, rather muscular, of medium length, without dewlap.
- Torso somewhat elongated (sometimes denser and more square), strong with a strong bone and a well-developed chest. The back is strong, elongated, moderately wide. The back line is straight. The croup is convex, wide, moderately sloping. The belly is tucked up.
- Tail set high, dry, firm and flexible, reaching the length of the hock. Often docked, leaving 3/4 of the length.
- Limbs straight, strong with strong bone and excellent muscles. The feet are round and compact with well-defined, tight-fitting toes.
- Wool very short, smooth, tight-fitting, without dewlaps and folds.
- Color. Probably the most acceptable color is piebald with brownish, red or bleached interspersed with lemon shades. However, there are “vilkonos” and completely reddish-brown color.
Catalburun dog breed character
The Turkish Pointer is very energetic and mobile. He is constantly on the move, constantly on the lookout, constantly sniffing and looking for something. At the same time, the dog is distinguished by excellent balance of character, great diligence and endurance, discipline and obedience, which, combined with a wonderful sense of smell and a special "Pointer's" silence (even on a hunt, they rarely give a voice, communicating with the hunter more in the language of postures and gestures) makes these dogs are simply irreplaceable helpers on the hunt. In ordinary life, the Turkish Pointer is distinguished by its calm peacefulness and general playfulness. He is ready to chase a ball for hours or serve a stick. Sometimes it seems that he does not know fatigue at all. She behaves very friendly with family members and other pets, showing absolutely no aggression. Yes, and during the hunt, he is not at all aggressive, but rather reckless. The only pets that can inevitably suffer from catalburun are poultry, which the pointer can mistake for prey.
The dog is absolutely not afraid of water and swims perfectly. She is able to easily cross even wide mountain streams with a fast current. From a young age, the Turkish Pointer behaves with the dignity of a dog who knows his own worth. He is not vindictive or touchy, always friendly and lives in anticipation of the hunt.
It is curious to observe the actions of the catalburun while tracking down the game. At this moment, he resembles a cheetah or a lion hiding an antelope. He creeps in the same way, creeping to the ground, also creeps or freezes, not taking his eyes off the prey. The sight is simply mesmerizing. The Turkish Pointer is able to find and drive out any game for the hunter. Neither dense bushes, nor a pond, nor a swampy place are an obstacle for him when he hunts.
The "two-nosed" pointer is very smart, easily learns the necessary skill, fulfills commands with pleasure and without unnecessary problems, and therefore enjoys well-deserved respect in his homeland. For hunting game birds, it is simply irreplaceable. I would like to believe that the breed of Turkish Pointers will still declare itself all over the world.
Catalburun health
Unfortunately, the modern cynological world is not yet sufficiently aware of the health problems of Vilkonos. The paucity of the species and only relatively recently begun laboratory studies do not yet allow us to talk about real statistics of predispositions. Therefore, for now, we can only talk about some of the known facts.
It is known that the average life expectancy of Turkish pointers is about 10-13 years. At the same time, being an aboriginal breed that has undergone serious natural selection over the centuries, catalburun dogs are distinguished by good health and high resistance to diseases. You are especially convinced of this, having familiarized yourself with the unsatisfactory conditions of keeping pointers by some Turkish "breeders".
Today, it is believed that Turkish pointers are susceptible to three diseases typical for all pointers: dysplasia of the hip and elbow joints; various dermatitis; hormonal disorders (especially with regard to dysfunction of the thyroid gland).
Work on clarifying the breed problems is now actively underway in Turkey, perhaps soon we will know much more about the health of these undoubtedly unique animals.
Tips for caring for Vilkonos
Maintenance and proper care of the Turkish Pointer does not require the creation of any special conditions. Naturally, such a mobile and energetic dog is not intended for living in an apartment. The Pointer needs full-fledged freedom, space, continuous movement. Therefore, he feels best in the countryside, in nature, or, in extreme cases, in the courtyard of a country house. Pointer dislikes enclosures, collars, and leashes. Its natural function is eternal search and perpetual motion. And if you are not able to provide this, then it is better to look for a different, less energetic pet for yourself.
Considering that the catalburun's coat is very short and tough, there are no problems with caring for it. It is enough to comb the dog out only occasionally, using a stiff brush or rubber mitten. If the dog regularly helps on the hunt, it is important after each hunt to examine the condition of its skin, coat and ears for cuts, scratches and ticks, providing timely medical assistance. The skin of the animal also requires special attention because of the breed's tendency to dermatitis.
From time to time, the dog needs to be bathed, especially since there are no difficulties with this, catalburuns love water and swim with pleasure.
A full walk of the dog is required. A Pointer is simply obliged to run several kilometers every day, otherwise he will simply wither away and lose interest in life.
Nutrition of the Turkish "vilkonos" should be high in calories and well balanced in all respects, rich in vitamins and minerals.
The nuances of training and interesting facts
Turkish Pointers are perhaps the most disciplined hunting dogs in the world. And they are also very smart and quick-witted. Therefore, they are easily amenable to training and training, especially quickly mastering hunting skills.
Despite the fact that dogs "with two noses" are a kind of exotic for the modern world, it turns out that the old Turkish "vilkonos" is not alone in this world. There are at least two other types of dogs with a split nose.
The first known such breed is the Old Spanish Pointer, also known as the Pachon Navarro or the Navarre Pachona.
The second breed, or rather still only a species of dogs with a forked nose, is the Double Nose Andean Tiger Hound. For the first time, the Andean hound was discovered by the English naturalist traveler and explorer Percy Fawcett back in 1913 in the mountainous Bolivia, where he went in search of Atlandis. And although the researcher presented an accurate and detailed description of the unusual "two-nosed" dog at a meeting of the Royal Geographical Society, very few people believed him at the time. Neither the drawings of an unknown dog, nor the stories of the traveler's assistants helped. His fame as a dreamer and dreamer was too great.
Only in 2005 information about the Bolivian "two-nosed" dog was confirmed. Traveler John Blashford-Snell rediscovered the Andean hound in the vicinity of the Okahi settlement in Bolivia. Knowing about the failure of his predecessor, who could not prove his discovery, John Blashford did not rely on chance. He not only photographed the discovered dog, but also managed to bring an Andean hound puppy. The kennel world was once again amazed.
However, current researchers of the unusual phenomenon of a split nose believe that only the descendants of the long-known Old Spanish Pointer were found in Bolivia and Turkey, brought to South America by the Spanish conquistadors, and in Turkey during the Abbasid Caliphate. Who knows, maybe they are right. Only DNA research can put an end to this question.
Price when buying a catalburun puppy
Finding a catalburun dog for sale is problematic even in Turkey itself, for this it is necessary, at least, to get to the province of Tarsus, to places quite remote from roads and the Internet. What can we say about how difficult it is to find a catalburun puppy outside Turkey, and especially in Russia (although some animals have already been brought into the country, but there are no kennels yet).
In Turkey itself, "two-nosed" hunters are extremely valued for their excellent sense of smell, endurance and quick wits. But, despite their popularity, they are bred in very small quantities, which absolutely do not meet the demand. The cost of a purebred Catalburun puppy starts at 5000 New Turkish Lira, which corresponds to approximately 1600-1700 US dollars. It is not yet realistic to buy a decent Turkish pointer in Russia, and this pleasure will cost several times more than in Turkey.
