Pachón Navarro


The Pachón Navarro is a Spanish breed of hunting dog from the autonomous community of Navarre, in northern Spain.
It was recognised by the Real Sociedad Canina in 1911, but by the 1960s was believed to be extinct. Efforts to recover the breed began in 1979; a breed standard was published by the government of Navarre in 2006, and in 2010 the Pachón was added to the list of dog breeds recognised by the Spanish government. It is one of five Basque breeds of dog, the others being the Basque Shepherd Dog, the Erbi Txakur, the Villano de Las Encartaciones and the Villanuco de Las Encartaciones. A few examples display an unusual characteristic, a split or bifid nose.

History

The Fédération Cynologique Internationale and other major international kennel clubs do not recognize the Pachón as a standardized breed. The Spanish Kennel Club has accepted the Pachón as a breed.
The variety is thought to have descended from the Talbot hound and other hounds, originating in the 12th century. It is likely related to the Old Spanish Pointer, which it resembles in appearance.
The Pachón is believed to have reached its apex of popularity among Spanish nobility of the 18th and 19th centuries, becoming nearly extinct after the Spanish Civil War. A few enthusiasts scoured the country and have re-established breeding stock.
In 2009 the total breed population was estimated to be between 700 and 1000 dogs.

Description

The modern Pachón is a braque-type hunting dog which points to game. It has short hair that may be brown and white, or orange and white, commonly ticked like the coat of most German Shorthaired Pointers. The head and large patches on the coat are generally solid-colored.