Dog breed
English name: Turkish Pointer
The Tarsus çatalburun or Turkish Pointer is a native hound of Turkey most recognizable for its split or bifid nose. The word "çatalburuns" means forked nose. It is a very rare breed with only a few hundred specimens. The Tarsus çatalburun is not recognized by any kennel club.
Health: The Tarsus çatalburuns can suffer from hip dysplasia, allergies and hypothyroidism.
History: The breed is associated with the town of Tarsus, in Mersin Province, which is located on the Mediterranean coast where they have been bred for hundreds of years to hunt upland game.
Due to the shared split nose trait as well as conformation and hunting style, it is theorized that the Tarsus çatalburuns and Pachón Navarro share a common origin in the 8th century when southern Turkey and Spain were both under the rule of the Umayyad Caliphate and Abbasid Caliphate. There is considerable debate if the Tarsus çatalburuns is the ancestor to the Pachon Navarro or vice versa.