The first mention of double-nosed dogs in the Amazon jungle can be traced back to 1913, when legendary explorer Colonel Percy Fawcet told tales of such animals on his return from an expedition. No one believed him, they laughed at his stories, and the double-nosed dog remained a cryptozoological beast up until the mid-2000s, when Colonel John Blashford-Snell returned with photographic evidence of the dog’s existence. It’s an extremely rare breed believed to only exist in Bolivia, where it is used to track jaguars because of their enhanced sense of smell.
The dog Blashford-Snell saw in 2005 was a female called Bella, and two years later he met Bella’s son, Xingu, who shared the same distinct physical trait. The explorer asked the locals about the existence of other double-nosed Andean tiger hounds and learned that there were other such dogs in the area.
The English explorer first noticed a doubled-nosed dog while carrying out reconnaissance near the village of Ojaki. He was sitting by the fire one night when he saw a weird-looking dog that appeared to have two noses. He had had nothing to drink, so he was pretty sure his eyes weren’t playing tricks on him. Plus, he remembered Colonel Percy Fawcet’s story.
“There is a chance that these dogs came from a breed with double noses that’s known in Spain as Pachon Navarro, which were hunting dogs at the time of the Conquistadors,” Colonel Blashford-Snell told the BBC back in 2007. “I think it’s highly likely some of these were taken to South America and they continued to breed. They’re good hunting dogs.”
Double-nosed Andean tiger hounds were developed to help hunters track jaguars, called ‘tigrés’ in Bolivia. Not much is known about them, but it is rumored that their double nose gives the dogs a superior sense of smell. Because it is so rare, the breed isn’t even recognized by major breed groups or kennels, and until Colonel Blashford-Snell provided evidence of its existence, the double-nosed dog was considered a cryptozoological animal.
Crate Training For avoiding separation anxiety, you may have your Andean dog familiar with spending a few hours in a crate. Start by keeping it inside for 15-20 minutes and gradually keep increasing the time it spends in the crate. You may place some toys inside to occupy your dog. When you leave it, do so quietly without providing any cues. Go through the leaving routine quietly. Be sure to keep the crate in one of the busiest rooms in your house.
The Andean tiger hound is thought to have evolved from the ancient Pachon Navarro, a Spanish hunting breed that is believed to have arrived in the South and Central Americas along with the Conquistadors during the 1500s. The Andean hound has a much more prominent double nose than its parent breed.
The Double-nosed Andean tiger hound is a breed of medium-sized dogs characterized by a double nostril divided by a band of fur and skin. In its native land, it is highly regarded for its keen sense of smell and hunting skills. It comes with a medium- to a large-sized head, long ears, large, round eyes, expressive eyebrows, stout, rectangular body, and short, sturdy limbs.
Socialization Since an Andean tiger hound is prone to chasing small animals, early socialization is essential for a puppy if you have other pets like birds, hamsters, or rabbits in the family. Keep them separated so they cannot see but can smell or hear each other. If they seem disinterested, allow them to see each other without any physical access. You may allow your dog, and the other pets interact through a sturdy baby gate or dog gate. You may as well keep your Andean tiger hound on a leash, and then offer them treats for good behavior. After a few supervised interactions, they will learn to coexist, and you may allow them to roam and play freely within the house.
YES…look at these pictures! A great big old double nose. And these are REAL dogs that are still doing what they were bred to do. Intelligent, friendly, loyal, and bold in the field, these big, robust dogs are meant to have a job. They need something to do, everyday, not just a romp at the dog park once a week. The quintessential hunting dog, they are also great family pets and thrive being with the people they love. Since they were bred to hunt in packs, they usually play well with others.
The first examples of this type of dog appeared in the 12th century in Spain, as various strains of hunting dogs being developed all over Europe. By the 1800s the different types were divided by breed name and each breed had its own dedicated group of breeders and fanciers. By 1922 this breed was officially recognized and the breed standard set. They were bred until the 1950s when a virus, myxomatosis, almost wiped them out. Until the 1970s, when a handful of these dogs were discovered, it was thought the breed had disappeared. In 1978 the Central Canine Society of Madrid launched a Commission for Spanish Breeds to find and save the various Spanish dog breeds from slipping into extinction.
How did this develop? Was some centuries ago double-nosed dog an amazing hunter, capable of sniffing out birds that other dogs couldn’t? Did a savvy early Spanish hunter notice and use that dog as the cornerstone for a breeding program? Or was an especially virile stud dog used extensively who just happened to throw this nose and the breed developed from there? We will never know. It is another example of humankind’s propensity for manipulating genetics, I suppose.
Anatomically, it is actually a cleavage in the actual nose. Similar to a cleft palate, but obviously not life-threatening. Though my research did say that cleft palates are an issue within the breed. There are other breeds that mention this type of split nose within the standard, but it is a DQ (disqualification or major fault). Only the Pachon Navarro allows for it. By the way, there are Pachon Navarro that do not have this unique nose, just like there are variations within many breeds.