Catalburun (Turkish Pointer)

According to a 2014 study by Ograk and colleagues at Cumhuriyet University, hunters favor the Catalburun for its intelligence, its ability to stay quiet for long periods and its success at tracking. The same study reports that when kept as a pet it is calm and barks very little, and that it isn't known to bite or injure children.

A 2012 review by Petek and Dincel of Uludag University paints a similar picture: the Catalburun is a social dog that easily gets along with people outside the household, especially children. It isn't much of a watchdog, though: in one study cited in the review, 38% of males and 36% of females did a good job guarding the house, and the dogs were more alert and likely to bark at strangers at night. In another study cited in the review, 94% of the dogs showed no aggression; the authors stress that aggression depends on how a dog is raised as well as on heredity.

As a hunting dog, the Catalburun lives in a world of scents; keeping it on leash in areas that aren't secure is the safest choice.

The Catalburun suits owners who enjoy spending time outdoors and can offer their dog long walks and plenty of sniffing every day. Its medium size and calm manner at home make it a good match for houses with yards and active families.

A hunting dog left alone all day without exercise can get bored. If you work long hours, consider finding someone to walk the dog during the day.

The Catalburun is a hunting dog native to Tarsus and the surrounding area in Mersin Province. According to Ograk and colleagues, it has been bred in Tarsus since the 1930s, and its numbers were thought to be around 200. The 2012 review by Yilmaz and Ertugrul also notes that its numbers are shrinking.

There are different views on the breed's origins. According to the review by Petek and Dincel, local folklore holds that Kitmir, the dog in the story of the Seven Sleepers, was a Catalburun, and a 17th-century oil painting in the Louvre is said to show a fork-nosed hunting dog. The review also notes that the Catalburun looks very much like the Pachón Navarro, a split-nosed hunting dog from Spain.

A 2025 international genetic study published in Genome Research (Buckley et al.) found that in the Catalburun, the stretch of DNA linked to the split nose is very similar to that of spaniels and setters, which have Spanish origins. The researchers think the trait may have arisen in Western Europe or on the Iberian Peninsula, and note that Türkiye and Spain were both under Umayyad rule in the 8th century, a possible route for cultural exchange. A split-nosed hunting dog also appears in a 1623 painting by Rubens and Brueghel, so this unusual nose has caught artists' eyes for at least 400 years.

Where things stand today

According to the 2012 review by Petek and Dincel, the breed isn't listed by international kennel clubs, and uncontrolled breeding has caused many dogs to lose their breed traits. A breeding colony of dogs closest to the original type was set up through the work of Istanbul University's veterinary school and the Tarsus municipality. The authors of a 2021 genetic study of 100 dogs (Ozarslan et al.) found that the dogs come from two closely related lines and that some measures of genetic diversity are low, and they stress that the breed needs protection as soon as possible. The Ministry's 2022 instructions list the "fork-nosed hunting dog" among breeds whose genetic resources are protected.

The Catalburun is a medium-sized, muscular, short-coated hunting dog. Its most distinctive feature is the moist tip of its nose, which looks as if it's split into two parts.

• Height and weight: In the 2021 study of 100 dogs, the average weight was 44.5 lb (20.2 kg) and the average height at the shoulder 19 in (48.2 cm). According to the review by Yilmaz and Ertugrul, males average 52 lb (23.6 kg) and 19.8 in (50.3 cm), and females 45 lb (20.3 kg) and 18.5 in (46.9 cm). In a 2014 study of 22 dogs in Tarsus and Adana, the average height at the shoulder was 20 in (50.8 cm).
• Coat: Short, smooth and normal in texture.
• Color: According to Ograk and colleagues, it can come in various colors, but it's usually yellowish brown to black markings on a white base. According to the review by Petek and Dincel, brown and white is the most common color in males, while brown and white and solid brown are most common in females.
• Eyes and nose: According to the review, the eyes are mostly honey-colored and the nose brown; black-coated dogs have black noses and eyes.
• Skin: The skin looks loose on the body but is very elastic when you hold it; the review describes this as a breed trait.

How it works in the field

According to studies cited by Petek and Dincel, once a Catalburun finds game, it stops and shows the hunter where it is without flushing it (pointing). Ninety percent of males point by freezing and 86% by lifting a front paw, and every dog shows at least one of the two. Most dogs can follow scent both on the ground and in the air. According to the review, Catalburuns have also been trained as narcotics detection dogs through a program run by Türkiye's General Directorate of Security and the Tarsus municipality.

Thanks to its short, smooth coat, the Catalburun is easy to groom; brushing once a week with a rubber brush is usually enough. What needs the most attention, in a dog that runs in the field, are its ears, paws and skin.

• Ears: Check the drop ears once a week, and show your vet any odor, redness or scratching.
• Paws and skin: After walks in the countryside, check the paws, legs and skin for thorns, cuts and ticks.
• Nose: We didn't find any information suggesting the split nose needs special care. Show your vet any sore, scab, bleeding or constant discharge on the nose.
• Nails: In dogs that don't walk much on hard ground, nails can overgrow; check them once a month.

The Catalburun was bred to search for and find game, and it needs long daily walks, chances to sniff and mental work. These needs don't go away just because it isn't used for hunting. Sniffing games suit this breed very well: finding hidden treats, following a trail and hide-the-toy.

The fact that it can be trained as a narcotics detection dog shows it's open to learning with the right methods. Short, consistent, reward-based sessions work best.

1. Recall: The most important cue for a hunting dog that gets absorbed in scents. Practice first indoors, then in a fenced area on a long training line. Our article on teaching a dog to come when called walks you through it.
2. Leash walking: Walking a dog that pulls toward every scent can be tiring. Loose-leash walking makes walks easier.
3. Scent work: Set up small search games at home and in the yard; they satisfy its hunting instinct safely.
4. Socialization: As a puppy, give it positive experiences with different people, children, sounds and calm dogs.

The Catalburun doesn't need a special food; a complete, balanced dog food suited to its age and activity level is enough. A dog that runs a lot during hunting season and one that spends most of its time at home have different needs; set the daily amount with your vet based on how active the dog is.

• Count treats as part of the daily food; use some of its kibble as rewards in sniffing games.
• If you can feel the ribs under a thin layer of fat, its weight is good.
• Bring water on walks and hunts.

Be careful with table scraps and bones; take a look at our list of foods that are dangerous for dogs.

We couldn't find a comprehensive health study specific to the Catalburun. The information below is for awareness only; ask your vet about diagnosis and treatment.

The split nose and the palate

In a 2025 study in Genome Research (Buckley et al.), the Catalburun's split nose was linked to a change in a gene called PDGFRA. All three Catalburuns whose genomes were sequenced carried one copy of this change, and 13 of 14 additional dogs tested were also single-copy carriers. The researchers think the gene plays a role in closing the midline of the face and the palate, and that changes like this can be tolerated when only one copy is present. The study also notes that the Pachón Navarro, another split-nosed breed from Spain, is prone to cleft palate.

We couldn't find a study showing how often cleft palate occurs in the Catalburun. According to the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, puppies with a cleft palate may be thinner or smaller than their littermates, may cough while trying to nurse, and may have milk around their nostrils after nursing. Milk getting into the lungs can cause a life-threatening pneumonia. If you see these signs in a newborn puppy, get to a vet without delay.

Everyday risks for hunting dogs

A hunting dog running in the field is more exposed to thorns, cuts, paw injuries, ticks and other external parasites. Set up a parasite prevention plan with your vet, and check the dog after every walk.

We couldn't find a large study of the Catalburun's lifespan. The 2012 review by Petek and Dincel gives an average of 10–13 years for the breed, but doesn't say what data it's based on, so it's best treated as a rough range rather than a firm figure.

The most practical tools you have for a longer life: regular vet checkups, a healthy weight, staying on top of vaccines and parasite prevention, and keeping preventable risks such as escapes, traffic and injuries during walks or hunts to a minimum.

• Consider adoption: Hunting dogs and their mixes also turn up in adoption listings. Our guide to adopting a shelter dog explains the process.
• If you buy from a breeder: Because the breed is rare, it's very important to meet both parents and confirm that they show the breed's traits and are healthy. Ask whether the puppies nursed without problems.
• Relatedness: In a breed with few dogs, the risk of inbreeding goes up; ask the breeder whether the parents are related.
• Preparation: A secure fence, a sturdy collar and leash, an ID tag and some scent toys.
• Registration: Rules vary by country. In Türkiye, owned cats and dogs must be microchipped and registered in the PETVET system; see our article on PETVET registration and microchips.