Andean Tiger Dog

		Andean Tiger Dog
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			Bolivia
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

A brief presentation of the Andean Tiger Dog

The Andean Tiger Dog is an extremely rare breed of dog not usually found outside Bolivia, where it originated. They were developed to help locals track jaguars, often referred to as tigers by the locals. Although not all of these dogs have the split nose characteristic of the breed, many have doubled noses, an attribute supposed to give this animal a superior sense of smell. This breed is not recognized by any major breed group or kennel in the USA, and until it was registered by Colonel John Blashford-Snell in 2005, and again in 2007, it was considered a cryptozoological animal.

History of the Andean Tiger Dog

The Andean Tiger Dog is a rare breed from the Amazon rainforest that until recently was considered a member of cryptozoology by many. First encountered by Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Fawcett in Bolivia in 1913, he reported encountering a single dog known to locals as the Double Nosed Andean Tiger Hound. He described the pointer-sized dog found only on the plains near the Marmoré River, whose nose was as sharply divided as if it had been cut with a knife. They were used to hunt jaguars, which were often referred to by the Spanish word for tiger. No one believed the explorer's account of the dog, and no further mention of this unusual canine occurred until 2005, when the explorer, Colonel John Blashford-Snell, encountered a female named Bella on a recent trip to Bolivia. Although the dog could easily be presented as a genetic anomaly or birth defect, locals assured Colonel Blashford-Snell that there were several other dogs like this in the area. When the explorer returned to the area in 2007, he brought a veterinary expert with him to examine Bella, only to discover that she had died while he was away. Fortunately, she had given birth to a double-nosed puppy named Xingu, which the vet was able to examine. He concluded that the puppy had no cleft palate, a condition that can look a lot like a double nose. These dogs are not particularly rare in the rainforest region where they were found, and are thought to be descended from another double-nosed breed from South and Central America called the Pachon Navarro, but the Andean Tiger Dog is not yet recognized as a bred by the major dog clubs, and no breed group has yet been established. However, this unusual dog has attracted a lot of interest online and little information is available to the public, leading some unscrupulous people to attempt to breed split-nosed dogs from other breeds such as Bull Mastiffs which are somewhat prone to split nasal passages. as well as cleft lip and cleft palate.

Appearance of the Andean Tiger Dog

As this breed is not yet recognized by any kennel club, there is no established breed standard to describe the breed. Andean Tiger Dogs found in the Amazon are medium-sized dogs with a medium to large head, somewhat short limbs and a sturdy, rectangular body. They are often white with brown, black and liver spots, but can also be tricolored. Their heads are broad and flat with large round eyes and medium to long ears that are set fairly high on the head and frame the dog's face, and their tapering muzzle ends in a black nose that often appears split in two, a condition known as a bifid nose. Their presumed ancestor, the Pacho Navarro dog, also has a bifid nose, the severity of which can range from a slightly deeper than normal fold to a completely bisected nasal structure, and like their ancestor's nose, the depth of the split can vary. While bifid or cleft noses are a little more common in breeds that favor double noses, incidents of cleft palate are said to be only slightly increased compared to other breeds.

Temperament of the Andean Tiger Dog

This breed is found only in Bolivia and is very little regulated. Although pure-bred specimens may be located in small villages like the one Colonel Blashford-Snell visited, it is highly likely that some of these dogs have bred indiscriminately, meaning that the temperament of a dog reported as an Andean Tiger Dog may vary a little. When Colonel Blashford-Snell described Xingu's personality, he described it as aggressive and dominant, and even noted that other dogs growled when Xingu approached, although it was never specified in his writings on the breed, or other studies, whether this was a breed trait or a trait specific to Xingu. All interactions between children and dogs must be supervised, but there is no indication that this dog will be particularly impatient with children. If you happen to locate an Andean Tiger Dog, a challenge if you live anywhere other than Bolivia, early and consistent socialization will go a long way to ensuring that your puppy grows up balanced and happy.

Needs and activities of the Andean Tiger Dog

These are likely to be active dogs, able to follow you on long hikes and generally more content with a job to do. Like most working dogs, they need plenty of exercise, usually at least an hour or more of vigorous activity every day, and should also be offered activities that keep their minds active and busy. This breed is thought to have been developed to follow the jaguar, and they tend to have an excellent sense of smell and a wide range of prey, which can make them well suited to activities such as lure coursing or scent work.

Maintenance of the Andean Tiger Dog

By all accounts, this breed of dog has a short, smooth coat suited to the region's hot, humid climate, which is likely to shed moderately all year round. Dog breeds that could be confused or marketed as an Andean Tiger Dog may have slightly different coats. As there are no breed standards or breeding regulations in the remote areas where they are found, there is likely to be some mixing of this breed with other breeds, which can result in bifid-nosed dogs with several different coat types. It's important to keep this breed's hanging ears clean and dry to prevent infection or infestation.