Ca Mè Mallorquí

The Ca Mè Mallorquí is a breed of dog originating in Majorca, Balearic Islands, (Spain), and historically it has been used as a pointing dog.

Ca Mè Mallorquí
Ca mè mallorquí 03a.jpg
A Ca Mè.
Other namesCa Mè
OriginBalearic Islands (Spain)
Height Male 50 to 60 cm.
Female 45 and 55 cm
Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris)



It seems, and at this point, all authors agree that the Ca Mè comes from a racial group from the Kingdom of Navarre that swept the rest of the Iberian Peninsula and the Islands, receiving in each location different influences to accommodate its skills to the needs of hunting in each region. In this case, it appears that received some influence of the Ca Eivissenc (Ibizan Hound), to give to it more agility and lightness, which eventually gave the current morph.[1]

The Ca Mè is part of an ancient racial breed, with presence in the hunting of Majorca in the 13th century. It belongs to a trunk of dog breeds pointing dogs, very old and appreciated. Of this trunk have been derived modern breeds, that which as in the case of the Pointer (English Pointer), same have shifted its ancestors.

These are some Spanish breeds of this trunk, Pachón Navarro, Perdigueiro Galego, Burgalese Pointer, Gorques d’Alacant, these have been very sensitive to the number of animals, some are now close to the extinction.[2]

It is one of the breeds from Balearic Islands most used by the hunters of the islands, and that after having gone through a long period of loss of genetic identity by continued crossings with foreign breeds, has begun its recovery with clear criteria both in terms morphology as to how to hunt feature of the Ca Mè Mallorquí.

As often happens with breeds of dogs, there on Ca Mè Mallorquí abundant historical literature that mentions, since the 14th century to today, features and benefits of this breed and the widespread and appreciation that had the same in the Balearic Islands.

Historical ReferencesEdit

Undoubtedly the Ca Mè is one of the breeds of the Balearic Islands with most historical references. First, in component varied documents such as rules hunting or regulating of keeping of animals, through hunting allusions to ways of hunting, until the 19th century to very concise texts about these dogs and its way of hunting.

Within the large body of historical references to the Ca Mè, highlight some fragments, either by the importance of the text, the author, or the age of the appointment:

  • Llibre de Mostassaf; Pons, A. Contra caçadors. “AHM” Preg. 1385 – 92. fol 92. Majorca, 9 August 1392.

"Now oiats, which sends the honorable gentleman father Francesch Sagarriga, counselor of the mister King and ruler of the kingdom of Majorca, that no man or any person of any condition or body is not dog will hunt or make hunt with crossbow or with pointing dog on the island of Majorca, will suffer under penalty of one hundred sols and will lose the dog and the crossbow without any mercy." (originally written in a language of Medieval Spain).

  • Llibre de lletres Comunes. No. 72. 1397. (AHM).

"En Berenguer de Montegut, Alamat lo batle darta o a son lochtinent saluts e dileccio. Com nos haiam dada licencia en Gili descoombers daqueixa parroquia que sens incurrement de alcuna pena puxe cassar o fer cassar ab un can de mostra per tota aquexa parroquia per tant vos deim e manam que la dita licencia obseruets e contra noy vingats per alcuna raho. Dat en Mallorques a iiij dies dabril any MCCCxCvij. Vidit Berenguer de Montegut.". (written in Medieval Catalan).

  • Chasses et voyages. Jules Tallien de Cabarrus. Paris, 1863.

This author has been Minister Plenipotentiary of France in Guatemala and General Consul in Barcelona. He knew and hunted worldwide. His poor health led him to rest in Majorca. Here he met and hunted with the Ca Mè Mallorquí and recognized in this book that these are the best that exist in Europe.

"I summarizes and I still say that the retriever of Majorca is the best and most complete, it is possible to find." (originally written in French)

The important work by the Archduke left thoroughly aware of many aspects of daily life, some of which are the only written reference that exists.

"..Finally also it hunt partridges with shotgun, for which the hunter makes search for the Ca Mè (perro ventador) or Ca Perdiguer, in the ravines and gullies where it hides. Also for the low scrubland, and they shoot them from a distance of 20-40 steps,...the quail hunting through the tirassa and the dogs is less common...It also hunt with guns and dogs, and a skilled hunter retrieve in a hunt until three dozen quails."

  • The best pointing dog. Jules Tallien de Cabarrus. Barcelona 1882.

The same author of Chasses et voyages, in this other book emphasizes the goodness of Ca Mè for the hunting. References to this Majorcan dog are constant throughout the book but include the following in its roundness.

"The Majorcan dog has roughly winds, it is better or worse; but an averageness of the Mallorcan Pointers worth more than all those beautiful Spaniels, Setters or Pointers. I speak from experience, since I have served it for twenty-five years, of which nine in Mallorca itself, three in Tyrieste, and the other in the Americas. And of the forty-nine dogs that have had, twenty-nine of Mallorcan breed have passed through my hands, and I seen so many others work besides mine."

  • Los Perros de caza españoles. José Gutiérrez de la Vega. 1890.

This book about the Spanish hunting dog, written by the director of "Venatoria Library" and of the newspaper "La Ilustración Venatoria" dedicate entire eighth chapter to Ca Mè. This chapter highlights especially the good opinion of this breed have different authors of hunting themes.[3]

Association breedEdit

In the year 2002 is officially recognized the "Club del Ca mè mallorquí", "Associació de caçadors i criadors del ca mè mallorquí" as Breeders association of purebred dogs, pursuant to Real Decreto 558/2001, of 25 May, published in the BOIB, according to Resolution no. 23994 of the Conseller d’Agricultura i pesca del Govern de las Illes Balears (Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Government of the Balearic Islands), of November 21, 2002.

Also is created The Herd Book and is regulated the operation; Management is entrusted to "l’Associació del Ca mè mallorquí” as Order no. 26152 of the Conseller d’Agricultura i pesca, of 18 December 2002.

In the 2004 the breed was officially recognized by the Ministerio de Agricultura (Ministry of Agriculture) according to order APA 807/2004, BOE. 77 of March 30, 2004.[4]


General AppearanceEdit

Overall descriptionEdit

The Ca Mè Mallorquí is not very large, it has a medium size, slightly below the eumetric of the species. It is simple, sober and rustic stamp, which simultaneously transmits strength. At first glance it found outstanding features in its morphology, but its morphology form a harmonious whole.

The height at withers in females is between 45 and 55 cm. and males 50 to 60 cm. The ratio of height at withers to body length is almost square in males, i.e. the length and height of the body are almost equal. Females are longer than high, forming a rectangle. Males are always more voluminous than females, with a clear sexual dimorphism.


Ca Mè is noble, docile, obedient, loving temperament, nothing violent, no lymphatic, and surprised by its strength in hunting, which is its core competency.


It has a very slow hunting system, hunt with the nose at halfway up, near its master and is very suitable for thick and wavy terrain.


The head is not very large in relation to the body, the cranial cavity is wide and contains a large brain mass that provides good intelligence. The skull square has equal width and length. The nose is a little shorter than the skull. The upper lines of the skull and face are straight profile or slightly pumped. These craniofacial axes are parallel or slightly converging with each other. Frontonasal depression or gap between the two profiles is accused. The skull has a bulge in the neck, called "peak" or "occipital button". From there part a groove towards the face, going through the midst of the eyes.

Orbital arches are notorious, the masseter muscles are heavy and bulky. These contribute to the width of the head and reflect the power and strength of the bite to the cover.

The dental setting of the upper and lower jaws is scissors. This means that the upper incisors close just ahead the bottom.

The upper lips are falling position and are thick, but without printing or looseness or drooling. The nose and lower lips are tight and are not as they fall below the upper lips.

The nose is broad, thick, and the color is consistent with hair. The eyes are not very large, triangular, and its color varies between dark and light honey, depending on the color of the dog. It has well clinging eyelids.

The ear of the Ca Mè is a distinctive characteristic of the breed, is of medium size. The insertion of the ear in the skull is high, wide and ought to be up front. Falls to the side of the face, without any fold, the bottom is round and the animal moves carefully, in perpendicular position to the face.


The neck is short, with upper profile straight or slightly curved.

It is thick and prone to horizontal. Some exemplars have underdeveloped single or double chin.


The chest is broad, very deep and slightly arched ribs, giving it great strength in the task of hunting. The belly is full, without looking heavy.

The lumbar back line is horizontal. The sloping rump, about 45 degrees, dry of meat.


The tail is relatively short, thick birth, slim in length.

Fall, never exceeds the tendon. of low birth. It is very mobile and expressive.


Thick, well muscled limbs. Forelegs are wide apart from each other by a protruding chest.

The back is oblique, with severe scapulohumeral angle, like it should be a trotting dog

Hindlimbs have a little accused tibiofemoral angle, with flat tibia.

The feet are short, broad and oval, with strong nails and fingers apart.


The skin is thick and slightly detached from the body. Has not folds except in the chin.


The coat is short, smooth, thick, very dense, and reaches the stomach.

Hair ColorEdit

Its color is varied: Black; White and black speckled and spotted; Brown; White and brown speckled and spotted; White and orange, stained and mottled; Lemon and white, spotted, and mottled; and Tricolor (effect "fire" on the other colors).[5]


As hunting dogsEdit

Ca Mè Mallorquí is a hunting dog, an auxiliary of the hunter. And in the ways that hunting with dogs, the Ca Mè is a pointer. Throughout the ages and even now, these dogs used for this style of game have received different names, all indicating the same kind of work, so it can see references in ancient and modern pointing dogs, perros de punta, ventadores dogs, perdigueros, retrievers, pointers...

Currently the hunter almost exclusively used firearms, but has not always been so, and Ca Mè as helped the Mallorcan hunters, when they went hunting with nets, springs or hawks.

The main work done Ca Mè like pointing dog and assistant of he hunter are locating hunting pieces, show them to the hunter, lifting to the hunter, to rise them throw up, and once blasted carry them to the hunter.

But this way of working for the hunter can be done in several ways, faster or slower, closer or further away from the hunter, more local or more extensive field ...

This does not mean that one is good and one bad. What happens is that there are many types of terrain, different species of hunting, hunting different densities, different ages of the hunter, hunt different claims, different possibilities for hunters...

Hence, there is different breeds of pointing dogs, and all serve for the hunting, a better adapted than others to the above-mentioned conditions.

Ca Mè, as a ponting dog, is well suited to some of the above conditions, and in change at others do not, as any breed.

The way to hunt of Ca Mè is rather slow, with the trotter as main job. Covers lot of land, but not by extension but whet ties and inspect everything. It is not away from the hunter, looking near to him, and furthermore it is always aware of the instructions it can give. If it do not receive orders, the dog turns to asking. Wants to be guided, it wants to be synchronized with the hunter.

In hunting the dog has to halfway up the nose, its is a characteristic of Ca Mè, unlike other modern breeds vented for above. This way of hunting was described in the 19th century, comparing it with the way the lambs will graze.

Also highlighted in the Ca Mè, its precocious fond of hunting, if it is well oriented, makes since young can already do a good service.

All this makes the Ca Mè is a good pointing dog, for a particular type of hunter, who wants to make a slow game, or the walk of the hunter is not agile. This slowness, its perseverance in the field, order in the driven hunts, and nose at halfway up, make it perfect and provides acceptable performance in areas of thick, hard vegetation, and little game.[6]

As petsEdit



  • Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria. 1869. Die Balearen in Wort un Bild.
  • Berenguer de Montagut. 1393. Pregó Reial.
  • Berenguer de Montagut. 1397- Llibre de lletres comunes n°. 72.
  • Cabarrus, J.T. 1863. Chasses et voyages.
  • Cabarrus, J.T. 1882. The best pointing dog.
  • Gutiérrez De La Vega, J. 1890. Perro Mallorquín
  • Payeras Capella, LL. i PONS QUETGLES, P.A. 1991. Ca Mè.
  • Pons, A. El llibre de Mostassaf.
  • Pugiserver Gil De Sola, G. 1988. El Ca Mè mallorquí. Els animals domèstics de raça autòctona de Mallorca.
  • Sanz Timon, J.M. 1991. El perro de muestra ibérico. Perros de caza, n°. 9.