Ibizan Hound

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Ibizan Hound

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The Ibizan Hound is an ancient hunting breed, who appears to conform to the stereotypical build of a sighthound. They were bred to hunt rabbits and small game on the Balearic island of Ibiza. But they don’t hunt by sight alone, but also they use their sense of sound to orient the location, use scenting ability to detect the presence of prey. This breed also compete in lure coursing, agility, obedience, conformation, and tracking, which also make them good family companions.

Other Names Ca Elvissencs, Ibizan Podenco, Ibizan WARREN Hound, Podenco Ibicenco
Color Red, Red & White, White, White & Red
Height Males: 23-29 inches. Females: 22-27 inches.
Weight Males: 45-55 pounds. Females: 40-50 pounds.
Life Span 11-14 years
Personality Family-Oriented, Even-Tempered, Polite
Exercise Needs Lots of Activity
Origin
Popularity #171
Groom Needs Occasional Bath/Brush
Kids Friendly Yes with supervision
Dog Friendly Yes
Watch Dog
Family Dog Yes
Litter Size 6-12 puppies

Ibizan Hound Pictures

Ibizan Hound Video

Introduction

The Ibizan is a very active dog, agile and, literally, so jumpy that they can scale a low fence. They require a high-walled fence to keep them from escaping now and again. They are friendly, especially around children and families. From afar, they appear like deer but at close quarters, they give the appearance of a dog built for elegance and speed due to their long legs and neck. They have great strength and intelligence, laid-back with confidence when they walk. They come in smooth-coated and wire-haired varieties, usually red and white in color. Ibizan Hounds were bred to hunt rabbits, in the main.

A standard male of this breed stands 23-28 inches from shoulder to paw and weighs around 45-55 pounds. The females come smaller than the males, normally 22-26 inches tall measured at the shoulder. They tip the weighing scale at about 40-50 pounds. The Ibizan Hound has an average lifespan of 11-14 years.

Living with Ibizan Hound

Ibizan coats come in smooth and wire varieties, with a wide range in how profuse the wire coat can be. It’s easy to groom an Ibizan, no matter which type of coat he has.

Brush him weekly to remove loose hair and keep his coat shiny and skin healthy. You can brush him more often if you want to reduce the amount of hair he sheds.

Bathe only as needed. Ibizans are naturally clean dogs, which makes baths only necessary once every few weeks.

Brush your Beezer’s teeth at least two or three times a week to remove tartar buildup and the bacteria that lurk inside it. Daily brushing is even better if you want to prevent gum disease and bad breath.

Trim nails once or twice a month. Short, neatly trimmed nails keep the feet in good condition and protect your shins from getting scratched when your Ibizan enthusiastically jumps up to greet you. Handle his paws frequently — dogs are touchy about their feet — and look inside his mouth and ears.

Their upright ears should be checked weekly to avoid a buildup of wax and debris, which could result in an infection. Clean the ears with a cotton ball and a veterinarian-approved cleanser; never use a cotton swab in a dog’s ear canal.

Begin accustoming your Ibizan to being brushed and examined when he’s a puppy. Make grooming a positive experience filled with praise and rewards, and you’ll lay the groundwork for easy veterinary exams and other handling when he’s an adult.

With their quiet nature and moderate exercise needs, Ibizans are suited to most living situations, from condos to homes with yards, as long you can provide them with a couple of daily walks or runs. 

An Ibizan is an excellent walking or jogging companion and will enjoy a couple of 20- or 30-minute outings daily. He’ll appreciate any opportunity to run free, although he may take advantage of it for only a few minutes.

They should be able to break out and run at full stride at least once each week. They aren’t trustworthy off leash, however, and should never be allowed to run free except in a safely fenced area. 

An Ibizan is an excellent jumper and should be confined by a fence that’s at least six feet high. Don’t count on an underground electronic fence to keep him in your yard; because the Ibizan has a very strong prey drive, which will always overcome the threat of a momentary shock.

The Ibizan Hound should be fed a high-quality dog food, which is appropriate to the dog’s size, age, build, metabolism, and activity level. The recommended daily amount is about 2 to 3 cups a day, divided into two meals.

The quality of dog food you buy also makes a difference — the better the dog food, the further it will go toward nourishing your dog and the less of it you’ll need to shake into your dog’s bowl.

Some dogs are prone to getting overweight, so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level to keep your Ibizan in good shape. Treats can be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity, which can shorten a dog’s life by several years so it’s important to keep an eye on their waistline from the word go.

Clean, fresh water should always be available.

Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet or the dog’s breeder if you have any questions or concerns about your dog’s weight or diet.

Ibizan Hounds are generally healthy dogs, though there are some conditions the breed can be prone to, which include hip dysplasia, eye disease, autoimmune thyroiditis, and congenital deafness. 

Not all Beezers will get any or all of these diseases, but it’s important to be aware of them if you’re considering this breed.

As with all breeds, Beezers’ ears should be checked regularly for signs of infection, and the teeth should be brushed often, using a toothpaste designed for dogs.

There are several health tests considerations specific to the breed, such as hip evaluation, BAER testing, ophthalmologist evaluation and thyroid evaluation. 

Responsible breeders test all breeding stock for conditions that can affect the breed. Regular visits to the vet for checkups and parasite control help to ensure the dog a long, healthy life.

Total Annual Cost: $3239

Cost is estimated for the first year and may vary depending on many factors, such as dog food, health care, leash, collar, licensing, possible fencing, crates, training and obedience classes, dog-walking, grooming, treats, toys, flea, tick, and heart-worm meds, microchips, etc.

Versatile and trainable, Ibizans make excellent family pets. Ibizan Hounds are intelligent and can learn quickly, but they’ll become bored if training is repetitive. If you train your Ibizan correctly, he’ll be an eager, enthusiastic student

The Ibizan is bit aloof but a sweet-natured, family-oriented housemate. Alert and watchful of strangers, they are nevertheless friendly and outgoing dogs. 

Early socialization and puppy training classes are recommended. Ibizans excel in a number of canine sports, including lure coursing, obedience, agility, rally, and tracking.

Train your Beezer with positive reinforcement techniques such as praise, play, and food rewards. If your teaching methods are harsh or boring, this sensitive dog will refuse to respond to you. Hounds in general weren’t created to work closely with people, so they need short, fun training sessions that will hold their interest. 

Ibizans aren’t difficult to housetrain. Crate training is recommended, however, as an aid to housetraining and to prevent your Ibizan puppy or adolescent from getting into mischief when you’re not around to supervise.

History

The Ibizan Hound was thought to be an ancient breed dating back to 3000 years ago. It originated in Ibiza, Spain. Phoenician travelers around the 800s BC were said to have settled on the Spanish island of Eivissa with their Egyptian hunting dogs. However, recent DNA study of the breed’s genetic make-up has suggested that the Ibizan Hound had probably developed from more recent breeds than is purported by the theory above. The Ibizan Hound is similar in appearance and probably strain, to the Pharaoh Hound, the Portuguese Podengo, Cirneco dell’Etna, and the Podenco Canario. The FCI had categorized these breeds as primitive breeds, of which the Ibizan Hound is the largest. They were originally bred to hunt rabbits and hare, primarily. Although recently, this has been enhanced into a sport where a number of Ibizan Hounds chase after a darting rabbit.

Around the 1950s, a pair of Ibizan Hounds were imported into the Rhodes Island, which sired the first set of American puppies. This set formed the foundation of the Ibizan Hound in the United States. It was only a matter of time before the breed scaled the boundaries of Spain into kennels in different parts of the world. It gained an American Kennel Club (AKC) recognition in 1979 and, the following year, it debuted in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Although it is a well-recognized breed in different kennel clubs, including the Kennel Club of England, the United Kennel Club of America, the New Zealand Kennel Club, and even the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, the Ibizan Hound remains a rare breed. 

Helpful Information

Breed Club: IBIZAN HOUND CLUB OF THE UNITED STATES

Breed Club Link: https://ihcus.org/

Breed Club Rescue: IHCUS Rescue

Breed Club Rescue Link: https://ihcus.org/rescue