Ibizan Hound Dog Breed

The Ibizan Hound, or Podenco Ibicenco, is a breed hailing from Spain's Balearic Islands. Although most people think of partying when they hear "Ibiza" the island truly has a rich, spirited culture mirrored by these beautiful dogs. The breed is said to be ancient-- as ancient as 3100 B.C. where they can be seen in hieroglypic markings on Egyptian walls and artifacts. The Egyptian god Anubis is said to have the head of a direct ancestor of the Ibizan. It is thought the Phoenicians brought these canines to Ibiza as early as the 8th century B.C. and they have been put to use by farmer over the many centuries to hunt hare along the island's rocky coast. They are still highly valued hare hunting hounds and compete in agility, rally and lure coursing events. They are recommended for active individuals or families, bonus if you have canine friends for your "pod". Consider the following list of pros and cons to decided if the Ibizan Hound could be for you:

This section will give you a quick 101 on the Ibizan Hound dog. They are in the AKC Hound Group and the UKC Sighthound group. Indeed, they are sighthounds that can also follow their nose; they were bred to chase down hare on the rocky coasts of Spain's Balearic Islands. These long-legged, agile hounds are very thin and elegant in shape but the breed's most notable feature is its large, erect bat like ears. "Pods" as they are sometimes called, are adaptable to a variety of homes as long as you can commit to training and exercising them enough.

The intelligence of the Ibizan is average but they are considered to be pretty trainable. They are willing to please as long as you stay patient and don't resort to harsh tones or punishments. The breed is notable for having considerable talent in the lure coursing, agility and rally events.

Members of this breed are affectionate and friendly. They do well in families with children and typically get along well with visitors/strangers; they are known to bark an alert at the approach of a newcomer. Pods are great with other dogs and it's recommended to have a canine pal for him/her if you are gone a lot during the week for work or school. Cats and other small, furry critters (especially rabbits) are not a good match for the Ibizan as they love to chase and may consider these animals their targets.

Finally, the Ibizan Hound is very energetic and needs at least an hour of daily outdoor exercise. Ideally, they will have access to a fenced yard if they are indoor pets. Just make sure the yard has a secure 6 foot fence-- they are notorious escape artists. Keeping them on leash will be necessary when outside of fenced areas.

This elegant and leggy breed has two coat varieties: short and wire. Wirehaired Ibizan Hounds are equally as desirable as the short-haired. The coat is rough, thick and anywhere from 1-3 inches in length; the Ibizan Hound's longer hair creates a "beard" on the face that is highly desirable. The coat is not trimmed or clipped.

Short haired Ibizans have rough, hard coats.

The Ibizan Hound temperament is affectionate, well-mannered and funny. First and foremost, Ibizan Hounds are dogs that follow their instincts and this leads them to be problem solvers and escape artists. They are of average intelligence and can be trained by first time owners, but they are also independent and need a patient handler that can keep the training varied. Members of the breed are sensitive so try to refrain from exasperated or angry tones. Experts recommend 6 foot fences for these athletic dogs since they've been known to find ways over (and under) fences in the pursuit of their quarry.

Ibizans are good family pets. Although they are known to be vocal outdoors, they are well-mannered indoors and are typically affectionate, calm and quiet. They are friendly towards children and strangers and they will enjoy having other dogs in the household. Due to the high prey drive these sighthounds will have, they probably aren't a good choice for homes with cats or other small, furry pets (especially rabbits).

Experts note the Ibizan is really slow to mature and may keep his/her puppy mentality well into their later years. They are high energy dogs that need plenty of outdoor exercise each day. Aside from obedience, they are also often trained in lure coursing, rally, and agility activities.

Although the Ibizan Hound is an ancient breed, they have surprisingly few hereditary health issues. Most members of the breed will live 11-14 years with few problems, however, making yearly veterinary check-up appointments is a must. The following are the main concerns common to the Ibizan Podenco:

• Bloat
• Hip Dysplasia
• Deafness
• Thyroid Disease
• Seizures
• Allergies
• Eye Problems

• The Ibizan Hound is central to ancient Egyptian artifacts. The tall, slender dog with large, erect ears can be seen in heiroglyphs dated as far back as 3100 B.C.! The Egyptian god Anubis has the head of a dog that matches the profile of the Ibizan.