Examples of an Ibizan-type hound may be found in the art work of Egypt
dating back to 3400 B.C. His image is the same as that of the Egyptian god,
Anubis, "the Watchdog of the Dead." Ancient Phoenician traders
spread the breed throughout the Mediterranean area including the islands
of Mallorca and Ibiza in the Balearic Island chain. A hunting dog of small
game, he locates his prey both by sight and scent, flushes it, breaks its
neck and gently retrieves it back to his master. He was introduced into
the United States in 1956 and recognized by the American Kennel Club in
1979. Today he is seen as a pet and exhibited in the show ring, on race
tracks and in hunting and lure coursing events.
The Ibizan Hound is even tempered and affectionate. He makes an excellent
family pet but needs plenty of exercise. He is very hardy and agile, capable
of jumping great distances in both height and width. In straight-away racing,
he has been clocked at 40 miles per hour.
The Ibizan's skull is flat with a prominent occipital bone on the top. The
drop off between skull and muzzle (stop) is moderate. The head is fine and
long. The ears are large, pointed and naturally erect. From the front, they
should be approximately two-and-one-half times longer than wide at the base.
The eyes are small and set obliquely. They are amber in color. The muzzle
is slightly convex. The nose is a rosy flesh color, never black or liver.
The bite is scissors. The neck is lean and muscular. The forequarters are
steep with short shoulder blades and long, straight legs. The back is level.
The rib cage is long and flat. The tail is long, thin and lowset. It reaches
to below the hock and is carried in a sickle or saber shape. The coat is
hard, close and dense. It is either straight in the shorthaired variety
or wirehaired. The wire coat is longer, up to three inches in length, with
a mustache and feathering on the back, thighs, forelegs and tail. Coat color
is white, chestnut or a combination of the two. A white marking between
the ears, called the "ax mark" is highly prized. Average height
is between 22 and 29 inches. Average weight is between 40 and 55 pounds.
akhanubis@tesco.net of UK writes:
Living with Ibizan Hounds ...
This breed is truly a living piece of history. The Ibizan Hound can
trace its roots back to 4000 B.C. and indeed beyond. Mostly associated with
the time of the Great Pharaohs, it is depicted on many friezes and the most
notable icon being the Anubis. True to say, the breed has not really changed
in many thousands of years, and we as breeders hope to carry this on into
the millennium. Why try to fix that which is not broken? The Ibizan Hound
was taken to the Balearic Islands by Phonecian traders, and to this day
the Ibizan Hound can be found still working in Spain and its surrounding
islands. The name Ibizan Hound was accepted by the Kennel Club here in the
UK as the breed was mainly found in latter years on the Island of Ibiza.
They are a very versatile breed, being used to hunt, point and retrieve.
Ibizan Hounds will retrieve game live to hand, and are quite "soft
mouthed" not unlike some gundogs, yet their lips fit very tightly over
the teeth, hard to believe with such sharp muzzles they can have such soft
mouths.
The first thing that most people notice about the Ibizan Hound is its pink
nose, the second thing being its large mobile ears. They have the most amazing
amber eyes and are very expressive. Their movement is unlike that of any
other hound. They have a far-reaching stride, and a slight "hover"
before placing their front paws on the ground, a suspended trot is the best
way to describe the movement. If one has ever seen the beautiful Lipizzaner
horses, the Ibizan Hound can mimic every movement perfectly. And it is breathtaking
to watch these hounds work. They are a very affectionate breed, and are
mortified when shouted at; the look in their eyes make you wish you could
take it all back. A most wonderful loyal breed, they have an affinity with
children and love to join in whatever game is going, even to climbing trees!
A long-lived breed, seventeen years-plus has been recorded and here in the
UK we have no incidents of hereditary disease or defect, of this we are
extremely proud. They have never been one of the more popular sighthound
breeds in the UK and have been loved and cherished by a small band of enthusiasts
over the last 50 years or so. The Ibizan Hound does make a good pet, but
it is not a breed for the fainthearted, they can be fairly vocal, and adore
company, they take a long time to mature, not so much physically as mentally,
I had an Ibizan who up until the day he died still loved to shred paper!
But if you want a hound that has remained unchanged for thousands of years,and
if you can give buckets of affection back, and don't mind having the newspaper
nibbled at the corners this is definitely a breed to consider.
The Ibizan Hound comes in a variety of chestnut and white colourings and
any combination of this colour is acceptable. Black is not acceptable (sorry
Anubis!). They can be smooth or rough coated (wire coated in the U.S.).
In the rest of Europe they are known as Podenco Ibicenco or Ca Eivessenc.
But I for one, am glad that the Ibizan Hound has made it to the next millennium
and I am very proud to have had a chance to own and live with a piece of
ancient history.
higleycat@aol.com of Arizona writes:
A loyal and true pack animal!
My feeling about the Ibizan Hound (a sighthound) is that you have a
sporting and working
dog wrapped into one. They are fast, agile and very alert in both hearing
and visual abilities. They are playful as a cat and elegant as a deer. A
breed that isn't in your face constantly, but truly knows where you are
at all times and checks in regularly. The toughest part is keeping this
breed retained within its parameters as it can jump at least five feet high
from a standstill and leap large distances with minimal acceptance to recall
especially on a full run after anything of any size that moves. An off-leash
type dog they are not unless in enclosed areas. However, the Ibizan is not
a kennel breed. They would rather hog the bed or the couch when resting.
The healthy Ibizan is easy to maintain and comes in both a smooth coat and
a wire coat. It has an ancient history and background with little to no
change;
a natural breed. A loyal and true pack animal and a real eye-catcher!