Ibizan Hound: temperament, size, care and health

About the Ibizan Hound

The Ibizan Hound is a tall, slender, fine-boned dog with large, erect ears like those of a bat, a long narrow head and a light, floating gait. The coat is short and smooth or, less often, rough, in white, red or a combination, with the color often appearing as a red-and-white pattern. The eyes are amber, and the nose and ears are a rosy flesh tone. Dogs stand about twenty-three to twenty-seven inches high.

The breed hunted rabbits on the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, using sight, scent and hearing in rough, rocky country. The Ibizan can jump to a height far greater than its own and can quarter the ground at speed. The same abilities show in a home: this is a dog that clears a fence, vanishes after a rabbit and sails onto a table. Its personality is clownish and warm.

Temperament and family life

An Ibizan is friendly, affectionate and entertaining. It tends to adore its family, and it greets strangers with polite reserve. It is not a barker by habit, though it can sound off at times, and it is not a guard dog. It stays playful into adulthood.

Most Ibizans are good with children who are sensible, although the dog's bounce and strength can knock over small ones. It tends to get on with other dogs, particularly those of its own type. The prey drive is high, and small animals that move quickly will be chased. Even a dog that lives happily with a cat indoors may chase the neighborhood cats. The breed does not like long periods of isolation.

Exercise and training

An Ibizan needs daily running, at least some of it in a securely enclosed area. A tall fence, ideally six feet, with no climbable features, is crucial, since the dog can leap or climb out of a lower one. It should never be off leash outdoors in an unfenced setting, since it will follow a moving animal and not hear a call. Lure coursing, hunting for hare and agility appeal to its athletic nature.

The Ibizan is intelligent and learns quickly, but it is independent and has a short attention span for drills. Reward-based training with plenty of variety works, while harsh methods fail. Early socialization and basic manners are valuable, and teaching a solid recall is a long project. Young dogs are energetic and can be destructive without enough exercise.

Grooming and shedding

The coat is simple to maintain. Brush the smooth type weekly with a soft brush or a mitt, and give the rough type a little more brushing. Baths are seldom needed. Shedding is light.

The thin coat and low body fat mean the dog is sensitive to cold, so it may need a coat in winter, and it can get sunburned on its pale skin and nose in strong sun. Check the large ears for dirt and trim the nails regularly.

Health

The Ibizan is a generally healthy and long-lived breed. Like other sighthounds, it has a low body fat percentage and may react unusually to some anesthetics. Conditions reported include deafness, an inherited nerve disease called axonal dystrophy, allergies, eye disorders and seizures in some lines. Breeders sometimes test hearing and eyes and may use DNA tests where available. None of this replaces an examination, and a veterinarian is the person to ask about a particular Ibizan Hound.

History

The breed is generally traced to the Balearic Islands, especially Ibiza, where similar dogs were kept for rabbit hunting for centuries. Their resemblance to dogs in ancient Egyptian art has led to claims of great age, but the evidence is incomplete. Ibizan Hounds were brought to the United States in the 1950s, and the American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1978.

Is the Ibizan Hound right for you?

An Ibizan suits an active owner with a high fence, a sense of humor and time for exercise. It is a poor match for someone with free-roaming small pets, a short fence or a wish for a calm, obedient dog.

The closely related Pharaoh Hound is a bit shorter and has a short, glossy coat. For a smaller Mediterranean cousin, look at the Cirneco dell'Etna, and for a calmer sighthound, the Whippet.