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Ibizan Hound breed guide
The American Kennel Club calls the Ibizan Hound a lithe and leggy visitor from the dawn of civilization, bred as a rabbit courser on the rocky shores of Spain's Balearic Islands, a world-class sprinter and leaper that needs ample space to air out its engines.
Art history students will recognize the elongated head with large erect ears as a motif of ancient Egypt and the breed's quiet grace is often described as deer-like.
Temperament
Versatile and trainable, Ibizan Hounds make excellent family pets: even-tempered, affectionate and loyal. The breed is a bit aloof but a sweet-natured, family-oriented housemate.
Alert and watchful of strangers, they are nevertheless friendly and outgoing.
Lifespan
Ibizan Hounds live 11 to 14 years. Conditions the breed is prone to include hip dysplasia, eye disease, autoimmune thyroiditis and congenital deafness and the Ibizan Hound Club of the United States posts detailed health information.
Care
Ibizan Hound coats come in smooth and wire varieties and the wire coat varies widely in how thick it is.
Beezers are very athletic and need a lot of exercise. An Ibizan can jump five or six feet from a standing position, so a tall, secure fence is the order of the day and daily vigorous play with the owner or other dogs or long walks suit it.
History
Ibiza is one of the Balearic Islands, off Spain's Mediterranean coast. About 3,000 years ago Phoenician traders first brought Egyptian hounds to the rocky island, where islanders used packs of them as rabbit hunters.
Food was scarce on rugged Ibiza, so for hounds and hunter chasing rabbits was a matter of eating or going hungry and Ibizan Hounds remain tenacious coursers with blazing speed.
AKC trait ratings
| Trait | AKC rating | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Level | 5 of 5 | Couch Potato to High Energy |
| Trainability Level | 3 of 5 | Self-Willed to Eager to Please |
| Shedding Level | 2 of 5 | No Shedding to Hair Everywhere |
| Barking Level | 3 of 5 | Only To Alert to Very Vocal |
| Adaptability Level | 4 of 5 | Lives For Routine to Highly Adaptable |
| Good With Young Children | 3 of 5 | Not Recommended to Good With Children |
| Good With Other Dogs | 5 of 5 | Not Recommended to Good With Other Dogs |
| Watchdog/Protective Nature | 3 of 5 | What's Mine Is Yours to Vigilant |