Ibizan Hound

Temperament:
The Ibizan Hounds, sometimes called "Beezers" by their fanciers, are quiet, clean, playful and polite. Good with children, gentle, sensible and sensitive. Protective and somewhat independent. They will hold back watchfully with strangers. Once they decide the stranger means no harm, they will relax very quickly. Be careful with small pets such as rabbits, cats and rodents; the Ibizan Hound is bred to hunt these creatures. Cats that are raised with the Ibizan Hound will fit in just fine as part of the "family pack," but it will chase and possibly kill a cat it does not know. As in all breeds, the Ibizan Hound should be well socialized with other dogs, other animals, adults, and children. If you have an adult Ibizan Hound and would like another dog, it is suggested that you get a puppy. Beezers are pack animals by nature, so introducing a puppy to the household is easier. An Ibizan thinks its humans are their pack, so any addition (human or baby) must be introduced slowly. Ibizans are members of the family. They cannot be kept as kennel dogs. They love their humans, are as clean as a cat, and respect the rules of a household. This breed blushes when they get excited, as does the Pharaoh Hound. Ibizans like to learn and do so very quickly. They are trainable, but tend to be willful and get bored easily. Provided they have been properly trained, they can participate in many types of dog sports. These dogs are very sensitive to the voice of their handler and a friendly request will always achieve more than a gruff command. This breed tends to have large litters.

Grooming:
There are three varieties of Ibizan: smooth-haired, long-haired, and wire-haired. Neither variety requires much attention. The shine on the coat of the smooth-haired can be kept in good condition by occasionally running a rubber glove over it. The wire-haired do not need hand-plucking. All can be groomed by an occasional brushing. Check at frequent intervals that the ear passages are clean and keep the claws short. This breed is an average shedder.

Exercise:
This breed requires a great deal of exercise. If there is not a good-sized fenced-in area for them to run, it should have at least two to three long walks a day. This breed should get a chance to stretch its legs with a nice run once a day. They will highly enjoy retrieving for you and will also enjoy running alongside your bicycle, but don't do this until your dog is fully grown as it can harm a young puppy. Do not let this breed off the lead unless you are in a secure area. This independent sighthound is extremely fast and it will take off and not come back until it is good and ready to. They are extremely hard to recapture. Keep in mind that the Ibizan Hound can jump very high from a complete standstill, enabling him to easily jump most fences.

Living Condition:
The Ibizan Hound will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. They are moderately active indoors and will do best with at least a large yard. The Ibizan Hound can jump very high from a complete standstill, enabling him to easily jump most fences. An incredibly fast dog, the Ibizan Hound can be extremely difficult to re-capture. They are sighthounds, meaning they hunt by sight rather than scent. Ibizans have selective hearing and an independent nature. They will take off running and WILL NOT come back until they feel like it. The strong chase instinct and lack of caution in traffic can lead to disaster. A large fenced area is best for regular exercise. Breed Club literature suggests at least 40X60 feet. The breed is quite sensitive to cold, as his coat is not very protective.

Origin:
Several examples of Ancient Egyptian art, some from 5000 years ago, depict dogs closely resembling today's Ibizan Hound. This sleek hunting greyhound may have been brought to the islands off the coast of Spain from Egypt by Phoenician traders in about 700-900 BC. The breed became common on the island of Ibiza and other nearby islands and were used there to hunt rabbit and other small game. The Ibizan Hound is a very fast dog that can hunt on all types of terrain - working by sight, hearing and smell. It can also be used in nocturnal hunting. He is a steady pointer when he discovers game, and can also retrieve very well. Spanish hunters run these dogs in packs. Today the breed's chasing instincts can flourish in the sport of lure coursing. The Ibizan Hound is also a delightful companion and show dog. This breed is very similar to the Pharaoh Hound, but the Ibizan Hound is larger and can have a multi-colored coat. The Ibizan Hound was fully recognized by the AKC in 1979.