<b>History:</> 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 was used there to hunt rabbit and other small game. The Ibizan Hound can hunt on all types of terrain, working by sight, hearing and smell. 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.
<b>Description:</> This agile, deer-like, elegant and athletic hound has a long, arched neck, long wedge-shaped head, amber eyes and very large, triangular ears which stand up when the dog is alert. The rose or flesh-colored nose has a slightly convex shape ("Roman nose"). The body is fine-boned, but not as slender as in many other sight hounds. The Ibizan Hound has flat, sleek muscles without any heaviness. The front legs are perfectly straight all the way from the elbows to the ground. Dewclaws may be removed or left natural. The tail is long and slender, hanging low when the dog is relaxed and carried a bit higher when the dog is alert. The Ibizan Hound is "hare-footed", with long toes. The coat comes in two types--smooth and wire-haired, in red or white, or combinations of both colors. The Ibizan Hound has a graceful, floating gait.
<b>Notes:</> The Ibizan Hound can jump very high from a complete standstill, enabling him to easily jump most fences. Enclose this dog accordingly for his own safety with either a very high fence or roofed dog run. An incredibly fast dog, the Ibizan Hound can be extremely difficult to re-capture. The strong chase instinct and lack of caution in traffic can lead to disasters. A large fenced area (breed club literature suggests at least 40X60 feet) is best for regular exercise. Male Ibizans may not get along. Be careful with small pets such as rabbits, cats and rodents; the Ibizan Hound is bred to hunt these creatures! This breed tends to have large litters. The Ibizan Hound is hardy and strong, but can have allergic reactions to drugs, including insecticides and flea powders. The breed is quite sensitive to cold, as his coat is not very protective. Some lines seem to be prone to seizures. The Ibizan Hound has a genetic propensity for Axonal Dystrophy, a nerve and muscle disease.
<b>Personality:</> Quiet, clean, playful and polite. Sensible and sensitive. Gentle. Trainable, but tends to be willful and get bored easily. Somewhat independant and reserved, though many are friendly. Protective. Tends to be somewhat dog-aggressive, particularly with same breed males.
<b>Behavior:</>
<C>Children:</C> Good with children.
<C>Friendliness:</C> Reserved with strangers.
<C>Trainability:</C> Slightly difficult to train.
<C>Independence:</C> Not particularly dependent or independent.
<C>Dominance:</C> Moderate.
<C>Other Pets:</C> May be aggressive with dogs of the same sex; do not trust with non-canine pets.
<C>Combativeness:</C> Tends to be fairly dog-aggressive.
<C>Noise:</C> Average barker.
<b>Grooming and Physical Needs:</>
<C>Grooming:</C> Very little grooming needed.
<C>Trimming & Stripping:</C> No trimming or stripping needed.
<C>Coat:</C> Short coat.
<C>Shedding:</C> Average shedder.
<C>Exercise:</C> Vigorous daily exercise needed.
<C>Jogging:</C> An excellent jogging companion.
<C>Indoors:</C> Moderately active indoors.
<C>Apartments:</C> Not recommended for apartments.
