Ibizan Hound
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Appearance
| Ibizan Hound Quick Summary | |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Beezers |
| Origin | Spain |
| Size | Medium |
| Height (at withers) | 23-28in (58-71cm) |
| Weight | 40-55lbs (18-25kg) |
| Hair Colour(s) | White, red |
| Lifespan | 11-14 years |
| Energy Level | Medium |
| Litter size | 6-12 |
| Shedding | Low |
| Grooming | Low |
| Barking Tendency | Medium |
| Exercise requirements | High |
| Ease of training | Medium |
| Suitability for kids | Medium |
| Animal compatability | Medium |
| Aggression levels | Medium |
| Distress if left | Medium |
The Ibizan Hound is a medium-sized lithe and elegant looking but sturdy dog. The body has a fine bone structure to it with a straight and level topline, a long and arched neck, very long and straight front legs and a long, slender tail carried low when they are relaxed and higher when excited. The long and narrow wedge-shaped head has a long and slender muzzle, large erect ears, amber eyes and a convex shaped nose. The coat is usually either short-haired or wire-haired, and more rarely, long-haired, and the colouring is normally solid white, solid red, or white and red.
Temperament
Ibizan Hounds are quiet, polite and playful dogs with even tempers. Gentle natured and sensible, they are loyal to their owners and make fine additions to a family. They are quite energetic and love to jump about, especially as puppies, but they tend to calm as they grow older. These are intelligent and keen dogs that learn quickly, and are usually relatively easy to housebreak, but this can be offset by their sensitive, willful and independent tendencies. As a result, they are best suited to more experienced dog owners that can exercise confidence and assertiveness while remaining positive. Ibizan Hounds get along well enough with children but they need early socialisation with other pets, especially smaller animals such as rabbits, rodents and cats because they were bred to hunt these. They are likely to chase and kill any cats they do not know. Around strangers these dogs tend to be watchful, reserved yet polite, but they will relax quickly once they know the stranger means no harm. This can be a protective breed, which makes them effective as watchdogs.
History & Skills
Ibizan Hounds originate from Spain, in particular Ibiza, from where they get their name. Their history can be traced back hundreds of years, and perhaps a lot further back if the claims are true that they are essentially the same breed as the Pharaoh Hound of Ancient Egypt, brought to Ibiza by Phoenician traders. It is more likely, however, that they are a more recent breed constructed to mimic the ancient Egyptian dog. Whichever case is true, they were Used for hunting rabbits and other small game. These days they make fine family additions but are still relatively rare.
Breed Specific Ailments
Ibizan Hounds tend to live between 11-14 years, and some of the health problems and disorders that have been linked to this breed include heart problems, thyroid problems, seizures, axonal dystrophy, deafness, and sensitivity to certain chemicals and medications. These dogs are known for their extraordinarily healthy teeth.
Grooming
Ibizan Hounds are low shedders and so are suitable for those with allergy problems. Their grooming requirements are also low, and their short coat will simply need a weekly brushing in order to keep it in good condition.
Exercise & Environment
Ibizan Hounds tend to live indoors, where they will be moderately active, because they are sensitive to cold thanks to their coats. They are pretty flexible though and will be fine in small homes such as apartments providing they get enough exercise, and cannot be kept as kennel dogs. They need moderate exercise in the form of a daily walk and access to an outside area such as a yard or garden. The walks must be carried out on a leash, and the outside areas must be secure with extra-high fencing becuase these dogs are very fast sight-hounds, meaning they hunt by sight rather than scent, and they can jump very high, even from a complete standstill. They can be extremely difficult to re-capture if they run off, and will not return until they feel like doing so. This strong chase instinct and lack of caution in traffic can potentially lead to disaster.