The Ibizan hound (or Ibizan Podenco, Ibizan warren hound or Beezie) is a rare but much beloved breed that was developed in the Balearic Islands (small islands off the coast of Spain). They are noted not only for their beauty and athleticism, but for their high intelligence. This is a dog that needs to be challenged both physically and mentally in order to keep out of mischief and ill-health.
Brief History
Spaniards centuries ago needed a fast enough dog to seek out and catch rabbits and small game. Although the Ibizan Hound Club of the United States claims that the breed is five thousand years old, we probably will never discover when the Ibizan Hound first streaked like a furry rocket over the Earth.
The theory is that Egyptians began trading with the Spanish around 700 – 900 BCE and brought their dogs with them. The Spanish fell in love with the dogs and either bought or stole some dogs to live with them. But Spain had a troubled history and dogs were often left to fend for themselves. The Ibizan hounds managed to survive in feral groups on the Balearic Islands.
Eventually, Americans became enamoured of the Beezie and imported some. Although still considered a rare breed, they were popular enough to be recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1979. They also are avidly bred in many other parts of the world, especially Europe and New Zealand.
General Description
They look very much like the more popular Pharaoh hound, which looks somewhat like a greyhound with pointed ears and a shorter face. They are slender, rangy hunting dogs with excellent sprinting and jumping power. Fortunately, breeders and showers never got into the cruel fashion of docking tails, so the long, curving tails have another reason to wag.
Unlike many other slender hound breeds, Ibizan hounds only appear in three colors. These are all white, all red or a mixture of white and red. Very rarely other colors appear but those dogs cannot be registered or shown. Most Ibizan Hounds are short haired, like a greyhound, but some come in wire haired variety that makes the dog appear somewhat like someone took a Wirehaired Fox Terrier and stretched it out.
These are medium sized dogs, averaging 40 to 50 pounds when full grown and standing 22 to 28 inches at their withers (highest point of the shoulder). However, when they come at you at a full run they may seem to be much larger. Fortunately, they haven’t a mean bone in their bodies, but be aware that they do love to chase things.
Ibizans instinctively chase any small furry object, so they are not the best choice of dog for anyone with pet rodents, ferrets, rabbits or cats. They do get along well with kids, probably because kids like to be chased. But all small children and dogs should be supervised when they are together. This is not only for the child’s safety but for the safety of the dog.
Additional References:
Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds.” D. Caroline Coile, PhD. Barron’s; 2005.
ASPCA Complete Guide to Dogs.” Sheldon L. Gerstenfeld, VMD. Chronicle Books; 1999.
Ibizan Hound: Breed Profile.” Tammy Gagne. “Dogfancy.” July, 2008. Vol. 39, No.7
Reference:
- www.ibizanhoundrescue.com/
- www.petfinder.com/dog-breeds/Ibizan-Hound
- www.facebook.com/pages/Ibizan-Hound-Rescue/363949532786
