The Ibizan Hound is an old and uncommon breed that has adapted well to modern times. Bred to be a rabbit hunter, the athletic Ibizan makes a great companion that relishes playtime. The dog is very sensitive, however, and requires a gentle, loving hand to thrive. The American Kennel Club accepted the Ibizan in 1979 in the Hound Group.

History

This breed originates in the island of Eivissa and has been traditionally used in the Catalan speaking areas of Spain and France to hunt rabbits and other small game. The Ibizan Hound is a fast dog that can hunt on all types of terrain, working by scent, sound and sight. Hunters run these dogs in mostly female packs, with perhaps a male or two, as the female is considered the better hunter. The Ibizan Hound authority Miquel Rosselló has provided a detailed description of a working trial which characterises their typical hunting technique and action, strikingly illustrated with action photos by Charles Camberoque which demonstrate hunt behaviour and typical hunt terrain. While local hunters will at times use one dog or a brace, and frequently packs of 6-8 or as many as 15, the working trial requires an evaluation of one or two braces. A brace is called a colla. The couples should be tested on at least 2 to 5 rabbits (not hares) without the use of any other hunting aid. An inspection and evaluation of the exterior, fitness, character and obedience of the dogs is recommended prior to the hunt. The trial is qualified as having 5 parts. The dogs should show: careful tracking and scenting of the rabbit, without being distracted in the least, 0-30 points, correct signalling of the game, patient stand, strong jump into the air, obedience 0-10 points, chase, giving tongue, speed, sureness, anticipation 0-30 points, putting the game to cover at close quarters, listening, waiting, obedience, correct attack 0-10 points, good catch, or correct indication of the game’s location, retrieval, obedience 0-20 points. Individual dogs are expected to show a great degree of discipline, obedience and co-operation. They should be extremely agile, have good speed and a powerful vertical jump from a stationary position in rough and often heavily covered ground. They should have excellent scent-tracking abilities, give tongue at the right time when approaching the game closely, and otherwise be silent so that they can locate the game by sound. The Ibizan Hound is similar in function and type to several breeds such as the Pharaoh Hound, the Cirneco dell'Etna, the Portuguese Podengo, and the Podenco Canario. The Ibizan Hound is the largest of these breeds, classified by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale as primitive types. This breed is considered by most experts one of the most ancient dog breeds. It is believed the Ibizan Hound evolves from the tesem, the ancient Egypt hunting dog. Representations of this dog on the walls of ancient tombs show a striking similarity to the modern Ibizan Hound. These dogs would have been brought to the island of Eivissa by the Phoenicians, who founded settlements there as early as the VIII Century BC. A recent DNA analysis[3] did not find support for this opinion and did not include the Ibizan Hound among their identified ancient dog breeds. A more recent article argues that continued trait selective breeding may be behind this lack of support. Heidi G. Parker, the lead author of the original study has stated recently that indeed their original findings do not imply that the Ibizan Hound is not an ancient breed and that with better tools they would in all likelihood be able to trace a continous lineage of thousands of years for many dog breeds and add them to their group of ancient dogs. The Ibizan Hound breed is recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, Continental Kennel Club, American Kennel Club, United Kennel Club, Kennel Club of Great Britain, Canadian Kennel Club, National Kennel Club, New Zealand Kennel Club, Australian National Kennel Council, America's Pet Registry, and American Canine Registry. It was fully recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1979.

Appearance and Size

The Ibizan hair coat can be wiry, smooth or long. The coat should be red and white, with varying shades of red, no other colors are acceptable. Large, erect ears make these hounds stand out in a crowd. Their noses are flesh colored, and tend to be sensitive to sunburn. The Ibizan body is long, lean and muscular. With a sculpted head and neck, they are often described as statuesque. Ibizan Hounds have very little fat. The average Ibizan stands between 22 and 29 inches, and weighs between 42 and 55 pounds.

Personality

Ibizans can be sensitive to strangers unless very well socialized, but they don't tend to show aggression. They are more likely to hide until the stranger is gone. They are very affectionate and loyal, and tend to be even tempered with their owners. These hounds are exceptionally playful. They are constantly inventing new games, and turn just about anything into a toy. Once rules are made clear, Ibizans love nothing more than to obey their owners. Ibizans do have an aversion to sudden movements. They are sensitive to harsh punishment, and will often cry loudly when yelled at. Only positive reinforcement is effective when handling these emotional creatures.

Wikipedia and GNU

The content of this entry is from the Wikipedia article "Ibizan Hound" licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.