Breed Standard
Head: Long, narrow, extremely dry. Long, flat skull. Narrow forehead. Stop not pronounced. Long, narrow, slightly Roman convex muzzle. Flesh color nose.
Ears: Medium size. Thin leather. Very mobile and always held rigidly erect. Pointed forward or up.
Eyes: Small, set obliquely in the skull. Clear amber color (caramel color).
Body: Slightly longer than tall. Very dry, muscular, slightly arched neck. Shoulder blades are well laid back. Deep, narrow, long chest. Flat ribs. Arched, powerful loin. Belly is tucked up. Slightly arched, powerfully muscled loin. Long, straight, flexible back.
Tail: Set low, tapers to the tip. Carried in a well curved saber position.
Hair: Smooth, hard, long. Shorthair must be smooth, rather hard, not silky. Wire hair must be hard, coarse, thick, and short on the head. Beard is desirable. Longest hair is the softest, very abundant on the head, and at least 5 cm long.
Coat: Preferably white and red, or solid white or red. Fawn permissible in shorthaired only if the dog is an exceptional specimen.
Size: Dog: 66 to 72 cm (26-28.3 in).Bitch: 60 to 67 cm23.6-26.4 in).
Weight: Dog: approx. 23 kg (50.8 lb).Bitch: approx. 19 kg (42 lb).
History
Pharaoh Hounds, the Ibizan was probably brought to the islands by the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, and, eventually, the Romans. One of the oldest breeds known, the Ibizan is a very primitive, vigorous dog. At one point, the breed was called the French Hound because it was common in the nineteenth century in the regions of Langedoc, Roussillon, and Provence in France. It became very rare around the 1880s, when use of the Ibizan for hunting hare was outlawed.
Behavior
Ibizan Hounds are intelligent, active, and engaging by nature. They rank 53rd in Stanley Coren's book The Intelligence of Dogs, considered average working/obedience intelligence, but many Ibizan owners enjoy recounting a multitude of examples of their problem-solving abilities. They are true "clowns" of the dog world, delighting in entertaining their people with their antics. Though somewhat independent and stubborn at times, they do take well to training if positive methods are used, but they will balk at punitive training methods. They are generally quiet but will alarm bark if necessary, so they make good watch dogs. They are sensitive hounds, and very good around children and other dogs alike. They generally make good house dogs but are active and athletic, therefore need a lot of daily exercise. They do not make good kennel dogs. Ibizan hounds are sweet, but they are very stubborn and independent.
Ibizan Hounds are "escapologists": they are able to jump incredible heights from a standstill, so they need very tall fences. They also have been known to climb, and many can escape from crates and can open baby gates and even locks. They have a strong prey drive, therefore they cannot be trusted off leash unless in a safely enclosed area. Once off the leash, they might not come back for a long time. A hound that knows where its home is and the surrounding area will usually return unscathed.
The Ibizan Hound needs considerable exercise and space to run. Regular brushing is required.
Function
In the United States, the Ibizan Hound is frequently competed in lure coursing through the AKC and ASFA, and also competes in LGRA straight racing and NOTRA oval track racing. Some parts of the country also use them for coursing live prey, generally jackrabbits.
Health
The Ibizan Hound is hardy and strong, but can have allergic reactions to drugs, including insecticides and flea powders. Some lines seem to be prone to seizures. The Ibizan Hound has a genetic propensity for Axonal Dystrophy, nerve and muscle disease.
