The Ibizan hound

Ibizan hounds are exceptionally nice dogs, they are also very fast and they can jump a fence from a standing position! Known for their adaptability and affectionate nature to their family, the Ibizan hound makes a great pet.

The Ibizan hound is a dog that is agile and athletic not only in appearance but also in reality; they have a very attractive outline and cover the ground in a nice springy trot. Although this dog may look frail at first glance, he is anything but frail! This breed has a nice good bone structure and is known for being a rugged and hardy breed. The thing that sets this breed apart from others are the big upright ears, they are broad at the base and frame a totally aristocratic head. The neck of this breed is long, lean and graceful looking, with a build that is a little bit different then the other sighthounds, the Ibizan hound has bright amber eyes and a gorgeous red and white coat. They can also have long wiry coats and cute bushy mustaches.

This is a dog breed that can reach a height of up to 24 to 29 inches and they can weigh up to 65 pounds, the males are bigger then the females.

The Ibizan hound has a look of complete elegance about him; he has been described as having an almost deer-like look. When the Ibizan hound cleans himself he will do it much like a cat, these are dogs that need a lot of exercise and should never be let off the leash except in a fenced area, and even then the fence has to be big because these dogs are great jumpers, and escape artists! They can jump great heights from a complete standstill; they say that the fence should be over 6 feet, at least.

These are very intelligent and active dogs that are engaging by nature, they can almost be called the clowns of the canine world; they love it when people laugh at the crazy things that they do. Despite all this lovable nature, they can be stubborn and rather independent at times, when training, always use positive reinforcement because this is not a breed to take kindly to being pushed around. These are good watch dogs and they are generally aloof around strangers, other animals need to be carefully introduced to the family because these are hound dogs and they were born and bred to hunt. If given a lot of exercise then they will be good house dogs but kenneling is out of the question, there is just too much energy to deal with.

This dog was considered to be one of the ancient dog breeds, people thought that this breed of dog came from Egypt, all because of some paintings that had been found. In recent years the Ibizan hound has been put through some genetic testing and it has been discovered that this dog is actually a lot more recent then originally believed. The Ibizan hound is basically a recent dog bred to look like a much older type of dog.

They now think that this breed originated in Spain and was used to hunt rabbits and other game on the Balearic Island of Ibiza. This is a fast dog that can hunt on all types of terrain working not only by sight but by sound and scent as well. Spanish hunters run these dogs in female packs because the females make the better hunters. This breed was officially recognized by the AKC in 1979.

If you are looking for an Ibizan puppy, always look for a breeder that knows the breed and the different issues that this particular breed has. A good breeder should be able to provide health certificates and health guaranties for their puppies and for the puppy’s parents. Try to avoid puppy mills because they usually do not put any real effort into preserving the breed and they really do not care about anything more then making money; that means that if you buy from them you will not just be getting an ill bred dog, but probably one with health problems.

A pet like the Ibizan will reward you with his lovely nature and lots and lots of fun!