Ibizan Hound

Size: medium-sized, 22-27" at the withers, weight 45-55 lbs.

Color: White, red, or any combination of red and white

Energy Level: HIGH

Life expectancy: 11-13 years

Children: Gentle with children, but size and activity level make obedience training a requirement if around children under 5 years.

Other animals: Generally friendly with other dogs. Bred for thousands of years to hunt rabbit, this breed has a deep-seated hunting instinct, and must be carefully socialized to live with other animals. If an Ibizan encounters a house pet, such as a cat, outside, it will probably hunt it no matter how peacefully he lives with it indoors.

Abilities: Traditionally Ibizans were bred to hunt in cooperative packs, bringing the rabbit to the hunter's hand. This is a primitive, ancient breed found in southern Spain and the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean. Ibizans are graceful athletes, excelling at running and leaping. An excellent breed for coursing, agility, obedience, and other canine sports.

Shedding/Grooming: Coats may be wire, smooth, or "broken" (in-between). There is also a long wire coat, which has not been found in the U.S. to date. Ibizans tend to be heavy shedders, and are NOT hypoallergenic. They require a thorough brushing once a week.

Health: No reliable health statistics are available for this breed. Health problems appear with unkown incidence, and they may have a genetic component. They include:

• axonal neuropathy, a genetically-acquired, degenerative nerve disease
• deafness
• hyper/hypothyroidism
• seizures
• impaired immune response or anaphylaxis: autoimmune disease, food or contact allergies, vaccination and bee sting reactions
• hip dysplasia
• Von Willebrand's Disease, a blood-clotting disorder
• eye problems
• cardiomyopathy

Most of these conditions are rare, but they are of concern, and certainly point to the need for the prospective Ibizan Hound owner to learn as much as possible about different breeders and their lines.

Best with: experienced hound owners, a fenced yard, an owner who wants to get involved in coursing, agility, other activities with his or her dog

Not for: homes where the dog will be left alone all day, unfenced yards, fencing less than 6 feet high, first-time dog owners. This is a sensitive breed, easily ruined with harsh corrections or under-socialization. It should be kept indoors. Puppies are slow to mature, and can be very destructive if not watched carefully.

Pros: Intelligent, fun-loving and inventive in its play; requires little correction, shines with positive training techniques; a graceful athlete.

Cons: very vocal, sensitive to corrections, may become destructive if not exercised. As a primitive breed, it requires active socialization to avoid behavioral problems. The Ibizan is an inquisitive dog, and loves to "counter-surf" and climb on furniture, counters, and tables despite its size.