# Ibizan Hound

Also known as: Podenco Ibicenco, Ca Eivissenc, Charnigue, Balearic Hound
- **Group:** Spitz & Primitive (FCI group 5)
- **Size:** Medium
- **Origin:** Spain (Ibiza)
- **Height:** 56–69 cm
- **Weight:** 20–23 kg
- **Life expectancy:** 12–14 years
- **Temperament:** Clownish, Intelligent, Athletic, Independent, Sensitive
- **FCI standard:** No. 89

A lean, elegant red-and-white hound from the island of Ibiza, famed for huge upright ears, a spectacular vertical jump and a playful, clownish streak.

## Overview

The Ibizan Hound is a graceful, agile sighthound-type hunter from Ibiza, traditionally used to catch rabbits by sight, scent and sound. It comes in smooth and wire-coated varieties, the smooth being more common.

At home it is affectionate, funny and sensitive, but it is also an athletic escape artist with a strong prey drive that needs good fencing and a lot of exercise.

## History

The breed comes from the island of Ibiza and has long been used in Catalan-speaking regions of Spain, and in France, to hunt rabbits and other small game. Hunters usually ran them in small packs, often mostly females, which are considered the better hunters.

It is classified by the FCI among the primitive types, alongside the Pharaoh Hound, Cirneco dell'Etna and Podenco breeds, though DNA work suggests it was formed fairly recently from other breeds. It has been recognised by the American Kennel Club since 1979.

## Appearance

An elegant, lean and athletic dog with a long head, large upright ears broad at the base, amber eyes and a springy, ground-covering trot. Despite its fine look it has good bone and a hardy build.

Males stand about 59 to 69 cm and females 56 to 66 cm, weighing roughly 20 to 23 kg. The coat is red, white or a combination, with a light tan nose, ears, eye rims and pads.

## Temperament

Ibizan Hounds are intelligent, engaging and often described as clowns. They can be independent and stubborn, but respond to positive training and balk at harsh methods. They are generally quiet, though they will give an alarm bark.

They are sensitive, good with children and other dogs, and do not do well as kennel dogs.

## Care and exercise

These hounds need a lot of daily exercise and enjoy lure coursing and racing. They can leap great heights from a standstill and climb, so they need very tall, secure fences, and should not be trusted off leash outside safe enclosed areas.

Grooming is minimal: a brush now and then, more for wire coats. Keep them warm in cold weather as they have little body fat.

## Health

Typically healthy and long-lived. Minor concerns include seizures and allergies, and rarely eye problems, axonal dystrophy and deafness. They are sensitive to barbiturate anaesthesia, so tell your vet.

## Ratings (1 to 5)

- Energy: 4
- Exercise needs: 4
- Grooming: 1
- Shedding: 2
- Trainability: 3
- Barking: 2
- Good with children: 4
- Good with other dogs: 4

Page: https://techtools.cz/tools/dog-atlas/ibizan-hound
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibizan_Hound · https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37755
Photo: Jan Eduard, corrected by Pleple2000 (CC BY-SA 3.0), https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Podenco_z_ibizy_645.jpg
Profile written by an AI model from the sources above.