Ibizan Hound

Dating back 5,000 years is the Podenco Ibiceno, one of the world’s most remarkable purebred dogs. These special canines have links to the Egyptian Pharaohs. Learn all about this breed in the guide below!

Ibizan Hound Breed Standards:
Kennel Club Member?: Yes
Ibizan Hound Lifespan: 11-14 years
Ibizan Hound Exercise: More than 2 hours per day
Height: Male 23.5-27.5 inches Female 22.5-26 inches
Weight: Male 23 kilograms Female 20 kilograms
Hypoallergenic: No

Ibizan Hounds are commonly known by their nickname Beezers. In England, Beezers are still relatively uncommon. For this reason, owners will have to go on a waiting list for an Ibizan Hound puppy.

In 2020, only two Ibizan Hound puppies were registered with the Kennel Club. This noble canine is a member of the Hound Group and rarely suffers from hereditary illness. The Podenco Ibiceno unique breed that’s often described as clownish.

Characteristics:

Check out the pros and cons of the Ibizan Hound dog breed below:

Positives:

• Child & Dog friendly
• Not prone to gaining weight
• Tolerant to hot weather
• Easy to groom
• Highly intelligent

Negatives:

• Strong prey drive
• Requires lots of exercise
• High wanderlust potential
• Prone to separation anxiety
• Doesn’t tolerate cold weather well

The Ibizan Hound is a medium-sized breed with an athletic figure. Its elegant appearance is assisted by its pointy ears. There are two varieties of Ibizan Hounds, short-haired and wire-haired with a length of around 5cm. Coat colours are found in White, Red, White & Red, and Fawn.

Temperament

The Podenco Ibiceno is an intelligent breed that’s easy to train for those with experience. They’re a little stubborn for first-time owners. This long-legged canine is demanding and can develop separation anxiety if left alone for long periods of time.

Ibizan Hounds aren’t known to bark a lot but they are a little mouthy in their puppy years. These dogs definitely have a one of a kind personality! Compared to other breeds, Ibizan Hounds can take longer to mature.

When it comes to strangers, Ibizan Hounds will be watchful and reserved. They should soon settle around visitors. As a watchdog, this breed will alert its owner to a knock at the door. Ibizan Hounds won’t be timid or aggressive.

Friendly by nature, these dogs are deeply affectionate to their families. They get along fantastically well with children thanks to their high energy levels! The Podenco Ibiceno dog is gentle and calm in the home.

This canine is great with other dogs and will enjoy making new friends at the dog park! Beezers are sociable and can live in households with other dogs. Cats are accepted if they’ve been raised together, but they’ll still chase other outdoor felines.

History

The Ibizan Hound originates from the Balearic Islands and dates back around 5,000 years! This ancient breed is remarkably similar to those depicted in tombs and hieroglyphs of Pharaohs during 3100 B.C.

Beezers were brought to the Spanish Islands by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians and the Romans. They remained largely untouched making them one of the oldest purebreeds still around today!

Across the 8th century, Ibizan Hounds were regularly traded and travelled across the Mediterranean. They were key to the development of other dog breeds such as the Manchego Hound, Andalucian Hound and the Maneto.

In Ibiza, Majorca, Menorca and Formentera, this breed is known as Ca Eivissec. For centuries, Beezers would hunt rabbits and other small game, sourcing food for the Islanders. Today, these dogs are commonly found in Spain but are most popular in Ibiza.

Beezers were recognized by the AKC in 1978. Two years later their first showing took place at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Despite being uncommon in the UK, there are a few breed enthusiasts. The English Ibizan Hound Club also run their own breed shows.

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Exercise & Grooming

Ibizan Hounds are demanding on the exercise front! They require more than 2 hours per day! A vigorous form of play should also be included. Potential owners must be able to dedicate this amount of time.

Long walks and hikes with plenty of off-leash time in open areas will be thoroughly enjoyed by the Beezer. Swimming is a fantastic form of exercise so take them to the water every once in a while.

Mental stimulation is highly important for the intelligent Ibizan Hound! Play games of hide and seek, teach them some advanced tricks, make them work for their food, even dog chews are mentally stimulating! A lack of this will lead to boredom.

Ibizan Hounds are moderate shedders and relatively low maintenance when it comes to grooming. Both the wirehaired Ibizan Hound and shorthaired variety should be brushed once a week. Use a soft bristle brush or slicker brush.

Give the Ibizan Hound a bath whenever necessary. Check and clean their ears weekly to remove any debris. Nails should be trimmed every fortnight with teeth brushed a minimum of three times a week.

Health

Check out the breed-related health conditions of the Ibizan Hound dog.

• Autoimmune thyroiditis: This is one of the most common causes of Hypothyroidism in dogs. It is typically noticed between the ages of 2-5 years old.
• Hip Dysplasia: The ball and socket of the hip joint/s don’t fit together properly. This will cause them to rub and grind resulting in pain, inflammation, swelling and arthritis.
• Congenital Deafness: This health issue is typically caused by a genetic defect. Congenital deafness is present at birth.
• Seizures: This is commonly caused by abnormal neuronal activity within the brain.
• Allergies: This condition typically affects the skin and is caused by a hypersensitive reaction to an allergen.
• Eye Diseases: Responsible breeders of Ibizan Hounds should ensure an ophthamologist exam is undertaken.

Ibizan Hound Training

Beezers are intelligent and easy to train in the right hands. However, obedience isn’t their strong point. Owners will have to practice this area of training regularly throughout their lives. They aren’t suited for first-time owners but can do well with an experienced senior owner.

Due to the breed’s high sensitivity levels positive reinforcement is a must! Ibizan Hounds will withdraw from harsh training techniques. Training should start as soon as possible alongside socialization.

These canines are versatile and adaptable. They’re also eager to please their owners. Given the right training, exercise, and socialization this breed will grow into a friendly, athletic and well-rounded pet.

Thanks to their intelligence Ibizan Hounds are great at dog sports. It’s also a good form of mental stimulation. Their best categories include agility, rally, tracking and lure coursing. Believe it or not, they can also do well in obedience!

Ibizan Hounds work best with routine. It’s also the quickest way to housebreak them. Take the dog to the same potty spot so they can recognise familiarity. Crate training is another ideal method for the Beezer.

Ibizan Hound Interesting Facts

• Bunny, an Ibizan Hound is America’s top winning Beezer. She won 133 titles under the Hound Group category, 43 Best in Show titles, and is a two-time IHCUS Specialty Winner.
• In the UK, Rafa, an Ibizan Hound owned by Liz and Paul Egan won Best in Breed at Crufts three times in a row. He won the title in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Unfortunately, Rafa passed away in 2019 due to complications from a snakebite.
• In 2020 British couple Sarah and Darren were travelling across Spain in a motor home. They came across two Ibizan Hounds, Lady and Lola. Little did they know Lady was pregnant! She gave birth to 8 puppies and all dogs were eventually rehomed with their forever owners.
• Dog lover Kate Spicer drove over 3,000 miles to Spain to rescue an Ibizan Hound named Blanca! Unfortunately, after her arrival, this crafty pooch managed to escape! Luckily she came back to the great smelling meat left on the doorstep albeit covered in fox poo!

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