Ibizan Hound

Ibizan Hound is an agile, elegant dog which belongs to the hound family and is often described to be deer-like. Its long upright ears are a noticeable feature. The color of its coat will either be red or white or a combination of the two colors and also white and tan. This breed has two types depending on its coat. One is smooth and the other is the wire type. There is another type which is called the long hair type but is sometimes classified under the wire type Ibizan hound. It has a straight upper arm, long neck and laid back shoulders. Healthwise, they are generally healthy and there aren’t any serious hereditary diseases and can live upto 10-12 years.

They are a fun breed to have as they enjoy entertaining you. With positive training methods, they can be trained well and negative methods will never give good results. They like to hunt and hence should not be let off the leash in public. As they are able to jump very high, even from a stand still, they should be kept in houses with tall fences or they may try to escape. They don’t bark without a reason and are generally quiet which is important when there are a lot of houses nearby. Their nature of giving alarm barks and remaining watchful of strangers till they know them well enough makes them a good watch dog.

If you are looking for a dog that is expected to be happy sitting in a kennel all day, this is not the dog for you. Ibizan hounds are active dogs and need regular exercise. A house with a backyard would be ideal whereas apartment will not work unless they are taken out for exercise everyday. As they are quite sensitive and gentle, they make great house dogs and will behave well around children and other pets. Pets like rabbits and cats that are raised with the dog will be spared but new animals will definitely get killed as that is what this dog is meant to do.

To get this dog to respect your commands, you will have to be assertive with it and let it know that you are the leader. If this is not done, it can lead to some negative behavior. They are sight hounds and are quiet independent. If left free, they can be difficult to recapture. Other than the exercise it doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. The smooth coat can be brushed once in a while to shine it. It is an average shedder and requires occasional cleaning of ears and clipping of nails. A well trained Ibizan Hound can be used in sports and as a show dog. It can be used for nocturnal hunting and can work in packs as well. They are a delight to have at home with the children as well as in the field hunting. Being a good watch dog, house dog and a hunting companion, this is a great dog to own.