Rare Breed Monday: Ibizan Hound

Image from akc.org 

The Ibizan Hound is a good-natured and elegant dog with large ears and amber eyes. The breed comes from Spain and was originally used to hunt rabbits. It developed a wonderful ability for jumping to be able to navigate the rough terrain, and it can jump higher and longer than any other breed; they can clear a 5 foot fence with ease.

The breed is thought to stem from Egypt, and allegedly arrived to Ibiza with Phoenician traders. Egyptian depictions of dogs similar to the Ibizan Hound stretch back to 3,400 BC.

Ibizan Hounds are gracious, even-tempered, and kind, but need an active life to stay happy and healthy. It is difficult to secure a yard to contain them, because they can jump over almost anything, and they love to chase anything that moves.

A fun fact about the breed; when the tomb of Tutankhamen was discovered in 1922 it held a life-size statue of Anubis, and the statue is identical to the Ibizan Hound of today.

~ Maria Sadowski ~