The Ibizan Hound is a member of the sight hound family of dogs that include the Greyhound, Whippet, and Saluki. These dogs are fast hunters of small prey. The Ibizan Hound is able to jump several feet into the air and uses this ability to successfully hunt and catch rabbit in rocky terrain.
Like many sight-hounds, the Ibizan Hound can trace it roots back thousands of years to ancient Egypt. Hieroglyphs in the tombs of the pharaohs depict a dog very similar to that of the Ibizan.
During the 8th and 9th centuries B.C., the Phoenicians brought this breed to the Balearic Islands off the coast of Spain. There the breed developed into a skilled rabbit hunter and is named for the Balearic island of Ibiza.
In 1956 Colonel and Mrs. Consuelo Seone introduced the breed into the United States. In 1979 the breed was recognized by the AKC.
The Ibizan Hound is still actively used to this day to hunt rabbits in Spain (as shown in this video).
Appearance
Ibizan Hounds are a medium size sight-hound, slightly smaller than the Greyhound. They generally weight from 50-65 lbs. Weight and size is not as important as balance and proportion. The AKC Breed Standard is the official description of the breed. It identifies the qualities you should look for in an Ibizan.
There are two (2) varieties of coats (smooth and wire), which vary in color from mostly white to mostly irish (red) to pinto (red & white). You should never see an Ibizan with any color other than red or white. Their nose is always pink, never black. Eyes are blue at birth, then change to an amber color and may darken with age.