Juliette Cunliffe - Ibizan Hound

Physical Characteristics of the Ibizan Hound

(from the American Kennel Club breed standard)

Head: Long and narrow in the form of a sharp cone truncated at its base. Finely chiseled and extremely dry fleshed.

Nose: Prominent, extending beyond the lower jaw. It is of a rosy flesh color, never black or liver, and tends to harmonize with that of the coat. Pigment is solid or butterfly. Nostrils are open. Lips are thin and tight and the color of the nose. Flews are tight and dry fleshed.

Muzzle: Elongated, fine, and slender with a very slight Roman convex. The length from the eyes to point of nose is equal to the distance from eyes to occiput. The muzzle and skull are on parallel planes.

Teeth: Perfectly opposed in a scissors bite; strong and well set.

Forequarters: Angulation is moderate. The shoulders are elastic but never loose with moderate breadth at the withers. The shoulder blades are well laid back. At the point of the shoulder they join to a rather upright upper arm. The elbow is positioned in front of the deepest part of the chest. The forearms are very long, strong, straight, and close, lying flat on the chest and continuing in a straight line to the ground. Bone is clean and fine. The pasterns are strong and flexible, slightly sloping, with well developed tendons.

Feet: Hare-foot. The toes are long, closed and very strong. Interdigital spaces are well protected by hair. Pads are durable. Nails are white.

Skull: Long and flat, prominent occipital bone, little defined stop; narrow brow.

Neck: Long, slender, slightly arched and strong, yet flat muscled. The topline, from ears to tail, is smooth and flowing. The back is level and straight.

Body: The chest is deep and long with the breastbone sharply angled and prominent. The ribs are slightly sprung. The brisket is approximately 2.5 inches above the elbow. The deepest part of the chest, behind the elbow, is nearly to or to the elbow. The abdomen is well tucked up, but not exaggerated. The loin is very slightly arched, of medium breadth and well muscled. The croup is very slightly sloping.

Color: White or red, (from light, yellowish-red called lion to deep red), solid or in any combination. No color or pattern is preferable to the other.

Size: The height of dogs is 23.5 inches to 27.5 inches at the withers. Bitches are 22.5 to 26 inches at the withers. Average weight of dogs is 50 pounds; bitches, 45 pounds.

Tail: Set low, highly mobile, and reaches at least to the hock. It is carried in a sickle, ring, or saber position, according to the mood and individual specimen.

Hindquarters: Angulation is moderate with the hindquarters being set under the body. The thighs are very strong with flat muscling. The hocks are straight when viewed from the rear. Bone is clean and fine. There are no rear dewclaws. The feet are as in front.

Coat: There are two types of coat; both untrimmed. Shortshortest on head and ears and longest at back of the thighs and under the tail. Wire-hairedCan be from one to three inches in length with a possible generous moustache. Both types of coat are hard in texture.

Contents

Travel to the Spanish isle of Ibiza to learn about the beginnings of the Ibizan Hound, as well as its ancestors that were highly valued in ancient Egypt. Discover this sighthounds history as a prized hunting dog in its native land, as well as France. From there, travel to the United Kingdom, the United States and other destinations to uncover the breeds history in show.

Explore the one-of-a-kind personality of the Ibizan Hound. This stunning, elegant hound is quite intelligent, personable and high-energy and possesses chase and escape instincts that will require the right owners to train and care for it. The chapter also discusses the physical characteristics and health concerns of this generally hardy breed.

Learn the requirements of a well-bred Ibizan Hound by studying the description of the breed set forth in the American Kennel Club standard. Both show dogs and pets must possess key characteristics as outlined in the breed standard.

Find out about how to locate a well-bred Ibizan Hound puppy. Discover which questions to ask the breeder and what to expect when visiting the litter. Prepare for your puppy-accessory shopping spree. Also discussed are home safety, the first trip to the vet, socialization and solving basic puppy problems.

Cover the specifics of taking care of your Ibizan Hound every day: feeding for the puppy, adult and senior dog; grooming, including coat care, ears, eyes, nails and bathing; and exercise needs for your dog. Also discussed are the essentials of dog ID and boarding.

Begin with the basics of training the puppy and adult dog. Learn the principles of house-training the Ibizan Hound, including the use of crates and basic scent instincts. Get started by introducing the pup to his collar and leash and progress to the basic commands. Find out about obedience classes and training for other activities.

By Lowell Ackerman DVM, DACVD

Become your dogs healthcare advocate and a well-educated canine keeper. Select a skilled and able veterinarian. Discuss pet insurance, vaccinations and infectious diseases, the neuter/spay decision and a sensible, effective plan for parasite control, including fleas, ticks and worms.

Step into the center ring and find out about the world of showing pure-bred dogs. Heres how to get started in AKC shows, how they are organized and whats required for your dog to become a champion. Take a leap into the realms of obedience trials, agility, tracking tests, lure coursing and racing.

Analyze the canine mind to understand what makes your Ibizan Hound tick. The following potential problems are addressed: aggression (fear-biting, inter-canine and dominant), separation anxiety, digging and food-related problems.

K ENNEL C LUB B OOKS