Is an Ibizan Right for You? | Why an Ethical Breeder | Questions to Ask | Meet Our Breeders | Request a Referral
Is an Ibizan Hound Right for You?
The Ibizan Hound is an ancient, athletic, and genuinely unusual breed. People who
suit them tend to love them for life. People who do not suit them often struggle, and
the hound is the one who pays for that. So this section is deliberately honest rather
than flattering — please read it before going any further.
What you would be living with
- A high prey drive
- The Ibizan was developed to hunt rabbit, and that instinct is intact. A hound
in pursuit is not being disobedient — it is doing what it was bred to do, and
it will not hear you. Most Ibizans cannot be trusted off lead in an unfenced area,
however good their recall is at home. Households with cats, rabbits, poultry or
other small pets need to think carefully. - Remarkable jumping ability, and the fencing to match
- Ibizans can clear fences that comfortably contain other breeds, and they can do
it from a standstill. Secure fencing of adequate height is not optional, and neither
is checking for gaps underneath. This is the single most common reason an Ibizan
placement goes wrong. - Real speed and real exercise needs
- This is a fast, athletic sighthound that needs room to run safely and something
to occupy its mind. A short daily walk is not enough. - Independent thinkers
- Ibizans are intelligent and perfectly capable of learning — they simply
reserve the right to decide whether your idea is worth their time. If you want a
dog that works to please you, this is not that breed. - A soft nature
- Harsh training methods do not work on this breed and do real damage. Ibizans
need patience and fairness. A heavy hand produces a shut-down, worried hound. - Slow to mature
- Many stay puppy-like well into their senior years. That is charming, and it also
means you are living with adolescent behaviour for longer than you might expect. - A voice, used selectively
- The Ibizan is not a solo hunter and may vocalise when giving chase. They bark at
things that excite them, though they are not usually persistent barkers indoors. - Two coats, both natural
- Smooth and wire, both shown untrimmed. Either sheds, but both need only the
occasional bath and brushing.
An Ibizan may not be the right choice if you need a dog that can
be let off lead in open spaces, if your garden is not securely fenced, if you want a
biddable dog that lives to obey, if you are away from home for long stretches, or if
you are not prepared for a sighthound’s sensitivity.
None of this is meant to put you off. It is meant to make sure that the hound you
bring home stays with you.
The cost of ownership
The purchase price of a puppy is not the only cost to consider. A puppy needs
proper veterinary care, good food, and the ordinary things — a collar with
identification, a crate, a bowl, a lead. Evaluate your budget honestly and ask
yourself whether you can afford a dog for its whole life, not just at the start.
A puppy is a cuddly bundle of joy that grows into an adult. It is also a very
large responsibility, and dogs are for life.
Why Choose an Ethical Breeder
Breeders can make or break the health of a breed. A responsible breeder is
working to produce sound, healthy, typical Ibizan Hounds — not simply
puppies — and stays involved with every dog they place for that dog’s whole
life.
Breeders listed with IHCUS have agreed to abide by the club’s
Code of Ethics and to health test their breeding stock.
The club recommends that all breeding stock is screened for
hereditary conditions before a litter is bred.
Health testing on a sire and dam does not guarantee that puppies will be free of
hereditary problems, but it greatly reduces the risk of certain inherited conditions.
Not all breeders run the same tests. Ask for proof of the specific screenings that
have been done, on both parents. A responsible breeder will welcome that
question. No responsible breeder will tell you their line has no health concerns at
all.
Please read this before contacting any breeder.
The Ibizan Hound Club of the United States provides this information as a
service to people seeking an Ibizan Hound. Inclusion in our breeder
listing is not an endorsement, recommendation, or guarantee of any
breeder, of their dogs, or of any puppy or adult they may offer.
Breeders listed here have agreed to abide by the club’s Code of Ethics, but
IHCUS does not routinely supervise or inspect breeding programmes, and
cannot verify the accuracy of the information a breeder supplies about
themselves.
Any purchase or placement is strictly a private matter between the
buyer and the seller. IHCUS is not a party to any sale, contract, or
agreement between them, and accepts no liability arising from one. Satisfy
yourself about any breeder, any dog, and any contract before you commit. Ask for
a written contract and make sure you understand and can meet every term in it.
Questions to Ask a Breeder
Once you are sure you want an Ibizan Hound, it helps to know what to ask. A good
breeder will be glad you asked and will answer fully.
Health
- Have both parents been health tested, and may I see the results?
Ask for the screenings IHCUS recommends, on the sire and the dam of the actual litter
you are considering. - Which conditions, if any, have appeared in this pedigree?
- What congenital problems occur in your line?
- What guarantees do you give if a health problem arises — refunds, help with
veterinary bills, or something else?
The dogs themselves
- May I meet the dam? If you visit, ask to meet at least one
parent, usually the dam. Watch how the dogs behave with their breeder. Are they
confident and outgoing, or do they shy away? - What titles do the parents hold? Conformation, performance,
or both. A breeder involved in showing and performance is having their dogs assessed
by people other than themselves. - Have the puppies’ temperaments been evaluated, and can you help match one to my
household? - How do your dogs do with children? With other pets?
The breeder
- How long have you been breeding, and how long in this breed?
- If you are newer to the breed, do you have a mentor?
- Are you a member of dog clubs besides IHCUS?
- May I have references, and may I speak to other people who have your dogs?
The contract and what comes after
- Do you require a contract, and may I read it before I decide?
Do you understand every term, and can you comply with all of them? Is a co-ownership
required — and if so, what is expected of each side? Are there conditions
placed on you, such as a fenced garden? - Will you take the dog back, at any time, for any reason? This is
one of the clearest marks of a responsible breeder. - What support do you provide after I take the puppy home? A good
breeder expects to hear from you for the rest of that dog’s life.
A good breeder will ask you questions too
Expect to be interviewed in return. A responsible breeder will want to know about
you, your household and your circumstances, and will show real interest in the life
their dog is going to lead. That is a good sign, not an obstacle. They are trying to
make a match that lasts.
Meet Our Breeders
IHCUS members who breed and have enrolled in the Breeder Referral programme are
listed below. Use the filters to narrow by location, by what you are looking for,
and by whether a breeder will place at a distance.
Please read the notice in Why Choose an Ethical
Breeder above before making contact. Inclusion in this list is not an
endorsement.
The breeder directory is being compiled.
IHCUS members who breed are enrolling now. Until the listing is published, use the referral request below and the Breeder Referral committee will put you in touch with breeders who may have what you are looking for.
Request a Breeder Referral
If you would rather be pointed in the right direction than work through the list
yourself, the Breeder Referral committee can help. Tell us what you are looking for
— a companion, a show or performance prospect, or an adult hound — and
whereabouts you are, and we will let you know which breeders may have something
suitable.
Email membership@ihcus.org and the
Breeder Referral committee will be in touch.
Are you an IHCUS member who breeds, and would like to be listed here? Contact
the Breeder Referral committee to enrol.