Ibizan Hound

The Ibizan Hound’s date of origin is unknown. There are several theories surrounding the origins of the Ibizan Hound. The statue of Anubis, the Watchdog of the Dead, bears a striking resemblance to the modern Ibizan Hound. This along with other artifacts suggested that the Ibizan Hound possibly existed for over 5,000 years. It is thought that the Ibizan Hound came to the Spanish island of Ibiza in the 8th or 9th century by the Phoenicians. On Ibiza, he was used to hunt rabbits and hares over the rough terrain of the island and learned to hunt using skill, patience and tenacity. He was the best kept secret in Spain until the mid-1950s. In 1956, Colonel and Mrs. Consuelo Seoane imported a pair of Ibizan Hounds to Rhode Island. These two dogs, named Hannibal and Certera, produced the first American born litter of Ibizan Hounds. There were eight puppies in that first litter. These puppies, their parents and several other imported Ibizan Hounds became the foundation stock for the Ibizan Hound breed in the United States. Most of the American Beezers can trace their bloodlines back to these first imported Ibizan Hounds. The Ibizan Hound was finally recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1979. He made his first appearance at the elite Westminster Kennel Club dog show in 1980. He is ranked number 138 out of the 155 recognized breeds of the AKC in popularity. The Ibizan Hound is considered a rare breed and can be somewhat difficult to find when looking for a puppy.