At a glance the quick version
The AKC standard gives averages only: about 50 lb (22.7 kg) for dogs and 45 lb (20.4 kg) for bitches. The FCI standard sets no weight.
Wikipedia gives 12-14 years; The Royal Kennel Club lists over 10 years.
Coat and looks how to spot one
smooth, wire or (FCI only) long
A lean, elegant sighthound-like build with big upright ears and a light-coloured nose. The coat comes smooth and short, or wiry at roughly 1-3 inches, often with a small beard; the FCI also allows a long-haired variety. Coats are left untrimmed.132
Personality what they are like
Gentle, loyal and loving with its family, with a playful, clownish side. It is also clever and independent, and can be a little reserved or sensitive, so calm and patient handling suits it best.321
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Very high. The Royal Kennel Club suggests more than two hours of exercise a day, ideally including safe space to sprint. A strong chase instinct means free running is best done in securely fenced areas.452
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Easy: a weekly brush for either coat type. The coat is kept natural and untrimmed.43
Home where they are happiest
Suits a roomy home with a large, well-fenced garden; high fences matter because the breed can clear surprising heights from a standstill and is good at working out gates.42
Company who they like around
Affectionate with its people and generally sociable with other dogs; in Spain it traditionally hunts in packs, mostly of females.21
The story where it all began
Hounds of this type have long been used on Ibiza and the other Balearic Islands to hunt rabbits by scent, hearing and sight, often at night and without guns. Traditional accounts link them to the Phoenicians and to the hounds of ancient Egypt, although DNA studies suggest the modern breed was formed more recently. The AKC fully recognised the breed in 1979.12
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Ibizan Hounds can jump remarkable heights from a standing start.2
- 2
On its home islands it is used to hunt rabbits without guns, working by day and at night in packs.1
- 3
The FCI standard recognises three coat types, smooth, rough and long, while the AKC standard recognises two.1
- 4
Its nose, eye rims, ears and paw pads are a light flesh or tan colour, and its eyes are amber.2
- 5
The AKC describes it as a world-class sprinter and leaper.5
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Standard no. 89 (as Podenco Ibicenco), Group 5 Spitz and primitive types, Section 7 primitive type hunting dogs; standard dated 04.02.2000.1
- AKC
- Hound Group; fully recognised in 1979 (per Wikipedia). Current standard approved 8 February 2022, effective 4 May 2022.3
- The Royal Kennel Club
- Hound group; not a vulnerable native breed.4
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Ibizan Hound. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Bathevery 8 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 7every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.
- FCI standard no. 89, Podenco Ibicenco fci.beused for origin, recognition, height, coat, colours, use, history
- Ibizan Hound, Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for other names, AKC year, lifespan, history, fun facts
- AKC Official Standard of the Ibizan Hound images.akc.orgused for height, weight, coat, colours, temperament
- Ibizan Hound, The Royal Kennel Club royalkennelclub.comused for lifespan, exercise, grooming, home
- Ibizan Hound, AKC akc.orgused for traits, activity
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.