England has been the American source of foundation stock for countless breeds of dogs, and the Ibizan Hound is no exception. Early imports were obtained from some of England's finest and most famous lines. Int. Mex. Ch. Eridu Maestro of Loki, who can be found in the pedigree of the majority of Ibizan Hounds in the United States, has proven to be the foundation sire of
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The Ibizan Hound's ancient connection with Egypt intrigued the British public, especially after the discovery of King Tut's tomb in 1922. Although the number of Ibazan Hound breeders in England has never been large, the breed has enjoyed a faithful following that appreciates the Ibizan's beauty and grace. English dogs were foten linebred and inbred, producing offspring that were genetically prepotent for many qualities. Beautiful heads are common in many of the well-known lines, as are bodies that are noticeably longert than tall.
Predominately white Ibizans are highly regarded and do just as will in the show ring as their predominately red couterparts. The majority of English Ibizan Hounds possess very moderate shoulder angulation and somewhat narrow width of chest. With this front assembly, some toeing out results, but this is expected and does not seem to be of much concern.
Ibiza (an island off of Spain) also played a part in the supply of Ibizan Hound breeding stock to the Unites States, although the numbers that were imported remained small. Ancient ancestors of the hound were originally brought to the Ibiza from Egypt by seafaring traders. Unlike English breeders who, through careful breeding, developed their own distinct look or show type in their dogs, Ibizans from Ibiza were typically farm dogs that were bred to hunt, with no regard for the show ring. Although they varied noticeably in height and coat they were remarkably uniform in the lithe, agile breed type.
Upon AKC recognition, the Ibizan was placed in the Hound Group and regarded as a sighthound. However, many judges were unsure of exactly how to view this new breed. Since soundness has always seemed to be foremost in the U.S. show ring, sound dogs initially achieved the most success, regardless of type. In response, many breeders bred to dogs that possessed a wider front, more angulated shoulder and tigher elbows that facilitated straight, sound front movement. The moderate rear of the Ibizan Hound also was a cause of early concern. Judges were used to seeing a more angulated rear on a hound, and some breeders throught that greater rear angualtion would enable the breed to win more in the group ring. This whim of fashion produced overangulated rears that turned in when standing and moving, causing breeders to realize that Mother Nature knew best. The Ibizan Hound's moderate rear was eventually understood and aprreciated. Through the efforts of dedicated breeders and the parent club, the dog fancy began to understand the important differences that make this breed so unique.
Following in England's footsteps, the United States has played its own part in the modern development of the Ibizan Hound. Today, the primary goal of breeders is the preservation of the breed with all of the qualitiies that make it so special. It is remarkable that although the American version of the Ibizan Hound is a combination of dogs from many distinctly developed lines and parts of the world, the breed remains very close to the orignial ancient Egyptian artwork depicting the ancestors of theses treasured hunting hounds.