Ibizan Hound vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison

Ibizan Hound vs Basque Shepherd - Breed ComparisonBoth Basque Shepherd and Ibizan Hound are originated from Spain. Basque Shepherd may grow 13 cm / 5 inches shorter than Ibizan Hound. Both Basque Shepherd and Ibizan Hound are of same weight. Basque Shepherd may live 3 years more than Ibizan Hound. Basque Shepherd may have less litter size than Ibizan Hound. Basque Shepherd requires Moderate Maintenance. But Ibizan Hound requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Hound dog
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Spain
Spain
Height Male:
47 - 61 cm
18 - 25 inches
56 - 74 cm
22 - 30 inches
Height Female:
46 - 59 cm
18 - 24 inches
50 - 68 cm
19 - 27 inches
Weight Male:
17 - 29 kg
37 - 64 pounds
20 - 29 kg
44 - 64 pounds
Weight Female:
17 - 36 kg
37 - 80 pounds
17 - 26 kg
37 - 58 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 9
6 - 12
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
Basque Herder, Basque Sheepdog
Ibizan Warren HoundPodenco Ibicenco, Balearic Dog, Ca Eivissenc
Colors Available:
fawn, yellow orange or copper coat with other shades being red, blue and black
red and white
Coat:
smooth and soft to rough and coarse
short and hard
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Sweet
Alert, Energetic, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

basque shepherdThe Basque Shepherd is one of the oldest dog breeds. With this Spanish dog, you’ll find paintings dating back 12,000 years ago. The Basque Shepherd is known as a landrace breed, which means the dog hasn’t gone through the same selective breeding programs as what other breeds have. Landrace breeds have more variations in appearance and temperament than regular breeds.

The Basque Shepherd has 2 distinct varieties, the Gorbeiakoa and the Iletsua. The smooth-haired Gorbeiakoa has a softer coat that is fairly short while the rougher-haired Iletsua has a lighter coloured coat, and unlike the Gorbeiakoa, the ears are not typically erect.

Even though this is an ancient breed of dog, only the Royal Canine Society of Spain recognizes the breed with the two varieties, and in January 1996, the two breeds - Iletsua and Gorbeikoa – were recognized.

ibizan houndThis lean, speedy and agile hound dog looks and acts very much like a Pharaoh Hound except the Ibizan Hound is larger and a different color. The image of dogs that look like the Ibizan have been seen since 3400 BC in Egypt. The dogs were probably brought by sailors to Ibiza and surrounding islands. They came about 700-900 BC. It is believed that they actually came for the island of Elvissa and Spain, where they speak Catalan. It was also known in France as the le chanigue. There job was the same. To hunt rabbits.

They were fast hunting greyhound type dogs. They hunted for rabbit for the Ibizaners and themselves. These dogs hunt by day and by night. They are not just sight hounds, they also hunt by smell and hearing, in packs or by themselves. They use their sight to find and corner the prey. Then they act like retrievers and bring it back to the hunter. Their function and look is very similar to several other dogs such as the Pharaoh Hound, the Greyhound, the Portuguese Podengo, the Cimeco dellEtna and the Podence Canario. The Ibizan is larger than any of these, but all these breeds are considered to be “primitive”.

Within the breed itself there are smooth, wire and longhaired Ibizan Hounds. The Smooth is by far the most common. A great jumper, nimble runner built for stamina, the Ibizan Hound was just what the island people needed. The breed lived in isolation on the island for many centuries, under a variety of rulers including the Romans, Egyptians, Vandals, Carthaginians, Chaldeans, Arabs and Spanish. Because of the harsh island conditions, the farmers only allowed the best hunters among the Ibizan Hounds to procreate thus assuring a breed that is unchanged from ancient stock.

By 1950 the Ibizan Hound was brought to America. Because this dog is not a pet but a working machine, it took awhile for the breed to become popular enough to be recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1979. Still the Ibizan Hound is a rare breed with the female being a better hunter than the male. One of the most common activities of this breed in the U.S. is lure coursing. These events are sponsored by AKC and ASFA as well as racing events in the NOTRA and LGRA.

Description

Two Varieties

basque shepherd puppy - descriptionThe Basque Shepherd is a strong, well proportioned dog with brown eyes and medium sized ears, which sometimes have folds. This medium-to-large dog has a beautiful fawn coat of medium-length hair that can be straight or slightly wavy. He has a long feathery tail that will wag readily when he sees his owner. You’ll find other colors for the Basque Shepherd shared between the two varieties - a yellow orange or copper coat with other shades being red, blue and black. His hair is shorter on the head and he doesn’t battle with hair over the eyes.

An Intelligent Breed

The Basque Shepherd is a highly intelligent dog and also very energetic. Of the two different kinds of Basque Shepherd, it is the Gorbeiakoa which is the more outgoing. The dogs will require a firm owner and they thrive on the discipline when it is combined with lots of with lots of exercise and activities.

The Basque Shepherd is generally friendly with people, if not a little reserved with strangers. He gets on well with children and other pets in the home, although socialization and training will be necessary to bring out their best.

ibizan hound puppy - descriptionThe breed is agile, elegant, athletic and graceful. At the same time the Ibizan Hound is a fierce hunter travelling at unreal speeds to catch his rabbit prey. They are a hardy breed with a lean and long neck, and a lean, muscled body with laid back shoulders. The ears are specific to the breed, with a broad base leading to long, beautiful ears. They have tan eye rims, nose, foot pads, and ears. The eyes themselves are an amber with an intelligent and alert expression.

Characteristics

basque shepherd dog - characteristicsThe dog is well suited to being a family pet, loving to spend time with family, being a people-oriented breed. He gets on well with children as well as other pets in the home, but can be reserved with strangers.

He doesn’t have an aggressive nature, and yet he does what it takes to protect his beloved human family.

He is full of energy, hardy and tough. He loves his human family and wants to be included in all their activities. He is energetic though and as a responsible dog owner, you want to make sure that your Basque Shepherd has enough space to run.

Children friendliness

ibizan hound dog - characteristicsThey love children but be careful they do not knock them over and don’t let the children play to rough.

Special talents

Exceptional jumping ability, speed and stamina.

Adaptability

Must have a large fenced yard and a place to run full out.

Learning ability

Very intelligent with excellent learning ability.

Health Problems

basque shepherd puppies - health problemsBecause this is an ancient breed, the Basque Shepherd doesn’t have to contend with genetic health problems such as more modern breeds. Just like other dogs though, he could be prone to certain conditions such as hip dysplasia, eye problems, ear infections and cancer. As a larger breed, he may also be prone to bloat.

Chronic Ear Infections

Breeds with floppy ears, such as the Basque Shepherd will be more prone to developing ear infections. To prevent infection, keep his ears clean and dry. If you’re unsure, the vet can guide you how- and what to do.

Hip Dysplasia

This is a disease which is common to other dog breeds too and not just the Basque Shepherd. This condition affects the hip joints and can result in chronic pain for the dog and also lameness. Checking your dog’s weight is important and the pain can be managed with medication.

ibizan hound puppies - health problemsDespite being isolated on the islands for all those years, the Ibizan Hound has several tendencies toward medical issues:

  • Allergic Reactions -insecticides, drugs and flea powders.
  • Seizures – can be medicated.
  • Axonal Dystrophy – a muscle and nerve disease.
  • Cataracts – occasional occurrence.
  • Retinal Dysplasia – occurs rarely
  • Deafness – can be at birth or developmental.

Caring The Pet

basque shepherd dogs - caringThis is a medium to large breed dog and he should therefore be fed a high quality food which has been formulated for medium to large breeds. Because he is a herding dog, you might want to also look at an active-dog or working-breed formula to supply him with that much needed energy.

Grooming

The Basque Shepherd’s coat is lush and long with either straight or wavy hair. Regular brush at least twice a week will maintain the coat, get rid of loose hair and prevent fleas.

Training

The Basque Shepherd is an intelligent breed that will respond well to socialization and training. He is a breed that loves sports too because of this very high energy levels. You need to be careful with the Basquae Shepherd around small children, not because he is aggressive in any way, but because he is highly active, and his exuberance and boisterous antics could see him unintentionally knocking over small children.

Feeding the puppy

ibizan hound dogs - caringYour Ibizan Hound is an athlete and needs to be fed like one. As a puppy he needs high quality breed or group (hound) specific food. Feed her 3-4 times a day based on calories. A puppy needs about 866 calories each day.

Feeding the adult

If your dog participates in sports as adults, they need between 1450 and 2900 calories each day. The exact amount depends on how much activity the dog is engaged in. Feed at least 2 times a day.

Points for Good Health

Great speed and stamina

Games and Exercises

Your Ibizan Hound is a working athlete. He needs a lot of exercise and he needs a chance to run full out so access to land is essential. It can be a large back yard, or it can be a dog park. No matter what it is, it is essential for the Ibizan Hound. She will also require long walks at least a couple times a day. However, do not over exercise your puppy. They are great jumpers as well as runners.

The sport of lure coursing was made for the Ibizan in the same way that it was made for the Greyhound. They are good at Flyball and agility as well.

Comparison with other breeds

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  30. Ibizan Hound vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Ibizan Hound vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Ibizan Hound vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Ibizan Hound vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Ibizan Hound vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Ibizan Hound vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Ibizan Hound vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Ibizan Hound vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Ibizan Hound vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Ibizan Hound vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Ibizan Hound vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Ibizan Hound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Ibizan Hound vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Ibizan Hound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Ibizan Hound vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Ibizan Hound vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Ibizan Hound vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Ibizan Hound vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Ibizan Hound vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Ibizan Hound vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Ibizan Hound vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison