After a pack of Ibizan Hounds (Podenco Ibicenco) has caught a few thousand rabbits, individual dogs may simply refuse to hunt again until they have had a long rest. The FCI standard even has a Spanish word for this phenomenon: “enconillarse”. It says much about a dog whose whole nature centres on hunting.
| FCI | Group 5 (Spitz and primitive types), Section 7 Primitive type, Hunting Dogs, Standard No. 89, without working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Spain (Balearic Islands) |
| Size (height at the withers) | males 66 to 72 cm, females 60 to 67 cm; well-proportioned dogs close to the standard measurements accepted |
| Weight | not specified in the FCI standard |
| Life expectancy | no reliable study figure found (N/A) |
| Coat | smooth (strong, glossy), rough (harsh, very dense, beard appreciated) or long (softer, at least 5 cm) |
| Colours in the standard | preferably white and red, solid white or solid red; fawn only in exceptionally good dogs, not permitted in smooth coats |
Ca Eivissenc from the islands
The standard locates the breed on Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera, where the original name was “Ca Eivissec”. Phoenicians, Carthaginians and perhaps Romans probably brought the dogs there. The standard dates depictions of similar dogs in pharaonic tombs to 3400 BC. A Canarian relative in the same FCI section is the Canarian Podenco.
Hunting with nose and ears
These dogs are used mainly to hunt rabbits without a gun, by day and night. According to the standard, scent and hearing matter more than sight. They hunt in packs, usually females with no more than one male, since males fight during the hunt.
An alert, cautious expression
The standard has no separate temperament section, but describes the expression as intelligent, with a touch of fearfulness and distrust. Expect a sensitive dog needing time to trust strangers. Patience, calm consistency and rewards achieve more than pressure.
Exercise, fencing and a long line
According to the standard, the gallop is very fast and agile. Off-lead exercise works only where there is no wildlife, and gardens or exercise areas need a high, gap-free fence. Long walks on a long line, tracking and lure coursing in fenced areas provide outlets for the hunting instinct.
Care according to coat
Smooth coats need only an occasional rubber grooming mitt; rough and long coats need regular combing. Indoors, these dogs appreciate soft bedding and often a coat in cold weather.
What is known about health
Large health studies and a reliable lifespan figure are still lacking. Mediterranean leishmaniosis has received the most research. On Mallorca, 47 Ibizan Hounds were infected about as often as 45 dogs of other breeds, but more often showed a strong cellular immune response (Burnham et al. 2020). This is no guarantee of protection: if your dog comes from Spain, have them tested for Leishmania. An inherited nerve disease, canine multiple system degeneration, has also been described in three dogs with progressive unsteadiness (St Jean et al. 2022).
Who they suit
Experienced people with plenty of time outdoors, a securely fenced property and an appreciation of an independent, sensitive dog who does not perform commands at the press of a button.
Less suited to you if
cats or rabbits live in the household, you want a dog for unrestricted off-lead outings or long working days dominate your routine. They would find their own activities.
The breed quiz helps you assess whether a large primitive-type hunting dog fits your life; our book “Which Dog REALLY Suits You?” (book in German) offers more depth. For the first weeks with a puppy, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. Capture your Podenco through our dog portraits, for example on a magazine cover on canvas.
Further reading
- Dog pulling on the lead: 5 mistakes almost everyone makes
- Leaving your dog alone: how they learn without drama, step by step
- Calculating your dog’s food portions: how much your dog really needs
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI Standard No. 89 Podenco Ibicenco (fci.be, German version dated 04.02.2000); Burnham AC et al., Exploring the relationship between susceptibility to canine leishmaniosis and anti-Phlebotomus perniciosus saliva antibodies in Ibizan hounds and dogs of other breeds in Mallorca, Spain, Parasites and Vectors 2020; St Jean SC et al., Pathologic characterization of canine multiple system degeneration in the Ibizan hound, Veterinary Pathology 2022; McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024.
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