The Podenco Ibicenco is the most widespread hunting dog breed in the Balearic Islands and represents the very essence of the rabbit hunting dog. It is a dog that adapts to all types of terrain for hunting, very robust and agile. It belongs to the group of primitive type dogs.
The Podenco ibicenco or Ca Eivissenc or Majorcan dog is a Spanish breed, originally from the island of Ibiza, in the Balearic archipelago. Its ancestors were the Egyptian dogs (Tesem's dog), which were depicted in the tombs of the pharaohs of 3.400 BC. Widespread in the Balearic Islands, the Podenco ibicenco is considered the very essence of the rabbit hunting dog.
To this end, it is used in very numerous packs on all terrain for hunting rabbits and small animals.
Some researchers argue that the Phoenicians and / or the Carthaginians in the XNUMXth century imported this breed from the Middle East. BC, even if recent studies seem to disavow this hypothesis.
Today's Podenco ibicenco is the result of numerous crosses made over the centuries, with the aim of enhancing and improving its already present instincts to hunt rabbit.
The result of these efforts has led the Podenco ibicenco to be regarded as the best rabbit hunting dog in the world.
1982 was the year of the creation of the herd book of the breed, thanks to the Club Español de Perro Podenco, an association that tried to clarify the origins of the breed. This Club has also estimated a presence of this breed in the Balearic Islands equal to about 100.000 specimens.
The recognition of this breed has classified the Podenco ibicenco as a dog belonging to the 5th group of primitive type, ie those breeds that retain the same characteristics of their ancestors who lived millennia ago.
Let's see in detail the characteristics of this breed. It is a dog with a similar appearance to that of greyhounds, with a long and narrow head, truncated cone and thin. His body is very slender and lean. It is a medium-sized dog, with a toned physique and with sculpted and lean muscle masses.
The nose is liver or reddish in color; the dentition is complete and correct, with a scissor joint.
The neck develops in length, is muscular and arched.
The ears are covered with not very abundant hair, directed horizontally forward along the cheeks, or turned backwards, or upwards when the dog is excited. They are rhombus-shaped, elongated and "cut" to a third of its large diagonal.
The limbs are long, strong and lean, with the shoulder which has a good inclination.
The Podenco ibicenco has a lean and well developed musculature. Tail: long, set rather low, herringbone.
The skin is well adherent to the body in all its parts and the hair is rough and abundant.
The height at the withers for males is between 66 and 72 cm, while for females between 60 and 67 cm.
The Podenco is mainly used for hunting rabbits without a gun, both day and night. It is able to easily flush out game even in ravines with abundant vegetation, thanks to its well-developed sense of smell which, together with hearing, uses more than sight. Thanks to its agility and cunning, it readily catches game, especially when hunting with other dogs. When a specimen of the moult ditches the game, the others surround it at a certain distance, remaining on guard.
The characteristic of the Podenco is its silence, as it only barks when it has found the game or when they have heard it and surrounded it. At that precise moment, all the members of the pack point and point at the game, waving their tails.
A characteristic of the composition of the packs is that the latter are preferably composed of females and one male only, since the males do not cooperate with each other and are rather quarrelsome. After a long hunt, the Podenco needs a lot of rest, as it uses all its energy reserves to get its job done.
As for the character, the Podenco ibicenco is a very robust and rustic dog. Rather reserved, he grants the right and balanced confidence only with the master. Although it is a docile dog, it is not recommended to keep it near children. Considered a good retriever, the Podenco is intended for hunting rabbit, partridge and hare, but is also used for large game, although rarely.