Page 88 - SHOWSIGHT - JULY 2020

BREEDING WITH INTENTION
“The Ibizan Hound (Podenco Ibicenco) comes in two coat varieties, smooth or rough-coated. The breed is mainly used for hunting rabbits, day or night. Ibizan Hounds are well-known for their agility and leaping
abilities, as well as for their excellent scenting and hearing abilities.
with the ENCI. “While some of the most elegant specimens have been successful in global show rings, a number have been noted to be over standard height, particularly outside of Italy. There was a move some years ago to raise the standard height, this was strongly rejected by the breed club. Another essential characteristic, which is vanishing, is the ‘rustic’ coat. In many of the dogs, it is too fine, not at all suitable for the job of searching for prey in thick bushes.”1
The Ibizan Hound (Podenco Ibicenco) comes in two coat vari- eties, smooth or rough-coated. The breed is mainly used for hunt- ing rabbits, day or night. Ibizan Hounds are well-known for their agility and leaping abilities, as well as for their excellent scenting and hearing abilities. The Ibizan uses these more than sight in dis- covering rabbits even in the densest and driest of cover. Hunted in small groups, they bark only when they see or hear the game and when they have surrounded it. The breed originates in the Spanish Balearic Islands of Majorca, Ibiza, Minorca and Formentera, where it’s acknowledged by the original name of “Ca Eivissenc,” in the local dialect. It is well-known in the Spanish provinces of Andalu- cia, Catalunya, Valencia, and the Balearic islands, and is still used throughout Spain by rabbit hunters.
Today’s Ibizan Hound is mainly kept for hunting purposes in Spain. It is found all over the world at shows, as well as lure cours- ing field trials (AKC, ASFA, and other countries’ coursing clubs), NOFCA hunts and, to a much lesser degree, NOTRA and LGRA races. There is a difference in style between the dogs kept strictly for hunting live game in their native Spain and those that are show/ coursing hounds. The Spanish dogs (both show and hunting) are a bit heavier in body, have much more moderate (less) angulation behind, and display a light suspended trot when moving at that gait. Ibizan hounds in countries outside of Spain tend to be finer in substance, display significantly more rear angulation, and often move with an extension and speed at the trotting gait that is not characteristic of the breed.
The Portuguese Podengo exists as three separate varieties of the same breed in Portugal and FCI countries, and two breeds in the US, the Pequeno and the Medio/Grande (Pequeno 8-12in/20- 30cm), (Medio 16-22in/40-54cm and Grande 22-28in/55-70cm), each size appearing as wire-longer coat or smooth-short coat. Of note is that neither hair type should have an undercoat. It is also a primitive type dog in the style of the Podencos of the Iberian Peninsula, Balearic and Mediterranean islands. Being influenced by the dogs brought by the Moors in their occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, it adapted to the Portuguese terrain and climate.
Functionality impacted the evolution of the breed into the three varieties, with the small variety (Pequeno) being developed from the 15th–17th century as a ratter on the caravels of the Por- tuguese navigators. Depictions of Podengo-like dogs (Pequeno and Medio/Grande) have been found in Portuguese churches dating to the 10th/11th centuries and 15th/16th centuries, respectively.
The Pequeno is a distinctly rectangular dog (20% longer than tall), while the Medio and Grande are decidedly square. The Pequeno has already entered the AKC Hound Group, while the Medio/Grande are still in the Miscellaneous Group awaiting entry into the Hound Group. Reportedly, both Medio and Grande can be born in the same litters.
Medio and Grande are used as hunters for rabbit and large game (deer and boar). Although, the Grande size are dwindling in num- ber in their native country. Their hunting style is similar to that of the Ibizan Hound. The Pequeno is primarily used to flush rabbits from cover to the hunter’s waiting gun. All sizes hunt in packs, by scent and sight. There are hunters of Portuguese descent here in the US that still hunt rabbit with their Podengos; some imported, oth- ers born here. The Medio/Grande and Pequeno is eligible for AKC lure coursing field trials, and the Medio/Grande in the ASFA lure field coursing trials (Limited Class), while the Pequeno has yet to settle into a judged scent-based hunting venue in the US.
Comparisons of live dogs in the US, those in the Iberian Pen- insula and other areas of Europe indicate that the breed as used for exhibiting is virtually unchanged from those that are primarily hunted. The Pequeno wire coats of those exhibited in the US tend to be unnecessarily “tidied up,” with some going beyond that into outright sculpting. There are insufficient numbers of Medio/Grande in the US being exhibited to conclude whether the wire coats variet- ies are being needlessly manipulated.
The Peruvian Inca Orchid (Peruvian Hairless Dog in Peru and the FCI countries, Viringo) appears in the archaeological periods of Pre-Inca times from 300 BC until 1460 AD. Today, the breed is found in coated and hairless varieties and in three sizes: Small (Toy) 93⁄4-153⁄4in/25-40cm; Medium (Miniature) 153⁄4-193⁄4in/41-50cm; Large (Standard) 193⁄4-253⁄4in 51-65cm. Initially to be registered, the coated variety must be the product of two hairless dogs duly registered in a stud book or breeding record. The coated variety can only be mated to a hairless specimen of the breed and subsequently also for generations to come. The mating between coated specimens is banned in its country of origin. The ancient Peruvians thought the hairless dog to have healing properties, and thus was kept as a companion dog. The coated variety was relegated to hunting and carrying messages long distances between mountainous Andean villages. They are eligible to compete in the Limited Class at ASFA lure coursing field trials and regular AKC lure coursing field trials.
Since there are so few numbers in the US, or globally, it is dif- ficult to discern if there has been any drift in morphology, style or type from the Peruvian stock. Interestingly, the breed bears a strong resemblance to Mexico’s Xoloitzcuintli.
Known as the Norsk Elghund Grå (moose dog-gray) in its native Norway, the Norwegian Elkhound, and its smaller and tighter- coated close cousin, the Norsk Elghund Svart (moose dog-black) are classified as distinct Spitz breeds with the FCI. However, in the >
1 Jane Moore & Domenico Tricomi, Hadranensis Kennel, Bergamo, Italy. Mr. Tricomi is a native Sicilian, although living in northern Italy for many years. He has always been surrounded by Cirnechi as his father hunted with them. He has bred Cirnechi for many years, combining type and working ability. He is an FCI show and Cirneco dell’Etna hunting trial judge and has served on numerous committees of the Italian Kennel Club (ENCI).
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