It is extremely difficult to find loving and safe homes for Spanish hounds within Spain. Ibizan Hounds (Podenco Ibicenco), Andalucian Hounds (Podenco Andaluz), Spanish greyounds (Galgos) and lurcher type crosses of these breeds are frequently abandoned by Spanish hunters and urgently need help, especially in the more rural areas of Spain. Our rescue is run by people very experienced in dealing with these breeds and with years of experience of successfully rehabilitating and re-homing these lovely dogs. This beautiful, gentle animal tends to be treated as the lowest of the low in the dog world here in Spain. At our rescue shelter in Murcia we have more and more abandoned and often cruelly treated Ibizan Hounds and Podencos coming through our doors.

As we are a charity who survive solely on donations (we recieve no financial grants) we ask for a minimum donation of 150 Euros per dog (larger amounts gratefully accepted but that would be at the adopter's discretion!!). This donation helps to go towards covering the cost of the preparation of the dog and transportation of the dog from Spain to the UK.

By nature these dogs tend to be watchful of strangers but are very loyal to their owners and other family dogs. They are generally quiet but do “alarm” bark making them good watchdogs. They are intelligent dogs but tend to be rather independent and can be stubborn. They are a very clean dog and, on the whole, make very good house dogs. The breed is renowned for having a good affinity with children and other dogs.

These dogs are bred to hunt and retain a great hunting instinct. They have very acute senses and will hunt most small animals but particularly rabbits and hares. To watch one of these dogs “on a chase” is breathtaking. They are extremely athletic and agile and leap in gazelle-like fashion to maintain a good view of their prey. The pursuit is nearly always accompanied by a gleeful yapping noise resulting from sheer excitement.

Due to their strong hunting instinct and great agility Ibizan Hounds and Podencos are not the easiest dogs to own. They are best suited to families who have the ability to give them plenty of daily exercise and homes with securely fenced gardens. Fences need to be high as these dogs are able to jump great heights from a standstill.

The Ibizan Hounds, sometimes called “Beezers” by their fanciers, are quiet, clean, playful and polite. Good with children, gentle, sensible and sensitive. Protective and somewhat independent. They will hold back watchfully with strangers. Once they decide the stranger means no harm, they will relax very quickly. Be careful with small pets such as rabbits, cats and rodents; the Ibizan Hound is bred to hunt these creatures. Cats that are raised with the Ibizan Hound will fit in just fine as part of the “family pack,” but it will chase and possibly kill a cat it does not know. As in all breeds, the Ibizan Hound should be well socialized with other dogs, other animals, adults, and children.

If you have an adult Ibizan Hound and would like another dog, it is suggested that you get a puppy. Beezers are pack animals by nature, so introducing a puppy to the household is easier. An Ibizan thinks its humans are their pack, so any addition (human or baby) must be introduced slowly. Ibizans are members of the family. They cannot be kept as kennel dogs.

They love their humans, are as clean as a cat, and respect the rules of a household. This breed blushes when they get excited, as does the Pharaoh Hound. Ibizans like to learn and do so very quickly. They are trainable, but tend to be wilful and get bored easily. Provided they have been properly trained, they can participate in many types of dog sports. These dogs are very sensitive to the voice of their handler and a friendly request will always achieve more than a gruff command. This breed tends to have large litters.