The Ibizan Hound AKC breed standard indicates that the Ibizan has an elegant, deer-like look.  That doesn’t mean the Ibizan should look like the critter below:

But that’s not what’s wrong with the Ibizan Hound in the top photo. If you compare that Ibizan Hound with the one below, it will come to you:

Ears, you say?

Nailed it.

As cute as the Ibizan Hound at the beach is, the breed standard calls for ears that are large, pointed, and natural, but also when alert, never to droop, bend, or crease. Beach Beezer has “all of the above” going on. It’s possible this is a young dog, and we defer to breed experts to share why they think his or her ears are “cattywampus,” but we knew after finding the photo that it would serve as a good reason to discuss ears in this breed.

They are remarkable.

The ear should be large in proportion to the dog’s head. How large?  Two-and-a-half times-the-rather-broad-width-at-the-base-large.  Think deer. They’re so mobile, they can point forwards and sideways, but also fold backwards (but not at the same time as Beach Beezer seems to be doing).  “Never droop,” however, isn’t to suggest that an lbizan Hound should be expected to hold his ears erect all the time. If a horse defines his moods by the use of his ears, an Ibizan Hound certainly does.

When erect, the Ibizan’s ears should be high on the head and pointing to the heavens, and not east and westwardly, another reason (and we write this with tongue planted firmly in cheek), the Ibizan will never be mistaken for a deer.  Reading the breed’s Illustrated Guide hints that some judges (perhaps unwittingly) seem to watch for which of their exhibits can hold their ears up the longest, but as the guide goes on to say, this isn’t good judging. Neither is focusing on those ears. As important as they are in the breed, they are not the whole dog, and other considerations must be evaluated and considered. Judges need to see the ear erect only once during judging.

For more on ears in this breed, check this out.