2025 AKC Hound Group Honoree Sarah Murphy shares insights on breeding, temperament, and presenting the Ibizan Hound.
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Sarah Murphy: Their looks are what initially attracted me to the breed, but the temperaments immediately captured me and have an unbeatable hold on me. They are so funny and entertaining, so loving and loyal. They are so intelligent but also silly. Life is never dull and there is never loneliness when they’re around.
Sarah Murphy: I typically linebreed with the occasional outcross. I consider pedigree and the proximity of relation between the sire and dam, but also how frequently a certain dog or dogs that I particularly love the traits of appear. When one dog has a weakness, I always try my best to pair it with a mate that has a corresponding virtue. When evaluating puppies, their structure is important, but they have to have an outgoing “look at me” attitude that makes them so much fun to show. I have finished several who were beautiful but did not have a “specials” attitude, which is fine; that attitude is rare! But the Ibizan Hound Breed Standard says they are “well-suited to the show ring” and I believe that indicates a dog who is comfortable and brave in all situations. A great show specimen does not have to be a real “show pony,” but that just makes it more fun!
Sarah Murphy: I have a decent catalog of stud dogs available, but I am particular about the health and temperament of the bitch and her lineage, so my males are not available publicly. Leasing of bitches is not a common practice in the culture surrounding the Ibizan Hound in this country. Breeding is such a big responsibility and also a big risk to the bitch with every litter, and all of my dogs are my personal housepets and companions, so I don’t think I would ever feel comfortable putting that risk in someone else’s hands unless in a very special circumstance.
Sarah Murphy: The Breed Standard gives us the blueprint. The Ibizan Hound Standard gives a lot of room for variety, as a good pack of Ibizans is not made up of uniformity, and a lot of that variety is often seen in the ring. The breed should never be presented as a robot; they should be free to show their personality. They look best when they are on alert. The young ones are often like a hummingbird on a string, but when you catch the glimpses of their brilliance it is truly something to behold. They are free-spirited and they should be both presented and appreciated in this way.
Sarah Murphy: To be perfectly honest, I am unsure how to answer. As a neurodivergent person, I often find it difficult to see the “other side” when something I feel very passionate about seems so obvious to me. I am often confused by the divide in the anti-purebred crowd not only being simply pro-rescue but also pro-purposely created mixed breeds. I think a lot of the tactics employed by those breeders to draw attention and puppy sales are effective, but they are not methods I would personally feel comfortable using as a preservation breeder who sees my dogs as personal companions and pieces of history instead of as commodities. I am fortunate that I have a rare breed that draws interest for their uniqueness, and that most inquiries have already done a fair bit of research on the breed just to be able to find and contact a breeder. I do think AKC does a great job with their Breed of the Day spotlights on social media, but I also know many people really love the Meet the Breeds events.
American Kennel Club (AKC)
