Sarah Murphy | Abbaio Ibizan Hounds

Interview With Sarah Murphy, Breeders of Abbaio Ibizan Hounds

Breeder Interview by Allan Reznik

Where did you grow up?

Sarah Murphy: I grew up in southern New Jersey, just outside Philadelphia.

Do you come from a doggie family? And, if not, how did the interest in breeding and showing purebred dogs begin?

Sarah Murphy: My family always had a lot of pets, but not well-bred dogs. I was very close with my aunt who was a pet sitter, and a few of her clients bred and showed Shetland Sheepdogs. One of those clients knew I was being surprised with a Pug puppy for Christmas, and she thought I might like Conformation, so she started taking me to handling classes with her dogs. I was totally hooked and started showing my (not-well-bred) Pug once I got him. At one of our first shows, I met my first Ibizan Hound, and that was it for me.

Who were your mentors in the sport? Please elaborate on their influence.

Sarah Murphy: Nancy Runyon of Foxcroft Shelties got me hooked on the sport. Elaine Ferguson of Serqet Ibizan Hounds bred my first Ibizan and took me under her wing, sharing history of the breed, lots of photos, and opening her home to me during summers so that I could visit and show dogs. Susan St. John Brown of Serandida Ibizan Hounds bred my foundation bitch, that I co-leased with her from her owners, Richard Zelig and Diane Arbeit, and she really helped me with her extensive knowledge of the breed, walking me through the planning, raising, and evaluation of my litter while giving me every opportunity to make my own decisions. Margery Good of Goodspice Sealyham Terriers taught me everything from breeding to evaluation, to training and conditioning, to handling and grooming, and continues to be my teacher, my sounding board, and truly my idol.

The Abbaio Ibizans have achieved notable success, are widely known, and highly respected. What breeding philosophies do you adhere to?

Sarah Murphy: Most importantly, I live with my dogs from their first day to their last. I adore them, and their temperaments have to be those of dogs that I will personally enjoy living with for 12-plus years. Those temperaments make them great companions but also great show dogs that draw attention. Overall style, balance, and movement have been incredibly important in my breeding decisions, and breeding dual-purpose dogs that do well on the lure-coursing field tends to keep the “form follows function” mantra alive.

How many dogs do you typically house? Tell us about your current facilities and how the dogs are maintained.

Sarah Murphy: Typically, 10 to 15 dogs depending on who is growing up and who is visiting to be shown. They are all kept in the house, mostly loose with me, but the younger puppies and visitors are kept in the dog room when they can’t be supervised. We have a small play yard on artificial turf, and a large fenced portion of the nine-acre property for real running and hunting. I let the dogs condition themselves with free play instead of biking/treadmilling.

Please comment positively on the present condition of your breed, and what trends might bear watching.

Sarah Murphy: This breed has a lot of variety in styles which our Standard allows for, and you will see this less regionally and more from breeder to breeder. I am particularly pleased to see that a lot of our highly ranked dogs are also titled in lure coursing, and most that I’ve seen showing around the country are being presented in proper body condition.

Something that really needs to be watched is that I have noticed a distinct trend where the unique front assembly is being lost. The Ibizan Hound should have a well-laid-back shoulder and a rather upright upper arm. I’ve seen too many dogs in the past few years with too much return of upper arm, setting their fronts more under their body, like a “normal” dog. This front assembly is often found on dogs that have pleasing, though not breed-typical, side gait, where they are balanced and graceful but do not have the required joint flexion of their pasterns, and move in a more pendulous fashion.

How did you make the decision to begin judging?

Sarah Murphy: I always thought I would want to make the jump one day, but I had been encouraged by judges I’d stewarded for and by AKC field reps to move forward. I love evaluating dogs, weighing their virtues and their faults, and thinking of how I would breed this dog or that, so having the chance to sort through a ring full of dogs, especially in breeds other than my own, is as rewarding as it is challenging. I also personally really enjoy paperwork, which I know is not quite the norm, so the application process has given me ample opportunities to fill out forms and make more spreadsheets, which anyone who is close to me will tell you is one of my main special interests. Finally, I just really love dogs, and getting to pet and enjoy all of the dogs that come into my ring, even for just a short time, is always a day well spent.

The sport has changed greatly since you first began as an exhibitor and breeder. What are your thoughts on the current state of the fancy and the declining number of breeders? How do we encourage newcomers to join us and remain in the sport?

Sarah Murphy: For this, I am often at a loss. I don’t find it easy to put myself in others’ shoes, so as someone who is so in love with my dogs and everything this sport has offered me, I have trouble thinking of what would attract or retain new people because I really love everything about it. I think a lot of the changes over my time in dogs have made things better, such as better access to information and results on the Internet, and more sports that are also open to “non-papered” dogs as well as mixed breeds.

Where do you see your breeding program in the next decade or two?

Sarah Murphy: I see myself on the same path, continuing to work forward toward my vision of the perfect Ibizan Hound while enjoying every minute of living life with the dogs I am blessed with. I will continue showing and coursing the dogs as I always have, whenever I am able. I am excited to now have two lovely wirehaired bitches that I plan to start a new project with as well.

Finally, tell us a little about Sarah outside of dogs… your occupation, your hobbies.

Sarah Murphy: There really is no “outside of dogs” for me. They really are my whole life. I used to work as a handling assistant and as a handler, but I phased that out of my life a few years ago to concentrate on my own dogs. I have a business braiding kangaroo leather show leads, which helps to support us and allows me to be home, or even to work while on the road at shows. My hobbies are all having to do with the dogs… shows, field trials, etc. I am quite singularly focused, and I feel very fulfilled with that!