Comparative Anatomy, Ibizan and Pharaoh
My credentials for writing this comparison are founding breeder of Ibizans and illustrator for the book The Pharaoh Hound, The Past, Present, and Future by Pauline Block and Rita Laventhall Sacks. These were exciting times before recognition, 1977 to be exact.
I have always admired the sleek sienna beauty of the Pharaoh. There are many obvious similarities of the two breeds. Medium size, with size overlapping. Ibizans can be somewhat taller in proportion and bigger than Pharaohs.
There is an overlapping of type, but generally the Ibizan is leggier, more angular. The muscle on the Ibizan is flatter and more sinewy. The Pharaoh has a rounder muscle, but should not appear loaded.
Both breeds have erect ears. The Pharaoh ear set is slightly more open and triangular. The Ibizan's can be larger and tend to the rhomboid. They are also high set.
The unique coloring is shared to some extent, the eyes are amber, nose rosy. The Pharaoh has very specific white markings allowed, tips of toes, star on chest, and tail tip. Ibizans can be from pure red to almost pure white,. At a glance color is a big clue as to the breed.
The necks are similar with the Ibizan a little more flat muscled.
When you examine the forequarter assembly there are marked differences. The Pharaoh has a more angled upper arm. The elbow is set closer to the deeper part of the chest. Also it is a little shorter than the long upper arm of the Ibizan. The Ibizan front has a straighter upper arm set well in front of the deepest part of the brisket. This does not mean it should drop straight from the point of the shoulder, a problem sometimes found in the breed. The Ibizan appears shallower because of the length of the upper arm and the slightly forward placement. The Ibizan's front assembly is unique to the breed.
The Pharaoh's topline is almost straight, slightly longer than height. The barrel of the chest is well sprung. The slope to the tail is gentle. Tail is whip-like with no feathering. The Ibizan is only slightly longer, if at all than it is tall. The back is level until it comes to the loin which has a rise, then it slopes off from the point of the hip bones which are in evidence. The ribcage is flattened. The body is narrow without being weak looking. The tail is long and has some feathering, low set and can be carried in various ways, just not curled tightly or lying on the back.
The Pharaoh has feet in between the cat and the hare. The Ibizan has a longer hare foot. The gait of the Pharaoh is described as free and flowing. It is more of a pendulum trot. The Ibizan has a floating trot with joint flexion. The suspended trot has the Ibizan suspended all feet off the ground at a certain point in the stride.
Pharaohs have a glossy fine short coat, no feathering. The short haired Ibizan also has a glossy hard coat, but with more or less feathering on back of thighs and tail. The wire haired Ibizan that has a harsh, broken coat ranging from quiet short to several inches long with face furnishing.
Type is in the details.