Pharaoh Hound Basics
The Pharaoh Hound is a medium-sized dog with a slim, athletic build and a beautiful reddish-brown coat. One of the world’s oldest domesticated breeds, the Pharaoh is thought to have originated from Egypt, and was bred for hunting rabbits and other small game on the Maltese islands. This breed is graceful and elegant in appearance but, in the home, it is happy to spend the day lazing around on the couch. If you are looking for a friendly, medium-sized breed with low exercise requirements, think about the Pharaoh Hound.
The Pharaoh Hound is a medium-sized dog with a slim, athletic build and a beautiful reddish-brown coat.
Origin
The Pharaoh Hound is thought to be one of the oldest breeds in existence and its origins can be traced back as far as 3,000 BC. The exact origins of this ancient breed are unknown, but it is thought to come from Egypt. The Pharaoh Hound may have been transported to Malta by Phoenician traders about 2,000 years ago where the breed was then developed for its hunting ability. Throughout its history, the Pharaoh Hound bloodline remained largely unaltered by human hands so the modern dog is still very similar to the ancient breed. The first appearance of this breed in Europe is thought to have occurred during the 1930s and the first Pharaoh Hound was shown in England by Bahri of Twinley. The first Pharaoh was brought to the United States in 1967 and it was admitted into the Miscellaneous class by the AKC in 1979. The Pharaoh Hound was then switched to the Hound Group in 1984 – it also became eligible for competition at this point.
Pedigree
The Pharaoh Hound is one of the oldest breeds of dog, so it is not known whether it was developed from any particular breed. This breed may share some of its heritage with the Cirneco dell’Etna, a smaller Mediterranean hunting breed.
Food/Diet
The Pharaoh Hound is a medium-sized breed and should be offered a commercial dog food formulated for dogs of its size. This breed can also be fairly active so, if you train your dog for dog sports, you may want to give him an active breed formula to support his higher energy requirements.
The Pharaoh Hound is an intelligent breed that typically responds well to training.
Training
The Pharaoh Hound is an intelligent breed that typically responds well to training. Though they are highly trainable, these dogs are also a little bit stubborn and they do not respond well to punishment – only use positive reinforcement training with these dogs. This breed can succeed in obedience competitions and other dog sports, but they do not take to it as quickly as other breeds. These dogs get bored easily with repetition, so keep your training sessions short and fun. Like all dogs, this breed should be started with training and socialization as early as possible to prevent the development of problem behaviors.
Weight
The Pharaoh Hound is a medium-sized breed that typically stands between 12 and 25 inches tall and weighs between 40 and 60 pounds.
Temperament/Behavior
The Pharaoh Hound is a smart dog and they are good jumpers, so they can be talented escape artists at times. This breed is friendly and with family and they get along well with children. Even though this breed is a hunting breed it does not tend to be overly active indoors. This breed does have a strong prey drive, however, so they should not be kept around small household pets. The breed does get along well with other dogs.
Common Health Problems
The Pharaoh Hound is a healthy breed in general, not prone to developing any serious health problems. In fact, its bloodline has been largely untainted by man so it is still pure. There are, however, certain health conditions to which this breed may be prone including hip dysplasia, skin problems, and patellar luxation. These dogs also have short coats and thin skin, so they may not tolerate cold well.
Life Expectancy
The average lifespan for the Pharaoh Hound is between 12 and 14 years.
Exercise Requirements
Because the Pharaoh Hound is a hunting breed so they can be active but, like Greyhounds, they require little actual exercise. The breed is content to spend much of its day lying around the house but when they are taken outside they can be quick, so always keep your dog on a leash.
The Pharaoh Hound is a smart dog and they are good jumpers, so they can be talented escape artists at times.
AKC
The first Pharaoh Hound was brought to the United States in 1967 and it was admitted into the Miscellaneous class by the AKC in 1979. The Pharaoh Hound was then switched to the Hound Group in 1984.
Coat
The Pharaoh Hound has thin skin and a short coat that comes in a beautiful reddish brown color. The coat is fine and silky in texture and it does not tend to shed a great deal. These dogs have sensitive skin so, if you bathe him, be sure to use a gentle dog shampoo.
Puppies
Pharaoh Hound puppies are born with blue eyes which change over time to the amber color for which this breed is known. The average litter size for the breed is 6 to 8 puppies. Like all dogs, this breed should be started with training and socialization as early as possible to prevent the development of problem behaviors.
Photo credit: CaptureLight/Bigstock; Jagodka/Bigstock
