Pharaoh Hound

These hounds are eager to please and can be trained easily. They get along well with other dogs. The Pharaoh Hound is a playful, active dog. He needs lots of exercise, loves attention and affection, and especially enjoys playing with children. He is an alert watchdog.

 Pharaoh Hound breed facts

The Pharaoh Hound originated in ancient Egypt. It is thought to have been brought from Egypt by the Phoenicians when they settled on the Mediterranean islands of Malta and Gozo. The Pharaoh Hounds have existed there for over 2,000 years. In Malta they are bred for rabbit hunting and are the national dog of Malta.

Information you should know before owning a Pharaoh Hound

The Pharaoh Hound is a clean dog and his short odour-free coat requires little grooming. Twice-weekly brushing keeps shedding to a minimum.

The Pharaoh Hound makes a wonderful watchdog as he is very observant and possesses keen eyesight, acute hearing, and will bark promptly at the approach of strangers.

The Pharaoh Hound must be permitted to make up his own mind about people and situations. He is playful and enjoys children, but cannot be expected to readily accept children he does not know.

The Pharaoh Hound is very fast, active, and alert. He is not a good candidate for apartment living unless his owner is prepared to give him plenty of daily exercise.

The Pharaoh Hound, one of the oldest domesticated dogs in recorded history, traces his lineage to roughly 3000 B. C. Fortunately, the history of Egyptian civilization was well documented and preserved through paintings and hieroglyphics. From these we learn that this unique dog was treasured for his great hunting ability and his affinity for close family relationships.

The dogs are described in a translation of a letter of the Nineteenth Dynasty: "The red, long-tailed dog goes at night into the stalls of the hills, he is better than the long-faced dog. He makes no delay in hunting, his face glows like a god and he delights to do his work." This "blushing" trait has not been lost through the ages. It is beautiful to see a Pharaoh Hound glow with excitement or happiness-the nose and ears fuming a deep rose color, and the lovely amber eyes further enriched with a deep rose hue.

It seems reasonably certain that the origins of this dog lie in Egypt and they were carried by Phoenician traders to the island of Malta well before the birth of Christ. The breeders of Malta maintained a purity of breed type over a period of 2,000 years, for the dog today still closely resembles his Egyptian forebears.

The Pharaoh Hound was apparently first imported to England in the early 1930's, but the records are inconclusive. In 1963, author Pauline Block came home to England with Bahri of Twinley. This Pharaoh Hound was the first to be shown in England. In 1967, Mrs. Ruth Taft Harper brought the first Pharaoh Hound to the United States, with the first litter being whelped in 1970.

The American Kennel Club admitted the Pharaoh Hound into the Miscellaneous Class in January 1979. Then, effective August 1, 1983, the breed was recognized for registration and became eligible to compete in the Hound Group effective January 1, 1984.

The Pharaoh Hound gives a striking impression of elegance, power and grace. He is intelligent, friendly and affectionate. His high speed combined with his alertness and agility give him a marked keenness for hunting both by sight and by scent. Their willingness to please allows them to be trained swiftly which makes them excellent candidates for hunting, obedience and coursing.

Is this a vulnerable breed? Yes, No	No
What size is this dog? Small, Medium, Large	Large
How much excercise is required? 30 mins a day, 1 hour a day, Over 2 hours a day	Over 2 hours a day
How long is this dog's coat? Short, Medium, Long	Short
How much grooming is required? Once a week, More than once a week, Every day	Once a week
Does this dog shed? Does shed, Does not shed	Does shed
What area is this dog best suited to? Town, Country, Either	Country
What size house is required for this breed? Flat/Apartment, Small House, Large House	Small House
What size of garden is required? Small Garden, Large Garden, No Garden	Large garden

	General Appearance Medium sized, of noble bearing with clean-cut lines. Graceful yet powerful. Very fast with free easy movement and alert expression.
	Characteristics An alert keen hunter, hunting by scent and sight using its ears to a marked degree when working close.
	Temperament Alert, intelligent, friendly, affectionate and playful.
	Eyes Amber coloured, blending with coat; oval, moderately deep-set, with keen, intelligent expression.
	Mouth Powerful jaws with strong teeth. Scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
	Neck Long, lean, muscular and slightly arched. Clean throat line.
	Forequarters Shoulders strong, long and well laid back. Forelegs straight and parallel. Elbows well tucked in. Pasterns strong.
	Body Lithe with almost straight topline. Slight slope down from croup to root of tail. Deep brisket extending down to point of elbow. Ribs well sprung. Moderate cut up. Length of body from breast to haunch bone slightly longer than height at withers.
	Hindquarters Strong and muscular. Moderate bend of stifle. Well developed second thigh. Limbs parallel when viewed from behind.
	Feet Strong, well knuckled and firm, turning neither in nor out. Paws well padded. Dewclaws may be removed.
	Tail Medium set – fairly thick at base and tapering (whip-like), reaching just below point of hock in repose. Carried high and curved when dog is in action. Tail should not be tucked between legs. A screw tail undesirable.
	Gait / Movement Medium sized, of noble bearing with clean-cut lines. Graceful yet powerful. Very fast with free easy movement and alert expression.
	Coat Short and glossy, ranging from fine and close to slightly harsh; no feathering.
	Colour Tan or rich tan with white markings allowed as follows: White tip on tail strongly desired. White on chest (called ‘The Star’). White on toes. Slim white blaze on centre line of face permissible. Flecking or white other than above undesirable.
	Size dogs: 56-63 cms (22-25 ins); bitches: 53-61 cms (21-24 ins).