Pharaoh Hound

Temperament:

Alert, Intelligent, Trusting
Size: Large
Height: 53-63,5 cm
Weight: 20-25 kg
Lifespan: 12-14 years
Coat: Shorthair
Colors: Rusty brown, Dark rusty brown, White spots on tail tip, chest, toes
FCI Group: Spitz and primitive types

The pharaoh hound originally comes from Malta. The animals have a pronounced urge to move and are very agile. This is why these dogs were once used to hunt rabbits. It is therefore not a dog for sedentary people.

Pharaoh Hound
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Characteristics

The pharaoh hound belongs to the large breeds. Males reach a shoulder height of between 56 and 64 cm. Females reach a height of between 53 and 61 cm. The pharaoh hound weighs an average of 25 kg. Its life expectancy is around twelve years.

It belongs to the hunting and sighthound family. Outwardly, the pharaoh hound is reminiscent of Anubis, an Egyptian deity. It has a long, elegant build. Its large, pointed prick ears are usually pointed attentively forwards and upwards.

The coat of the pharaoh hound is reddish. The shading ranges from light to dark rusty brown. The eye color is amber. Sometimes the pharaoh hound has white markings, for example on the chest or the tip of the tail. Its tail is long and thin. The pharaoh hound's short coat is shiny and fine and dense to the touch.

The pharaoh hound is a very proud and graceful animal. It moves very quickly and light-footedly. At the same time, it is always alert. It radiates a noble, proud and strong attitude.

This breed has a very lively and sensitive character. It needs a lot of exercise. At the core of its nature, the pharaoh hound wants to run and hunt. It is an excellent sprinter. At the same time, it is very agile. It uses more than just its nose to perceive its surroundings. The pharaoh hound also experiences its environment through sight and hearing.

Their urge to move is sometimes so strong that it can hardly be satisfied. It is not for nothing that they often take part in dog races. This is why an underutilized pharaoh hound can sometimes be restless and whine.

However, he is a calm four-legged friend if his urge to move is sufficiently stimulated.

The pharaoh hound is trained to hunt rabbits in its native Malta. However, it is also used as a guard dog. That's why it sometimes sounds the alarm and barks when it can't recognize sounds.

He is a very intelligent and inquisitive dog. If you try to teach him something, he learns it quickly. He is always friendly, affectionate and attentive.

Show him your affection. Then you will get along well with him. He will thank you with deep loyalty. Because deep down, he has a strong need for friendship and commitment. He also has a very good-natured and cheerful personality.

At first glance, the pharaoh hound appears dainty and elegant. In reality, however, it is very hardy and enduring. Due to its previous living conditions, the pharaoh hound is very hardened. It is tougher than it appears at first glance.

Coat care:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Shedding:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Energy level:

Little
Medium
High

Trainability:

Little
Medium
Good

Children suitable:

Less
With supervision
Perfect

The right food

When choosing food, make sure that it contains high-quality ingredients, is balanced and meets your dog's requirements. Age, size or weight, activity and health status play an important role. You should follow the manufacturer's recommendations for the amount of food.

Treats should only be fed in moderation and deducted from the basic diet to avoid obesity.

Puppies can be fed 4-6 times a day. The number of meals should be gradually reduced to 2 per day until the dog is fully grown. A rest period should be observed after meals.

Fresh drinking water should be available at all times.

Health & Care

The pharaoh hound is basically quite undemanding to keep. It is therefore a very low-maintenance dog. Make sure he gets plenty of exercise outside on a regular basis. Then he will also be calm and uncomplicated at home. Just give him plenty of exercise, he'll love it.

However, a pharaoh hound not a pet for a city apartment. It is ideal if you can offer it plenty of exercise in the great outdoors.

If you don't like to exercise and prefer to lie on the sofa after work, a pharaoh hound isn't right for you either. It won't be fun for you or him if you have to force yourself to go for a walk every time.

Another important point is that pharaoh hounds have no undercoat. Their short coat does not protect them particularly well from external influences. Your four-legged friend may therefore be very sensitive to the cold. You should bear this in mind when you go outside in cold weather. A dog coat would therefore be appropriate.

Otherwise, the short coat only needs to be combed a little every day. This will make it shiny. No further coat care is necessary for your pharaoh hound. You don't usually have to wash the dirt out, you can simply brush it out of the coat.

You can also check the ears and claws regularly. You should always keep the ears clean. The claws should not be too long. Otherwise, it is advisable to trim your four-legged friend's claws.

Have your pharaoh hound trained for dog races. This way you can fully satisfy his urge to move. Games that stimulate his hunting instinct are also always popular with your pharaoh hound.

You won't have much difficulty training your pharaoh hound. He is very intelligent and learns quickly. As he has a strong need for recognition and bonding, he will always try to obey your commands.

But sometimes a pharaoh hound can also be very stubborn. Then it's up to you to show the necessary consistency. You'll quickly become good friends.

Suitable accessories

You don't need many accessories to look after your pharaoh hound in the best possible way. You yourself are much more important. You should be interested in exercise and enjoy spending a lot of time outdoors. You should enjoy exercising your dog.

If you are too tired or too listless, you can keep your pharaoh hound busy with a ball, for example. You can let your four-legged friend fetch the ball. This way, you can give your Pharaoh Hound a good workout without having to move around too much. Of course, more demanding games that challenge his hunting instinct or intelligence are more suitable.

Your pharaoh hound doesn't have a particularly insulating coat. That's why you can buy him something to protect him from the cold. Dog winter coats, for example, are suitable for this.

Like all dogs, a pharaoh hound needs a collar or harness with a lead, a dog basket or dog mat as a retreat, a water and food bowl, tick tweezers, claw clippers, mild dog shampoo, brush and comb, dog toothbrush and toothpaste, a transport box for transportation in the car and a first aid kit. It is best to ask your vet what belongs in the first aid kit.

Pharaoh dog history

Origin & History

The Pharaoh Hound comes from the Mediterranean region. More precisely, it comes from Malta. There it was used to hunt rabbits. However, the pharaoh hound does not go underground into the rabbit's burrow, but hunts above ground with the help of its eyes and ears. As the pharaoh hound is a very agile animal, the rabbits usually don't stand a chance.

The pharaoh hound was also used as a guard dog, e.g. for herds of goats.

Both are still reflected in his character today: the pronounced urge to move and the hunting instinct due to rabbit hunting. The high level of alertness due to his work as a herding dog.

There is also a theory about its external appearance. It is assumed that the ancestors of the pharaoh hound were brought to Malta in ancient times. This would explain the pharaoh hound resemblance to the ancient Egyptian dog Tesem and the deity Anubis.

But critics disagree. They argue that the pharaoh hound has only been documented on Malta since the Middle Ages.

In Great Britain, the pharaoh hound has been bred as an independent breed since 1960. In Malta, the pharaoh hound was even voted the national dog in 1974. In 1991, it was recognized as an independent breed by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI).

The pharaoh hound has also been bred in Germany since 1982. The German Sighthound Breeding and Racing Association allows this breed to take part in dog races. This allows them to live out their urge to move and their love of sprinting.