SCRAPS Breed Profile PHARAOH HOUND

Stats

Country of Origin: Egypt Group: Hound Use today: Companion and Guard Dog Life Span: 11 to 14 years Color: Coat colors are red or tan, often with white markings. Coat: Short, glossy, fine to close coat Grooming: The Pharaoh Hound needs little grooming. It is only necessary to remove dead and loose hair with a rubber brush. Bathe or dry shampoo only when necessary. The Pharaoh Hound is a relatively clean dog with no doggy odor. This breed is an average shedder. Height: Males 23 - 25 inches; Females 21 - 24 inches Weight: 45 - 55 pounds

Profile

In Brief: Intelligent, friendly and playful, the and intelligent. It loves children, but is reserved Pharaoh Hound is affectionate with its family. with strangers. A truly unique trait of this breed Extremely athletic, they require daily exercise, is when it is excited it "blushes," turning a but should be kept in a fenced area, as they glowing deep rose on its nose and ears. The possess a great keenness for hunting and may Pharaoh Hound should not be too difficult to try to chase after small animals. The breed's train. The handler needs to be understanding of short, glossy coat is low-maintenance. the dog's character and to be consistent in approach. It can do well in competitive Description: The Pharaoh Hound is a tall, obedience. Socialize the Pharaoh well at an slender, athletic sight hound. The length of the early age and as the owner of the dog, be sure body is slightly longer than it is tall. The neck is to stay mentally strong so the dog can feed from long and lean, slightly arched. The head is your energy to avoid timidity. Nervous humans wedge-shaped and chiseled. The muzzle is tend to have nervous dogs because the dog can slightly longer than the flat skull and has a slight feel your emotions. Generally good with other stop. The nose is almost the same color as the dogs, but can be rather dominant toward other coat. The teeth meet in a scissors bite. The male dogs if the owners are not there to small, oval eyes are moderately deep set, and communicate to the dog that dominance is an amber in color. The large ears are medium-high- unwanted behavior. This breed likes to chase set, erect and are broad at the base. The long, and it is very fast. A speedy hunter, it should not whip-like tail is medium set, thicker at the base be trusted with pet mice, rats, guinea pigs, and tapering. The front legs are straight. rabbits, cats and other small non-canine pets. Dewclaws are sometimes removed. The short, Do not take it off the leash unless you are in a glossy, fine to close coat comes in red or tan, safely contained area, because if it spots a often with white markings. Show ring judges rabbit it will be gone. The Pharaoh Hound needs prefer white on the tip of the tail. an owner who is calm, displaying a confident, consistent, natural authority over him. The rules must be made clear in such a way that the dog Temperament: The Pharaoh Hound is can understand. reasonably independent and a most pleasant companion dog. It is peaceful in the house and loves to play outdoors. It will be calm provided it Living Conditions: The Pharaoh Hound will be receives enough exercise. Loyal, brave and okay in an apartment if sufficiently exercised. It loving, this quiet dog is naturally well-behaved is relatively inactive indoors and will do best with at least a large yard. It needs soft bedding and declared in 1974. For 2000 years the people of warmth and generally should not be expected to Malta were exclusively responsible for sleep outside except in warm climates...but it developing and preserving the breed into the would still prefer to sleep with its family. This Pharaoh Hound we know today. In Malta the breed likes to chase things and should not be let hound is known as the Kelb Tal-Fenek, which off the leash unless it is in a safe area. It can go literally translated means "dog of the rabbit," far away from you if it spies or scents wild game which was the dog’s main task. Just like his because it never loses its instinct to hunt alone. Mediterranean cousins, the Ibizan Hound, the To prevent this you will need a secure, high Cirneco Dell Etna, the Portuguese Podengo and fence around your yard. This breed can jump the Podenco Canario, the Pharaoh Hound is very high to get out of a space. both a sight hound as well as a scent hound, using its sense of smell to a marked degree Exercise: The Pharaoh Hound relishes the when searching for its prey. When the prey opportunity to stretch its legs in a safe area— bolts, its sight hound instincts come into play with frequent long runs. Try to set aside an hour and the hound is in full flight in strong pursuit. each day to bicycle while the dog runs alongside The breed is also a good guard dog. It has been you on a leash, although it can manage with a used to accompany goats and sheep on their long daily walk on the leash and occasional way to the pasture and as a gundog to flush and sprints. While out on the walk the dog must be retrieve quail and woodcock. Maltese Lira coins made to heel beside or behind the person were minted in 1977 depicting the Pharaoh holding the lead, as in a dog's mind the leader Hound on the back side. During the leads the way, and that leader needs to be the 1960s Pharaoh Hounds were imported to human. England and to the United States. The breed was recognized by the AKC in 1983. Origins: The Pharaoh Hound is one of the oldest domesticated dog breeds in the world. The breed is estimated to have originated around 4000 to 3000 BC. The breed's exact origin is unknown, but one belief is it began in ancient Egypt. Numerous Egyptian artifacts and writings show a dog that is undeniably a direct ancestor of the Pharaoh Hound. The dogs were used to chase and hunt small game and were also a loyal companion of the royal pharaohs of ancient Egypt. It is believed that the Phoenicians brought the dogs from Egypt to the Mediterranean islands of Malta and Gozo. The dogs are now the national dog of Malta,

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