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General Characteristics:
The Pharaoh Hound is
a medium sized
dog. Females range from
21” to 24” and males from
23” to 25”. Their
body construction is lean and lithe.
Females usually weigh between
35 and
50 pounds,
males
45 to 65 pounds.
Their coat is short,
sparse and sheds very little.
They have
no odor,
even when wet,
since they lack coat oil.
Everything about their physical make up is adapted
to a warm climate.
Their blood vessels
are near the surface of their
skin, with
no fat covering
to insulate them.
They give off heat very quickly through their coat and
in those large
‘cooling fin’ ears.
Ear tips can freeze
in colder climates if the
dog is outside
for an extended
period of time.
Pharaoh Hounds
love a romp
in the snow,
but should wear coats if they
are going
to be outside
for any length of time.
They
love the summers of course!
Pharaohs can be aloof;
curious but cautious;
independent,
extremely intelligent,
and strong willed.
But
no two
are alike.
Several generations of breeding,
since the first Pharaohs
to the
US in the
1967, have produced
many more Pharaohs that
are more of
a ‘social butterfly’ with
a higher will
to please.
The Pharaoh Hound is easy going and gentle.
He is regal and holds himself above the average.
They
are fun loving and affectionate with their owners,
and when quite pleased with themselves and/or their actions,
will blush.
Some Pharaohs also smile big toothy grins.
They glow with excitement or happiness and can
exhibit a great sense of
humor, in the nature of
a first class
clown.
Kal-el’s classic smile
Pharaoh Hounds raised with children enjoy playing with and being their best friend.
When raised with other small animals,
they can be quite tolerant of those also.
But be aware,
they can also consider other small animals
as "game" as they
are first and foremost
hunters instinctively.
Pharaoh Hounds have an innate sense of their owner's
feelings and moods.
They know when
to dive for cover or be
on their best behavior.
They
are generally
not high strung,
but
are active and
do enjoy running and playing.
They will entertain themselves
for hours
on end,
and if they can entertain those they own at the same time,
they
are twice
as happy.
They can be quite
"cat-like"
in their personalities and habits.
Some will decide when they want
to cuddle.
Others will throw themselves at you!
Personality is an inherited trait,
so
a puppy will likely be similar
to their parents
in personality and looks.
With strangers,
they can be aloof until properly introduced.
They will judge each new person and decide if they
are worthy of their attention.
Given time,
most will warm up
to any situation or environment.
Proper socialization is essential.
With
other dogs,
they tend
to avoid fights,
but if challenged they will stand their ground and defend themselves.
Remember
not all dogs
are the same and
these traits may
vary from one
dog to another.
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General care and exercise:
Pharaoh Hounds are a "wash & wear" dog, requiring a minimum of
grooming. Nails should be ground with a dremel type tool or clipped
regularly. Once per week is ideal. Teeth usually stay very clean.
You can brush them or use the new liquid drops from your vet. To
remove any plaque build up, use a dental scaler. The coat should be
brushed with a hound glove occasionally. Bath as needed with a
gentle baby shampoo. Pharaohs do not have coat oil and should not be
bathed with a regular dog shampoo as they are very strong and can
cause their skin to dry out and flake.
A small fenced in yard will suffice for exercise, but
they do appreciate a good long romp in larger enclosed areas when
available. Some Pharaohs are good jumpers, and you may need a 6’
fence to contain them. 4’ to 5’ will work for many, but not all.
Jogging or running with their owner is a favorite pastime.
TRAINING:
Pharaohs are hounds through and through. They can be stubborn and
will try to outsmart you. They must be trained with positive
motivation and rewarded for all proper behavior. Their motto is
often ‘What’s in in for me?” A lesson learned is never forgotten.
This applies to bad habits also. Just because that puppy is so cute
doing something, if it is something that you will not be able to
live with later in his life, correct it immediately. Untraining
those bad habits is much harder than enforcing the good habits, no
matter the age. Be consistent, firm and fair. Help the dog learn and
praise all good behaviors.
House training is usually easy. They are very clean and
make great house dogs, never having a "doggy odor". They are quick
and eager to learn, though a bit strong minded. With their
independent nature, they prefer to think for themselves with a very
high degree of intelligence.
Being natural hunters, the "come" command is vital for
their welfare. Always reward a Pharaoh Hound when they come to you!
Make it the most wonderful thing on earth! When in pursuit of the
"game", they can become selectively deaf, and being so intent, they
will keep going for the thrill of the chase. They pay no attention
to where they are going and can become lost. They hunt by scent and
sight and are aided by their tremendous speed and agility. The best
rule here is never have them off lead except in a controlled
situation, like totally fenced in areas that are escape proof.
The Pharaoh demands an Alpha leader, and if he feels you are not up
to the job, he will try to take over command and train you to his
way of life. Be consistent, fair and gentle at the same time and you
will have a wonderful companion. And always keep the training fun
and exciting for both of you. They consider training just another
new game, keep it that way. They do not handle repetition well.
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HISTORY:
The
Pharaoh Hound is possibly an ancient breed. One possible version of
their history is that the Pharaoh Hound originated in Egypt, since
Anubis and dogs depicted on the temple walls resemble the Pharaoh
Hound in type. This dog could be an ancient ancestor of the Pharaoh
Hound, but this myth has never been proven. It is thought that the
Phoenicians may have taken these ancient Egyptian hounds with them
when they settled on Malta and Gozo 5,000 years ago and remained a
pure and relatively unchanged breed due to the isolation on these
islands.
We can prove that the pedigrees of all Pharaoh Hounds
in the world today trace back to ancestors on Malta and Gozo. On
these islands the breed is called Kelb-tal Fenek, which translates
to Dog of Rabbit. The KTF is the National Dog of Malta, where they
are bred for rabbit hunting and guardians of the homesteads. Maltese
farmers keep this breed for hunting, not as pets.
The Pharaoh Hound was first imported into England in
the early 1930's, then again in 1963 from Malta and Gozo. They were
first introduced into the U.S. in 1967 by Mrs. Ruth Taft-Harper.
This Pharaoh Hound can now be found in most countries in the world.
Annual registration numbers for the Pharaoh are still
very low. In the US only around 12 litters are born per year.
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BOOKS:
Lori Evans
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