Pharaoh Hound Breed Info And Characteristics

The native country of the Pharaoh Hound is Egypt. NOT! :) This dog breed is actually originating from Malta. Yeah, it is true that this breed has its roots back in Ancient Egypt, there are scientific and historical proofs for that. The breed was developed from dogs brought from Northern Africa by the ancient Phoenicians, but it further evolved at this island. So, the phrase “Egyptian Pharaoh Hound” is just a common misguidance. Anyway, in its native land they call him Kelb tal-Fenek, which means Rabbit Dog. This is a Spitz type dog included in the Primitive Types group by the FCI, and it is believed to be the one of the first domesticated primitive dogs. It is estimated that this breed was domesticated some 5000 years ago. Quite an old buddy, don’t you think? Main Pharaoh Hound characteristics are playfulness, agility, intelligence, loyalty, speed, alertness, independence, and emotional sensitivity. His lifespan is between 11 and 14 years.

What Is A Pharaoh Hound In General

The Pharaoh Hound is a medium-sized dog, which is, as its name suggests, often used for hunting. There is no doubt that he is an excellent hound with strong prey drive and a great sense of sight. Yeah, this breed is actually a Sighthound, which heavily relies on his speed and sight while hunting. No wonder he is a true master at chasing, so he is actually perfectly adapted for this task. This, however, makes him very dangerous for other small animals, cats especially. So, to avoid any nasty situations, make sure you warn your neighbors to keep their pets at a safe distance. In connection with this, I must warn you that this buddy can jump very high, so make sure you have a higher fence or wall (8 feet at least). He will try to run away, like all other primitive dogs, especially if he’s bored.

Kelb tal-Fenek or Rabbit Dog is a gracious and elegant hound from Malta

Gracious sighthound from Malta

The Pharaoh Hounds bark a lot in comparison with some other Sighthounds. Since they’re very sensitive, they will bark at every unusual sound or situation. So, the behavioral corrections concerning this are necessary in case you prefer quiet and peaceful surroundings. These dogs are ideal for children since they love to play a lot. They’re also very nice with other dogs, although they can be dangerous for some small breeds. On the contrary to some other primitive dogs, Kelb tal-Fenek love to spend time indoors. He actually thrives in the company, so make sure you find some space for his little corner in your house, especially if you live in colder climate since he can’t stand colder weather. You have know that this dog demands a confident and calm leader, who must know how to control his emotional side.

The Pharaoh Hound is a very active dog with huge pools of energy, so the intense daily exercises are a must. I suggest you take him regularly for a long walk or throw him a frisbee. He can be an excellent competitor in various sorts of dog trials, such as obedience, agility, or tracking. As a bonus in this case, this dog is highly trainable in comparison to some other primitive type dogs. As long as you keep his training sessions short and nice, he will literally enjoy them. I suggest you avoid using any rude or forceful corrections during training, since this dog is highly emotional. They can have a very distracting impact on his focus, which can result in his unwillingness to train further. Make sure you carefully go step-by-step with this little fella. Remember, always use positive reinforcement training with this dog and start with it as soon as possible!

Main Physical Pharaoh Hound Characteristics And Traits

The Pharaoh Hound is quite similar to a Greyhound in shape. He is little longer than tall in shoulders, which gives him an athletic and powerful look. His muscular body is slender and gracious, covered with thin and glossy coat. This dog breed shed moderately, so the regular grooming is not necessary. Also, you won’t have to bathe your dog often since this breed has no strong odour. Woohoo :) However, you will have to regularly check your dog on certain skin conditions, which can be an issue with thin coat dogs. Pharaoh Hound comes in one color only – red, which can vary in shades from tan to chestnut. The white motives on his chest, lower muzzle, tail tip, and toes are also acceptable. At conformation shows, judges often prefer the hounds with white tail tip.

The Pharaoh Hound dog has a flat, wedge-shaped head attached to a long and slightly lean neck. In general, it is quite reminiscent of the Doberman‘s head. These dogs have large, pointy ears and small, amber eyes of an oval shape. Pharaoh Hound puppies have actually blue eyes, but they color slowly changes to amber as they grow up. The muzzle, which is little longer than the rest of the skull, is slim and pointy with a nose of the same color as his coat. The jaw has a scissor bite. He has a deep chest and straight, long back. The long tail is straight and thin. His front legs are slender and straight, while the back legs are strong and little longer with dew claws, which can be removed. The paws are touchy with long nails, which you will have to trim from time to time.

Pharaoh Hound Size And Weight

Male
– Height between 21,5 and 25 inches (55–63 cm)
– Weight between 41 and 60,5 pounds (18,5–27,5 kg)
Female
– Height between 21 and 24 inches (53–61 cm)
– Weight between 39,5 and 59,5 pounds (18–27 kg)

Pharaoh Hounds are extremely fast dogs, which can jump very high

Like a wind!

Blushing Dog With Emotional Sensitivity

The Pharaoh Hound dog blushing is one of his unique characteristics. When excited, gleeful or happy, he is literally blushing in a way his nose and ears become pink. No wonder people often say this dog is actually smiling. This is in connection with his emotional sensitivity. Yeah, this buddy is highly sensitive to any kind of your reactions, which is unfortunately the reason he is hard to socialize. In “wrong hands”, he can suffer of timidity and shyness, which can cause a huge problem for its owners. That’s why you will have to literally built his confidence in order to socialize him properly. You’ll need to work a lot with him while still a puppy. This might sound like an easy task considering his high trainability, but it certainly isn’t for anybody. Only a wise and encouraging owner with a huge understanding of this breed can handle it well.

Sighthound From Malta

I already mentioned above that the Pharaoh Hound is a Sighthound. All Sighthounds are extremely fast dogs with an excellent sense of sight. On top of that, they have a great sense of smell, which makes them even more efficient. This is the reason they’re ideal dogs for hunting, tracking and chasing. Pharaoh Hounds are best for hunting rabbits, although they can be used in the hunt on other small game, such as fox. While chasing the game they bark a lot, which is of great importance for hunter’s orientation. So, there you have it, the most recognizable characteristics and traits of this lovely breed. Hope this article will help you appreciate and understand better this hunting dog from Malta. Later on, we will examine other important facts about Kelb tal-Fenek, such as proper training methods, puppy care, etc. Until then have a nice time and lots of fun with your dear pets :)

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