What you need to know about Pharaoh Hounds.
Pharaoh Hounds are as unique in temperament as they are in appearance and history. They are playful and loving, yet dignified and self-contained. They are extremely intelligent and learn at an incredible rate. To their people, they are lovingly devoted, but in a different way than most breeds--they are very catlike in their affection, in that they are affectionate, and they do love you, but they have their own agenda to keep in mind as well. With strangers they tend to be somewhat standoffish and aloof at first, the females more so than the males. All Pharaohs tend to do very well with children and other pets if introduced at a young age.
They are true entertainers by nature. They love to make their owners laugh at their hilarious antics. Pharaohs also seem to "play" their way through life--everything is a potential game. If they are bored, they will create their own fun! This fun loving breed reacts adversely to traditional training methods and can prove quite stubborn at times.
Do not be misled. The Pharaoh hound is definitely not for everyone. You must remember that they were selectively bred for thousands of years for hunting ability alone, and that hunting instinct is still very strong, as it should be. A securely fenced yard is an absolute necessity, no ifs, ands, or buts. They are also extremely alert and active dogs that require regular exercise, and they can easily become destructive without an acceptable outlet for all their energy.
Living with a pharaoh.
This is an active breed. By active, I do not mean hyper, just that they have a lot of energy and they need to exercise and play hard to stay physically and mentally fit. They are extremely playful--everything is a potential game to them. They are also true entertainers by nature, and very interactive, both with each other and with their people. If they are bored, they will create their own fun. Calibur is the king of inventing games. He will dig at the water in his bowl or in mud pools and turn around to snap at the splashes he's created. He also loves to chase bubbles and will even throw the tennis ball for himself! They are a riot! And, of course, when they get together to play, it's quite a show. They are usually very laid-back in the house. Pharaohs are the ultimate couch potatoes most of the time.
As housedogs, they are clean and tidy. They don't smell (even when wet) and they don't shed (at least not to where it is noticeable), making them welcomed house pets. They do like their comforts, however. Pharaohs love to sleep in the beds under the covers--try convincing them that they deserve any less! They should live indoors primarily, and must feel like they are part of the family to thrive.
Pharaohs are a very vocal breed by nature, and they love to utilize their vocal chords. They have a very wide and interesting array of sounds that they make. When they play, they play vocally, and they have a tendency to bark a warning at almost anything that they deem slightly out of the ordinary:
Pharaohs are very loyal to their people, without being doting. They are very catlike in their affection. They are affectionate, and they do love you, but they have their own agenda to keep in mind as well. Most Pharaohs (especially bitches) are quite aloof with strangers, preferring to have nothing to do with them, which may offend some of your friends who claim to have a way with dogs!
Something else that many people are disappointed to hear is the fact that this breed MUST be either safely contained in a fenced yard or on a leash at all times. Because of their strong hunt/chase instincts, they can never be trusted to run free. The only time it is safe to have a Pharaoh off-lead is during their run at a lure course, in the agility or obedience rings, or in a securely fenced area (fenced playing fields tennis courts etc and dog parks, for example). They make excellent jogging, hiking, and biking partners while safely leashed.
Care of your Pharaoh.
Pharaoh Hounds are generally a very healthy breed as a rule. At this point in time (and for 5000 years!) they have been free from the genetic problems which plague many breeds (i.e. hip dysplasia, entropy, etc.,) as a result of the conscious efforts made by responsible breeders to keep it that way. Pharaohs also seem to hold up better than many breeds on the lure coursing field.
There are, however, a few care concerns that bare knowing about: Many Pharaohs (as well as other sight hound breeds) exhibit some sort of reaction to many modern day injections. This is because sight hounds lack the protective layer of fat under the skin that most breeds have. Just make sure that you and your veterinarian are aware of this fact. Also, many regular dog shampoos and human shampoos will cause reactions in a Pharaoh's sensitive skin. For this reason, it is advised that when you bathe your Pharaoh you use a mild shampoo.
As far as general grooming goes, Pharaoh hound owners have it easy. A quick slicking down with a rubber or sisal mitt, or a damp cloth, as well as a thorough ear cleaning, tooth scaling, and nail clipping/filing before a show (or about once a week, if you don't show) is all that is necessary. Any harsh brush's should be avoided when grooming this breed. It is also extremely important to provide a Pharaoh with enough exercise and mental stimulation to ensure health and happiness.
Is a Pharaoh Right For Me...
The Pharaoh Hound is not the breed of dog for everyone, they enjoy an active lifestyle whether that be playing in their backyard, going for long walks or runs with their family, lure-coursing, or running on the family farm. They are after all, members of the Sight Hound family and love to run and hunt. If you can give your time, love and patience, to be owned by one of these beautiful hounds, they will in turn reward you with total devotion, amusement and above all a lifetime of love.
Below are some common questions asked by most people.
◦Are Pharaoh Hounds good with children?
Pharaoh hounds have a natural affinity for children of all ages. They are very careful and gentle with the smallest of children, and will entertain them for hours on end with their clownish attitude and self made games. They are also fantastic with older children and are eager to please. As with all dogs and children, supervision is a must, never allow young children and pets to play alone, your child could upset and possibly hurt the animal and the only defense an animal has is to claw or bite.
◦Do they get on well with other pets?
Yes they will get on well with all other pets if brought up with them from a young age, although the Pharaoh Hound has a natural hunting ability, if taught the correct boundaries from a young age they will seldom cross them. But with that in mind it would be foolish to allow a pharaoh and rabbit to run together in a yard without supervision.
◦Do I need a fenced yard?
Yes, a fence is a must! A fully enclosed fenced yard is a necessity if you plan to own any pet, it keeps your pet protected and in a safe environment.
◦Do they like the cold?
Pharaoh Hounds will need a jacket/coat during the colder months, they do not have a thick coat, and lack the protective layer of fat under the skin that most dog breeds have. They love to play in the snow and rain, but warmth is very important.
◦Do they shed hair and smell doggy?
Pharaoh Hounds do not shed as much as other breeds of dogs, they also have little to no doggy odour, so make welcomed inside companions.
◦Can Pharaoh Hounds live in the house?
Pharaoh Hounds love to be with you, and they thoroughly enjoy being inside the house with their family, they are very clean in the house and will often house-train themselves, they will let you know when they need to go out, and they adore laying on the lounge or on the bed, but be warned they like to be under the blankets with you.
◦I live in the city, could I still own a Pharaoh Hound?
Yes, if you can offer the exercise and stimulation the Pharaoh Hound requires, they will be quite happy in an apartment or small inner city home. They are adaptable, but will need stimulation to prevent boredom.
◦Are Pharaoh Hounds easy to train?
One can say, the Pharaoh Hound is very good at training its people! But on the serious side, yes they only need to learn something once and they never-ever forget. They are extremely intelligent or should I say, far too intelligent. They do not like any form of harsh training!! And they do not like repetitive training, they will look at you with bemusement, as if to say "I just sat 3 times for you, and now you are asking me to do that again, why?" Food rewards and positive training methods without repetition is the only way, they love activities such as Agility, or Fly ball, where they can run, please you, and be rewarded. Basic manners seem to be self taught, they always have respect. But don't forget Pharaohs seem to have their own agenda to get on with.
◦Are Pharaoh Hounds aggressive?
NO, Pharaoh Hounds are not aggressive! They will be protective of their master, their family and their home if any danger should threaten. But they should never ever be aggressive. They are pack hounds and should be tolerant, but if confronted or picked on by another dog they will defend themselves as most breeds of dogs will, it is also advisable that if you have 2 males and a female nearby is on season, keep the males away from each other, as male dominance and sex drive can cause serious dog fights with the best of buddies, this goes for any breed. But there should be no dog - human aggression unless there is an eminent threat against person/home or property!
◦How much exercise is enough?
A half hour walk in the morning, a play in the yard through the day, and an hour walking or jogging in the evening, is plenty to keep your pharaoh fit and healthy. More is fine, free running in enclosed dog parks, tennis courts, hiking with the family, bike riding and even lure-coursing, will keep your dog mentally and physically fit, happy and healthy.
◦What do I feed a Pharaoh Hound?
Being an active breed, Pharaohs need a complete healthy food. Pro-plan have a range of appropriate foods, as does Eagle-Pack if you don't have access to many natural foods. We feed our Pharaohs an all natural diet at home, similar to B-A-R-F, we feed a higher fat diet as it is necessary for the Pharaoh Hound, they don't have the body fat like many breeds, so you have to add it in their diet. Fat is needed for digestion, as well as being used for energy and contains many essential amino acids. Our dogs thrive on a diet of Lamb, Beef, Pork, Chicken and Rabbit [whole, skin and all] fed raw of course, as well as many offal meats such as, heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, sweetbreads, hooves [beef/sheep (high in calcium)], and green tripe. Our dogs also get table scraps and warm winter casseroles full of legumes. By feeding this diet our dogs get all the nutrients they need to stay fit, healthy and active, and have beautiful healthy shiny coats. When we are away at shows we feed Pro-Plan. But nothing can substitute a natural diet, with no preservatives, additives or artificial colorings.
◦Are Pharaoh Hounds a Healthy breed?
Pharaoh Hounds are a very healthy breed as a rule, and we can thank the Maltese people for this, as they have been unchanged for over 5000yrs. They do however have sensitivities toward chemicals, harsh shampoos, anesthetics and some topical insecticides. So it is important to use mild shampoos and rinse well when bathing, avoid flea collars as they can cause itching and redness, its not advised to use spot on flea and tick control applications, [frontline etc] as they can cause severe irritation. An internal once a month tablet from your vet would be a safer alternative. Worm preparations such as drontal are fine. Read the next in regards to genetic illnesses.
◦Are there any genetic problems I need to know about?
Pharaoh Hounds currently, seem to be one of the healthiest of all breeds in the world, this again is because of the protection for centuries of the breed by the Maltese people. Pharaoh Hounds were hardly known of to the western world prior to the 60's, so man has not been able to injure this breed like they have many others. Dedicated quality breeders screen all breeding stock, by x-raying hips and elbows, checking thyroid levels, eye tests and any other necessary tests to ensure the ongoing health of the breed. There have been incidents of dogs developing hip-dysplasia , and this ailment can occur in any breed but IS NOT prevalent in the Pharaoh Hound, cases can and do occur, not all cases of Hip-Dysplasia are genetic other factors including environment have a huge impact.
Hopefully this page has given you an insight into this remarkable breed, if you need any further information feel free to contact me, I would love to discuss Pharaohs with other like minded people, and those that are passionate about our beautiful breed.
