The Pharaoh Hound is an elegant ancient blushing dog of Malta, the but rugged sprinting hound bred to course small game over harsh terrains. Despite being quick and tenacious hounds, these friendly, affectionate dogs will settle down quite nicely at home.
The Pharaoh Hound is a medium-sized dog that stands between 21 and 25 inches tall and weighs between 40 and 55 pounds. They have a slender build and short, smooth coats.
Among their several distinguishing traits are a tight tan coat with matching leather on the nose, ears, and eye rims, ravishing amber eyes, a white-tipped tail, the ability to smile, and a unique way of blushing when happy or excited.
Pharaoh Hound History
The Pharaoh Hound Club of America suggests that the origins of these dogs can be traced back to ancient Egypt around 4400 BCE. It’s believed that the breed was later refined in Malta.
The Pharaoh Hound is famous for its ancient lineage, often associated with ancient Egypt. However, DNA analysis carried out by Dr. Elaine Ostrander in 2004 revealed that the breed was developed much later in the 17th century in Malta.
Even though genetic testing in 2004 showed that the pharaoh Hound’s development occurred in 17th-century Malta, their connection to ancient Egypt remains tangible. In ancient Egypt, this breed was acknowledged and revered as evidenced by various historical artifacts and texts.
In ancient Egyptian art, a dog resembling the pharaoh hound can often be seen accompanying kings and nobles. Plus, there’s also an artifact dating back to 4000 BC that depicts two dogs resembling modern-day pharaoh hounds hunting gazelles.
Further depictions of the pharaoh hound can be witnessed in the tomb chapel of Meruka and the tomb chapel of Senbi located in Saqqara, Egypt. 9. In ancient Egyptian artworks, the dogs were referred to as Tessim, which means hunting dogs, and they’re thought to be the predecessors of today’s pharaoh hounds. In popular literature, Tessim signifies the tall, pointy-eared dog with a curled tail from the early Egyptian era
Why is Pharaoh Hound so famous?
It’s believed that Phoenician traders introduced the pharaoh hound to Malta, where local hunters initially called them the kelp-tailed fennec, which translates to the dog of the rabbit. This name reflected the breed’s skill in hunting small game, especially rabbits.
Pharaoh Hounds were initially trained to hunt rabbits. Working in teams, these hounds typically used to hunt at night, scrambling across rocky fields and rubbles. They had a surprising hunting partner too, a ferret. Yep, a ferret would wear a small bell around its neck and would help find the rabbit once it’s taken refuge in a crevice or crag.
The Pharaoh Hound belongs to a family of dogs called sighthounds, originally developed to hunt other animals. These slender long-legged sighthounds hunt by spotting movement across a vast distance, then running the animal down with lightning speed.
When tracking prey across the rugged and rocky landscape of Malta, Pharaoh hounds used to employ their acute hearing, sharp eyesight, exceptional sense of smell, impressive speed, and agility. This shows that they could do more than just hunt by sight.
When Pharaoh Hounds get excited, their nose and ears turn redder. This happens because more blood flows to these areas, making the blood vessels underneath more visible. Since they don’t have black pigment there, their nose and ears look like they’re glowing red.
Pharaoh Hounds are known for their happy smiling faces and can be trained to smile too.
The Pharaoh Hound has been a part of Malta’s culture for over 2000 years, where they have stayed almost the same.
As one of the oldest dog breeds, their purity has been protected throughout history. The island’s geographic isolation and the commitment of its people have ensured the breed’s integrity for centuries.
Fearowhounds hold such a special place in the hearts of people in Malta that they’ve been declared the country’s national dog. In fact, in 1977, Malta even honored them by minting a special silver coin.
The name Pharaoh Hound was given by British enthusiasts likely because the breed resembled hounds seen in ancient Egyptian artworks. This name was officially recognized when the breed received approval from the Kennel Club in 1974.
Unknown outside their homeland, until the 1960s, the Pharaoh Hound has swiftly achieved popularity both as a show dog and as a companion.
The Pharaoh Hound remained relatively unknown in the Western world until they made their way to England in the 1930s, with sparse documentation available for the breed during that time.
A significant moment occurred in 1963 when Pauline Brock, who was the wife of the then-officer commanding Malta, brought back a Pharaoh Hound named Barry F. Twinley to England, marking the breed’s debut in English dog shows.
Crufts, a renowned dog show held in the UK, saw Burling Zahara make history as the first pharaoh hound to walk down its famous red carpet in 1971.
Champion Kilcrony Reckmeyer Merrimut made history as the UK’s first pharaoh hound champion, clinching the title in 1975. Since then, it’s no surprise that numerous pharaoh hounds have risen to champion status in the UK.
In 1967, the first pharaoh hound dogs were brought to the United States by Mrs. Ruth Taft Harper from England.
By 1979, the Pharaoh Hounds were included in the miscellaneous class by the AKC. Finally, in 1983, the AKC officially recognized the breed.
The first litter of pharaoh hounds was whelped in the US in 1970 when a female pharaoh named Fakira was brought over by AKC judge Ruth Taft Harper. She had become interested in the new old breed after seeing them featured in British magazines.
Fakira was then bred to another pharaohhound named Bummetbrooks Butter who was the second dog ever registered with the Pharaohhound Club of America after Fakira. Their puppies were born on 13th January 1970.
Pharaoh hounds have naturally big, pointy ears that typically start standing up when they’re around four weeks old. This early development of erect ears is a unique trait of the breed.
Pharaoh hounds have long legs for a reason beyond looks. They’re amazing jumpers, so you’ll need at least a six-foot fence to keep them contained.
30. This independent-minded dog is also responsive to correction, preferring calm handling and positive reinforcement with food and praise. Sighthounds can be sensitive to touch, often startling when approached unexpectedly and feeling uneasy with excessive cuddling. Verbal correction and praise are more effective than physical touch as they are less distracting for the dog.
Many individuals often mistake the Pharaoh for the Beeson Hound. The Pharaoh is typically smaller, standing between 21 and 25 inches tall and weighing 45 to 55 pounds. Their features are less angular and they generally lack extreme characteristics.
Similar to the Ibizan Hound, Pharaoh Hounds come in shades of red to fawn but unlike the Ibizan, they may only have a small amount of white on their toes, chest, forehead, and tail tip.
Another fascinating feature of pharah hounds is that having a white tip on their tail is considered desirable for the breed. This feature was practical for farmers who utilized them for rabbit hunting in rugged and rocky terrains.
The distinctive white tip made it easier to spot the hounds when they caught sight of a rabbit, as their heads would lower and their tails would shoot straight up into the air.
The only thing that can disqualify a pharaoh hound from meeting its breed standard is the presence of any solid white spot on the neck shoulder or any part of the back or sides of the dog.
pharaoh can be susceptible to a common condition known as hypothyroidism where their body doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone symptoms may include dry skin and coat hair loss increased vulnerability to skin diseases and potential changes in behavior Right guys now which are these pharaoh hound facts surprised you the most? Please let us know in the comments below.