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Pharaoh Hound

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General
OtherNames		Kelb-tal Fenek (Rabbit Dog)
Dog Group Kennel Club		Hound
Breed Classification		The Pharaoh Hound is a member of the hound group. They were originally bred as sight, scent and sound dogs and today are used for hunting and as companions.
Cost of Ownership Visit our dog food department
Average Food Cost		£4-7.50
Feeding Requirements		The Pharaoh Hound is an undemanding dog to feed with no special dietary requirements; they generally have a good appetite.
Other Expenses		The average purchase price of a puppy is £350.
Average Puppy Price		£300-500
Lifespan		9 - 15 years
Average Litter Size		6-8
General Physical Description		These medium sized, short-coated dogs with erect ears are very graceful and athletic in appearance. They vary in colour from light to dark reddish brown in colour. They are unique in that when they are excited they blush, their noses and insides of their ears turn rosy pink.
Height Min Max Bitch 53cm 61cm Dog 56cm 63cm Weight Min Max Bitch 20kg 23kg Dog 23kg 25kg
Size Category		Medium
Weight Height Range		Dogs should measure between 56-63cms and weigh between 23-25kgs. Bitches should ideally measure between 53-61cms and weigh 20-23kgs.
Ailments		The Pharaoh Hound is a relatively healthy breed, and the only problem here in the U.K. was patella luxation, although no cases have been recorded for several years now.
Common Ailments
Susceptibility To Illness Pet insurance for dogs resource Pet health and vet advice		Low
Other
History		Remnants of dogs similar in appearance to the Pharaoh Hound have been found in the Nile Valley and dated at around 4000 BC. It is thought that before Egyptian times sight hounds were traded by the Phoenicians and they left them on isolated islands where they bred amongst themselves for hundreds of years. Around 1000 BC the island of Malta was colonised by the Phoenicians and their sight hounds. These dogs were valued for their ability to hunt rabbits and became known as the ‘rabbit dog’, which is the Pharaoh Hound that we know today. The island became deserted of people but the dogs remained and bred for nearly two thousand years without any other dogs being introduced. Britain was introduced to this dog in the 1930’s but they did not start to become accepted until the 1960’s.
Intelligence		They are intelligent and fairly obedient, one of the few hounds that, more often than not, will return to you on command. Training should be consistent and early socialisation is a must. They are highly trainable and indeed several Pharaoh Hounds have become highly successful in the fields of Obedience and Agility. The trouble with the Pharaoh Hound is that they think far too quickly for us humans to comprehend.
Show Characteristics		The Pharaoh Hound should have a long, lean head with a wedge like appearance when viewed from above or in profile. The jaws should be strong and powerful with a complete scissor bite. The eyes should be oval and amber in colour. The ears should be medium high set, broad and large and carried erect. The neck should be long, lean, muscular and slightly arched. The chest should be deep with well-sprung ribs and an almost straight topline. The front legs should be straight; the back legs should be strong and muscular. The feet should be strong, firm and well knuckled. The tail should be medium set, relatively thin and carried high and curved when the dog is active. The coat should be short and range from fine to being slightly harsh. The colours desired are tan or rich tan with limited white allowed on the chest, tip of the tail, toes or face. This dog should cover the ground well and quickly with no apparent effort.
Country Of Origin		Malta
Famous Examples
Records Held
Characteristics Visit our dog training aids department
Energy		High
Overall Exercise		> 2 hours
Distress Caused if Left Alone		Medium
Personal Protection		Medium
Suitability As Guard Dog		Medium
Risk of Sheep Worrying		Low
Tendency to Bark		High
Ease of Transportation		Medium
Level of Aggression		Low
Compatibility With Other Animals		Medium
Suitable For Children		Medium
General Character And Temperament		The Pharaoh Hound is a reasonably independent dog that is loyal to its family. They have an inbuilt desire to hunt and have the staying power to keep going with or without you. Cats and other small animals are seen as prey to the Pharaoh Hound that hasn’t been socialised with them from an early age. The Pharaoh is not a dog for the faint hearted, they have a way of reading your next action and seem to be able to get there that little bit ahead of you. They can be fairly vocal, and being a very sociable breed really enjoys the company of other dogs or preferably humans. Not a breed suited to someone who has little time.
Grooming Visit our dog grooming department
Coat Length		Short/Smooth
Grooming Requirement		Once a week
Trimming		None
Requires Professional Groomer
Grooming		The Pharaoh Hound is easy to groom. They can be groomed using a rubber grooming mitt, which will remove the loose and dead hairs
Colour		This hound is tan or chestnut in colour maybe with some white on the chest, tip of the tail, toes or face.
Shedding		Little
Suffers From Allergies
Tendency to Cause Allergies