Discover The Majestic Pharaoh Hound

As the ancient Phoenicians roamed their lands, they came across dogs with strong hunting instincts and cunning intelligence. They were among the earliest domesticated animals and were used by early Egyptians to assist them in herding livestock. Some of these dogs even became part of royalty as pets.

Today, the Pharaoh Hound has been all but lost, with few left. Therefore, if you’re searching for a rare dog breed that has several characteristics, you’ll love this one! Read on to learn more about it and discover why it’s so difficult to find one today.

History and Origin

The Egyptian spitz-type dogs are known to have been bred as herding dogs since the middle of the 19th century. However, the Pharaoh Hound was an ancient breed that was known to have been present in Egypt as early as the 13th century BC. There are several theories regarding the Pharaoh Hound’s origin. One of the most plausible of them states that these dogs were developed by crossing the Pharaoh’s cattle dogs with the Indian Spitz-type dogs.

The Phoenicians are believed to have spread Egyptian hounds across the old world, including Britain. The most accepted belief is that they brought the Pharaoh to Malta and utilized them as rabbit hunters.

The Pharaoh Hound was a proud and regal-looking creature with a distinctive long, wedge-shaped head, almond-shaped eyes, and long drooping ears. It was mainly white with black markings on its head and ears. These dogs were often decorated with beads and had a long plumed tail that was held above its back.

Appearance and Traits

The Pharaoh Hound was a large, sturdy dog that had a long, wedge-shaped head, a drooping ear, and a wedge-shaped tail. The coat color was usually white with black markings on its head and ears. These dogs were often decorated with beads and had a long plumed tail that was held above its back. Its legs were strong and muscular and its feet were compact with short, strong toes.

The Pharaoh Hound was a proud and regal-looking creature with a distinctive long, wedge-shaped head, almond-shaped eyes, and long drooping ears. Its drooping ears were often compared to those of the sacred cobra, which would have been useful for this breed’s job – to hunt for vermin.

Behavior

The Pharaoh Hound was a loyal and thoughtful dog with a gentle and patient disposition. It was an excellent guard dog that could be relied upon to warn you of intruders. As a companion dog, this breed was also affectionate and loyal.

As this breed was often used for hunting, it had an extremely acute sense of smell, making it a great companion for search and rescue missions. However, similar to its hunting instincts, Pharaoh Hounds could be a little too curious and hyperactive at times.

Health and Temperament Tips

The Pharaoh Hound is a “hunting by scent” breed. Therefore, it’s predisposed to genetic diseases linked with scent-hunting, such as deafness, blindness, and inherited pawing at air. In addition, the breed is associated with epilepsy, hip dysplasia, and canine cognitive dysfunction. Before you decide to get one, be sure to know more about its health and temperament.

The Pharaoh Hound is a medium-sized dog breed with a sturdy build. It’s compact in size and moves with confidence and elegance, which makes it a great pet for both indoor and outdoor environments. The breed is intelligent and friendly, making it a good companion for both children and adults.

Here are some of the most common health concerns among Pharaoh Hounds:

1. deafness – deaf Pharaoh Hounds are predisposed to ear diseases and infections. In addition, they might have a reduced auditory brainstem response, which is associated with deafness
2. blindness – this condition is usually linked to cataracts or inherited pawing at air. It can also be caused by glaucoma or injury to the eyes
3. scent-hunting diseases – the breed is predisposed to epilepsy and inherited pawing at air. In addition, it might also suffer from cataracts, glaucoma, and scent-hunting behavior diseases, such as OCD (a neurodegenerative disease)
4. diabetes – like humans, Pharaoh Hounds are prone to diabetes. It’s caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors
5. heart conditions – this health condition is linked to obesity and can lead to heart failure

Pharaoh hound training

The Pharaoh Hound is a hunting breed. Therefore, it’s predisposed to certain behaviors and temperament traits, including a high prey drive, a strong hunting instinct, and an intense desire to hunt. To repress these traits and make the dog a good family pet, you’ll have to provide the right training.

Here are a few tips that will help you train the dog:

• provide an enriching and challenging environment – like other active breeds, the Pharaoh Hound needs a stimulating, active environment. If you live in a quiet and calm environment, you might also have to provide your dog with daily mental exercises, such as training or agility competitions.
• make training sessions enjoyable – Pharaoh Hound training should be fun and enriching. Make the environment stimulating and use positive training methods. Also, praise your dog when he obeys your commands, instead of using harsh corrections.

Conclusion

The Pharaoh Hound is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world. It’s a “hunting by scent” breed with a catchy hunting instinct. This makes it predisposed to certain health conditions linked with scent-hunting behavior.

The breed is friendly, intelligent, and easy to train. Therefore, if you’re looking for a rare dog breed, this is the one for you! Now that you know more about this ancient breed, you can find a breeder near you and get your own Pharaoh Hound!

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