| Pharaoh Hounds: the most honest dog breed review you'll ever find. Information about Pharaoh Hound personality and behavior. |
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My book, Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyer's Guide (published by Henry Holt & Co.), includes a full-page profile of the Pharaoh Hound, including these excerpts:
"The AKC Standard says, "Of noble bearing with hard clean-cut lines... very fast with a marked keenness for hunting."
The Pharaoh Hound is athletic and playful, light on his feet and a jumper par excellence. Adults move gracefully through the house, though some sprinting and leaping should also be expected. Pharaoh Hounds can be most entertaining if one has a sense of humor.
He is fond of being comfortable and can curl himself into a surprisingly compact ball to fit whichever nook or cranny has the softest blankets.
The Pharaoh Hound needs a good deal of exercise, but is so swift and agile and has such powerful chasing instincts that he must be allowed to run only in a safe, enclosed area.
Though extremely alert and quick to announce strangers, the Pharaoh Hound is not a guard dog. Indeed, he is both curious and cautious, hesitantly investigating new people, places, sights, and sounds. Early and ongoing socialization is required to build confidence.
Usually sociable with other dogs, Pharaoh Hounds will pursue small animals that run.
This independent thinker is sensitive to correction, so he should be handled calmly and motivated with food and praise.
Sighthounds are touch-sensitive, tending to startle when touched unexpectedly and uncomfortable when cuddled excessively. A verbal correction is more effective than a physical one, because it is less distracting to the dog.
Unlike most sighthounds, the Pharaoh Hound can be a barker."
History
Originally owned by Egyptian rulers, the Pharaoh Hound was brought to the island of Malta and used to run down gazelles and hares.
Size
21-25 inches and 40-60 lbs |
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Pharaoh Hounds
What's good about 'em
What's bad about 'em
- There are energetic Pharaoh Hounds, and placid Pharaoh Hounds.
- Hard-headed Pharaoh Hounds, and sweet-natured Pharaoh Hounds.
- Serious Pharaoh Hounds, and good-natured goofballs.
- Introverted Pharaoh Hounds, and Pharaoh Hounds who love everyone.
| If you acquire a Pharaoh Hound puppy, you can't know for sure what he or she will grow up to be like. Because a good number of purebred puppies do NOT grow up to conform to the "norm." |
Now let's look at some common characteristics for this breed...
- Is medium-sized, with a slender, elegant build
- Has a sleek, easy care coat
- Is extremely athletic and graceful -- can run swiftly and jump great heights
- Is probably the most curious and playful of the sighthounds
- Is more cautious with strangers than other sighthounds, and makes a more alert watchdog
A Pharaoh Hound may be right for you.
| If you don't want to deal with... |
- Providing a safe, enclosed area where he can gallop
- Fearfulness and timidity when not socialized enough
- Strong instincts to chase other living creatures that run
- High fencing to prevent escapes
- An independent "what's in it for me?" attitude toward training
- Emotional sensitivity to stress and abrupt changes in schedule
- Slowness to housebreak
- Barking (the noisiest sighthound)
A Pharaoh Hound may not be right for you.
| If I were considering a Pharaoh Hound... |
My major concerns would be:
- Providing enough running exercise. Pharaoh Hounds don't need miles of running every day, but they MUST have regular opportunities to vent their energy a few times a week. Otherwise they will become restless and bored -- which they usually express by destructive chewing.
| Pharaoh Hounds need access to a large fenced area -- fenced because these independent dogs are likely to take off and not come back. If there is a dog club in your area, get your Pharaoh Hound involved in lure coursing (chasing a mechanized lure around a track or across an open field). This is an appropriate outlet for the full-speed galloping behaviors that are "hardwired" into his genes. |
- Timidity. Standoffish by nature, Pharaoh Hounds need extensive exposure to people and to unusual sights and sounds. Otherwise their natural caution can become shyness or fearfulness, which is very difficult to live with.
- Chasing other animals. Most people do not realize just how fast and agile sighthounds are -- or how strong their instincts are to chase and seize fleeing creatures. They could seriously injure or kill your neighbor's cat or toy dog. In today's society, the legal liabilities should be considered.
- The independent temperament. Pharaoh Hounds are not Golden Retrievers. They are independent thinkers who don't particularly care about pleasing you. Many Pharaoh Hounds are stubborn. They can be manipulative. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.
| To teach your Pharaoh Hound to listen to you, "Respect Training" is mandatory. My Pharaoh Hound Training Page discusses the program you need. |
- Emotional sensitivity. Be honest...is there tension in your home? Are people loud or angry or emotional? Are there arguments or fights? Pharaoh Hounds are extremely sensitive to stress and can end up literally sick to their stomachs, with severe digestive upsets and neurotic behaviors, if the people in their home are having family problems. Sighthounds are peaceful, sensitive dogs who need a peaceful, harmonious home.
- Housebreaking. Ibizan tend to resist being told what to do, and housebreaking is no exception. Expect four to six months of consistent crate training.
- Barking. Most other sighthound breeds seldom bark, but Pharaoh Hounds are different. Indeed, they often too quick to sound the alarm at every new sight and sound. You have to be equally quick to stop them. If you work all day and have close neighbors, Pharaoh Hounds are not a good choice for you. For the same reason, Pharaoh HOunds should NEVER be left outside in your yard, unsupervised.
| If you're considering an adult Pharaoh Hound... |
There are plenty of adult Pharaoh Hounds who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics. If you find such an adult, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you.
When you acquire a puppy, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important. But when you acquire an adult, you're acquiring what he already IS.
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Copyright © 2000-2006 by Michele Welton. All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without the permission of the author. |
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