Overview
Despite the name, the Pharaoh Hound is the national dog of Malta, where it was kept to hunt rabbits over rocky ground by sight, scent and hearing. It is a tan, fine-boned hound with large upright ears and a habit of blushing pink across the nose and ears when excited.
Pharaohs are gentle, a little reserved with strangers and rarely a problem to handle. The difficulty on a walk is the hunting instinct. Once a rabbit moves, a Pharaoh is gone.
Exercise and walking needs
Plan for about an hour to ninety minutes daily. Lead walking alone will not satisfy a young adult; they need to run flat out somewhere fenced. Otherwise a long line and a brisk pace are the honest alternative.
They do not need endless mileage. A good sprint session followed by a steady walk home suits them better than two hours of plodding.
On the walk
- Recall: Decent in a quiet space and almost nil once prey appears. Treat off-lead time as something that happens only behind a fence unless the owner has shown you otherwise.
- Pulling: Light on the lead most of the time. The lunge when a squirrel appears is sudden and strong for the dog's weight, so keep a firm grip and a short lead near wildlife.
- Other dogs: Usually polite and playful with other sighthounds and calm dogs. Small fluffy dogs running at speed can trigger the chase instinct, so introduce carefully.
- Weather: Thin coat, no body fat to speak of. In cold rain this is a coat-wearing dog, and in frost the walk should be shorter and brisker.
Tips for professional walkers
- Use a wide sighthound collar or a harness; a thin collar slips over the narrow head.
- Scan ahead for rabbits and deer and tighten up before the dog sees them, not after.
- A fenced sprint a few times a week settles everything else.
- Keep a fleece coat in the van from October to April.
What to ask the owner
- Where is the dog allowed off lead, and has it ever been tested around livestock or wildlife?
- How does it react to small dogs running, and to cats on the route?
- Does it wear a coat in winter, and does it shiver on cold mornings?