Pharaoh Hound

The Pharaoh Hound is a medium-sized sighthound that comes from the island of Malta, where hunters have long used it to flush rabbits over rocky terrain. Its Maltese name, Kelb tal-Fenek, means "dog of the rabbit." Unlike many sighthounds that hunt by sight alone, this breed tracks by sight, scent, and sound together.

The coat runs from tan to chestnut, the ears stand large and upright, and the athletic frame is built for quick sprints over uneven ground. A grown dog usually measures about 53 to 64 centimeters (21 to 25 inches) at the shoulder and weighs around 20 to 25 kilograms (45 to 55 pounds). Owners who bring the breed into the Philippines often remark on the "blush": when the dog gets excited or happy, its nose and the skin around its ears turn a deeper rose shade.

Indoors, the Pharaoh Hound is calm and affectionate, forming a tight bond with the household. It gets along well with people it already knows. Like most hunting hounds, it has a mind of its own and will not always follow instructions right away, though patient, reward-based handling brings out its cooperative side.

Who it suits

This breed suits active Filipino households with the space and time for daily exercise, ideally with a securely fenced compound to let it run safely. It fits owners who want a low-maintenance coat and who do not mind a dog with a strong urge to chase small animals. Anyone expecting instant, parade-ground obedience may find the independent streak trying. Homes that already keep cats, aspin, or other small pets should manage introductions carefully, since the hunting instinct runs deep.

The Pharaoh Hound is Malta's national hound, kept for generations as a working hunter under its local name, Kelb tal-Fenek. On Malta and the neighboring island of Gozo, hunters relied on it to find and flush rabbits from stone walls and rough countryside, often pairing the dog with ferrets and hunting after dark.

The English name and an old popular story tied the breed to ancient Egypt, based on its likeness to dogs carved into Egyptian tomb art. Genetic research since then has not backed up a direct, unbroken line to those ancient dogs, so the breed is better described as a long-standing Maltese type than a literal descendant of the pharaohs.

Britain took up the breed around the 1920s and 1930s, and organized breeding programs there grew stronger from the 1960s onward. Kennel clubs in Britain and the United States recognized the Pharaoh Hound in the late twentieth century, which fixed a consistent standard and carried the breed to new countries. It later reached Southeast Asia through hobbyist breeders and importers, and the Philippine Canine Club, Inc. (PCCI) lists it among its recognized breeds today.

Even with that international recognition, the Pharaoh Hound stays uncommon outside Malta, and rarer still in the Philippines, where local sighthound fanciers usually source puppies through overseas breeders or PCCI-linked networks. On its home island, the rabbit-hunting tradition continues alongside its role as a companion dog.

The Pharaoh Hound carries the lean, graceful outline typical of sighthounds. The body runs slightly longer than it is tall, with a deep chest, a tucked-up belly, and long clean legs built for speed. The head is long and chiseled, the muzzle tapers toward the nose, and the large ears stand erect and swivel forward the moment the dog turns alert.

Coat and colors

The coat is short, fine, and lies flat against the skin, with no undercoat underneath. Accepted shades range from light tan through richer chestnut and red-gold. White markings are allowed only in set places: a white tip on the tail, sometimes called the "flag," white on the chest, white toes, and a slim white blaze down the center of the face. Heavy white spotting on the back of the neck, shoulders, or body counts as a fault under most standards, PCCI's included. Because the coat gives so little insulation, the dog copes fine with Philippine heat but needs extra protection whenever temperatures drop, such as on a wet, windy night during typhoon season.

At home, the Pharaoh Hound is affectionate, playful, and often glued to its favorite family member. Many like to lean against or curl up beside the people they trust most. The breed usually gets along with children it has grown up with, though its speed and energy mean playtime with toddlers needs supervision.

Reactions to strangers range from openly friendly to politely reserved. Early, consistent socialization, ideally starting right in the compound or barangay where the puppy lives, keeps the dog relaxed around new people and situations. It stays alert and tends to bark when someone approaches the gate, but it was never bred for guard work and rarely turns aggressive.

Prey drive shapes much of its outdoor behavior. A Pharaoh Hound may bolt after a rat, a stray cat, or a passing tricycle without warning, so a secure fence and firm leash habits matter, especially in busy subdivisions. It usually gets along with other dogs. Success with cats or other small pets depends on careful, gradual introductions, and some individuals never become fully trustworthy around them.

Grooming

• Brush the short coat about once a week with a soft brush or grooming mitt to clear away loose hair.
• Bathe only when needed; the coat stays clean on its own and carries little doggy smell.
• Trim the nails every few weeks and check that they do not click against tiled floors.
• Clean the large upright ears regularly and watch for wax buildup or redness, which shows up faster in humid weather.
• Brush the teeth several times a week to keep the gums healthy.

Exercise

• Give the dog at least 45 to 60 minutes of activity a day, with room to run at full speed.
• Exercise early in the morning or after sunset to avoid the harshest midday heat and humidity.
• Use a securely fenced compound for off-leash sprints; the chase instinct makes recall unreliable around small animals.
• Keep the dog on leash in open areas, public parks, or anywhere unfenced.
• Add mental work such as scent games or short training drills, since the breed is smart and bores quickly.

Environment

The Pharaoh Hound does best with access to a safe, fenced yard, though it can adapt to condo or townhouse living if exercised properly. The thin coat and lack of undercoat make it sensitive to cold and damp, which matters most during the cooler months from December to February or on wet, windy nights in typhoon season. A warm, padded bed indoors matters, and a light coat or sweater helps on those rare chilly evenings. This is strictly an indoor dog and should never be left outside overnight.

The Pharaoh Hound thrives on a complete, balanced dog food suited to its life stage and activity level. As a lean, athletic breed, it should stay at a weight where the ribs are easy to feel but not visible, with a clear waist when viewed from above. Exact amounts depend on the food brand, the dog's weight, age, and exercise level, so treat the product label as a starting point and adjust from there based on body condition. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times, especially during the hot months.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to roughly 10 percent of daily calories so the dog stays lean. Small pieces of plain cooked chicken or commercial low-calorie treats work well for training. Most Pharaoh Hounds on a complete diet need no extra supplements; ask a veterinarian before adding anything for joints or skin, since supplements the dog does not need can cause harm.

The Pharaoh Hound counts as a relatively healthy and hardy breed, with a typical lifespan of 12 to 14 years. It carries fewer inherited disorders than many breeds, partly thanks to its long history as a working hunter. Like all sighthounds, its low body fat changes how it handles certain medications and anesthesia, so any veterinary clinic treating the breed for the first time should be told about this trait before a procedure.

Preventive care

• Keep vaccinations and parasite control current, including protection against ticks and mosquito-borne heartworm, both common year-round in the tropics.
• Book yearly veterinary checkups, moving to twice a year once the dog turns senior.
• Keep the dog lean to protect its joints.
• Brush the teeth regularly and arrange professional dental cleaning as the vet advises.
• Tell any new vet about the breed's drug and anesthesia sensitivity before a procedure.

The Pharaoh Hound learns quickly and can pick up a wide range of commands, but its hound independence means it often weighs whether following an instruction is worth the effort. It is also sensitive and shuts down or avoids the handler when corrections turn harsh. Short, upbeat sessions built around food and play rewards get the best results. Recall stays the hardest skill to make solid, since a rat scurrying past or a neighbor's cat crossing the street can override any amount of training, so most owners keep the dog leashed or inside a fenced compound whenever off-leash freedom carries risk.

Basics

1. Start socialization early, introducing the puppy to people, places, sounds, and other dogs around the neighborhood.
2. Teach name recognition along with a marker word or clicker to flag correct behavior.
3. Build core cues one at a time, such as sit, down, and stay, in short sessions.
4. Train recall intensively from puppyhood, rewarding every return, and practice first inside a safe, enclosed space.
5. Add leash manners and slowly introduce distractions as the dog improves.

Responsible Pharaoh Hound breeding puts health, sound temperament, and adherence to the breed standard ahead of volume. Although a dog can physically reproduce earlier, most breeders wait until full maturity, around 18 to 24 months, before a first litter, giving the dog time to finish developing physically and mentally while health screening gets completed. Mating follows the female's heat cycle, and pregnancy runs roughly 63 days from conception.

Litters usually number six to eight puppies, though smaller and larger litters happen. Newborns arrive helpless and rely on the mother for warmth and milk, so a clean, warm whelping area matters a great deal, particularly during humid or rainy stretches when dampness spreads faster indoors. Puppies open their eyes around two weeks old and start weaning between four and six weeks. Gentle handling and early exposure to household sounds and sights during those first weeks help raise confident, well-adjusted adults.

Puppies typically go to new homes from about eight weeks old, after their first vaccinations and a veterinary checkup. Because the breed stays uncommon in the Philippines, prospective owners often end up on a waiting list with a PCCI-registered breeder or import through a trusted overseas contact.

How to register a Pharaoh Hound in the Philippines

A Pharaoh Hound that gets loose during a storm is identified by whatever record answers the scan, not by the barangay it came from. Give it a record that answers: your mobile number, the dog's photo, and his details, free for life with United Pet Club. Register your dog today and it is done for good.

If a vet has already implanted a chip, the number still has to be filed where a scanner can trace it, because an unfiled chip points at nobody. Register the microchip free on the lifetime plan: any brand sold in the Philippines qualifies, updates after you move house or change SIM cost nothing, and the record stays searchable here and abroad. Create your free account and cover both in one go.