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Entry 256Filed under Breeding

Pharaoh Hound: Dog Breed Characteristics & Care

The Pharaoh Hound is an affectionate, active Maltese rabbit-hunting breed with modest grooming needs and a marked interest in pursuing animals. Learn about its exercise profile, appearance, lifespan estimates, and health-screening questions to ask a breeder.
7-minute read By Animalso Team
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The Pharaoh Hound is a Maltese rabbit-hunting breed: affectionate, playful, athletic, and strongly interested in pursuing moving animals. It needs substantial daily activity, but its short coat requires relatively little grooming. Its ancient-looking appearance is associated with Egyptian imagery, but Malta—not Egypt—is its documented country of origin.

Is a Pharaoh Hound right for you?

A Pharaoh Hound may be a good fit for an active home that can provide regular exercise, companionship, and thoughtful management around small animals. Breed descriptions characterize Pharaoh Hounds as intelligent, friendly, affectionate, playful, alert, and active, but these are tendencies, not guarantees about an individual dog.

Before choosing the breed, consider whether you can provide:

  • Daily activity suited to the dog’s age, fitness, and health.
  • Mental engagement, such as training and scent-based games.
  • Careful management around opportunities to chase animals, given the breed’s marked hunting interest by sight and scent.

Consider another breed if you need a low-activity dog or cannot meet the individual dog’s exercise and management needs.

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Pharaoh Hound at a glance

Characteristic Breed information
Country of origin Malta, according to the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI)
Purpose Rabbit hunter, according to the Royal Kennel Club
Height AKC standard: males 23–25 inches; females 21–24 inches
Coat Short and glossy; modest grooming needs
Color Tan or rich tan/chestnut in the AKC standard
Exercise The Royal Kennel Club profile recommends more than two hours daily; individual needs vary
Grooming Weekly according to the Royal Kennel Club; AKC also describes daily light or weekly thorough brushing
Lifespan The Royal Kennel Club says over ten years; the Pharaoh Hound Club of America FAQ gives an average of 12–14 years

These are breed-profile or standard figures, not guarantees for an individual dog. Height figures above are from the American Kennel Club (AKC) standard; other standards may differ. Lifespan estimates come from different sources and should not be treated as a single verified population statistic.

History: a Maltese breed with an ancient-looking appearance

The FCI lists Malta as the Pharaoh Hound’s country of origin, and the Royal Kennel Club describes it as a rabbit hunter from Malta. The FCI separately lists Great Britain as the country of patronage.

The breed’s appearance has prompted comparisons with dogs depicted in ancient Egyptian art. That association is not proof that the modern breed originated in Egypt or has remained unchanged since antiquity. The Royal Kennel Club recounts a commonly repeated historical narrative, but the clearest sourced country-of-origin entry is Malta.

Appearance and distinctive traits

The AKC standard describes a medium-sized, lithe hound with a graceful, balanced build and a short, glossy coat. It gives height ranges of 23–25 inches for males and 21–24 inches for females. Coat colors include tan or rich tan/chestnut; the standard permits limited white markings and particularly desires a white tail tip. A breed standard describes an ideal, not a guarantee of an individual dog’s appearance.

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Temperament and household behavior

AKC breed descriptions characterize Pharaoh Hounds as intelligent, friendly, affectionate, playful, alert, and active. They also describe marked hunting keenness by sight and scent. A prospective owner should plan for regular activity and consider how the individual dog responds to small animals and other household pets.

Breed tendencies do not determine every dog’s temperament or compatibility. Socialization, experience, and individual behavior matter; assess the dog in front of you rather than assuming it will behave in a particular way because of its breed.

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Exercise: plan for substantial daily activity

The Royal Kennel Club categorizes the Pharaoh Hound at more than two hours of exercise per day. AKC emphasizes a regular exercise schedule and mentions two 15–20 minute runs daily as an example for a “self-runner.” These are general breed-profile recommendations, not individualized prescriptions. Age, health, fitness, weather, and training should shape a particular dog’s routine; consult a veterinarian when you need guidance for your dog.

Because the breed has a marked hunting interest, plan exercise around the individual dog’s behavior and opportunities to chase. A practical routine can include:

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  • Controlled walks and opportunities to explore safely.
  • Play and training suited to the dog’s ability and fitness.
  • Scent-based activities that provide mental engagement.
  • Rest and gradual conditioning as activity increases.

Training and socialization

Pharaoh Hounds are described as intelligent, but breed descriptions cannot predict how readily an individual dog will respond to training. Use consistent, reward-based training and adapt it to the dog’s motivation and attention. Teach practical everyday skills, including attention, leash manners, recall, and settling calmly.

Socialization should give the dog positive, age-appropriate experiences with people, environments, and other animals. It does not require forcing interactions. Introduce dogs and small pets thoughtfully, and manage contact according to the animals’ individual behavior.

Living with children, dogs, cats, and small pets

Assess each dog’s temperament and each household’s needs. Teach children to treat dogs gently and respectfully, and supervise interactions. Do not assume that a Pharaoh Hound will be compatible with every child, dog, cat, or small pet.

The breed’s rabbit-hunting background makes care around cats and small animals particularly important. The Pharaoh Hound Club of America FAQ cautions about unsupervised dog-cat interactions and chase play. Use appropriate supervision and separation, and make decisions based on the individual dog’s behavior.

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Grooming and routine care

The short coat needs relatively little upkeep. The Royal Kennel Club lists weekly grooming; AKC recommends light daily brushing or a more thorough weekly brushing, with baths as needed. AKC also recommends ear cleaning, nail trimming, and regular dental care.

Check the dog’s ears, nails, skin, and teeth as part of routine care. Ask a veterinarian for advice if you notice a concerning change or need help establishing a care routine.

Nutrition and weight management

Choose an appropriate diet for the dog’s life stage and health, and discuss individual feeding questions with a veterinarian. Monitor the dog’s body condition and adjust feeding with professional guidance as needed. The research reviewed for this article does not establish a special diet or supplement requirement for Pharaoh Hounds.

Health, screening, and preventive veterinary care

No robust breed-specific prevalence statistics for inherited conditions or causes of death were identified in the research for this article. Screening recommendations can help prospective owners ask informed questions, but they do not establish disease rates or guarantee an individual dog’s future health.

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Health tests to discuss with breeders

AKC lists patella, hip, ophthalmologist, and thyroid evaluations among tests recommended by the national breed club. AKC’s discussion of CHIC screening describes hips, elbows, patellae, and eye disorders. Because these lists do not match exactly, confirm current recommendations with the breeder, Pharaoh Hound Club of America, and relevant health-testing registry. Ask to see actual results rather than relying only on a claim that a dog was health tested.

The Pharaoh Hound Club of America FAQ gives an average lifespan of 12–14 years and reports that some dogs reach 16 or more. The Royal Kennel Club gives the broader category of over ten years. These are source-specific estimates, not a guarantee or a single verified population statistic.

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Finding a responsible breeder or adoption pathway

The Pharaoh Hound Club of America offers breed information and an FAQ that can help prospective owners learn about the breed. A club resource is a starting point for research, not a guarantee about an individual seller or dog.

When evaluating a breeder or dog, ask about:

  • Current recommended health screenings and the parents’ actual results.
  • The dog’s family history and any health or temperament concerns known to the source.
  • How puppies are raised and socialized, when applicable.
  • The individual dog’s activity level and behavior around other animals.
  • Veterinary records, placement terms, and support if a placement does not work out.

Health screening can provide useful information, but it cannot guarantee a problem-free dog. Consider adoption as well as responsible breeding, and make sure the dog’s needs fit your household.

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Common Pharaoh Hound misconceptions

“The breed originated in Egypt.”

The FCI lists Malta as the country of origin. The breed’s ancient-looking appearance has encouraged Egyptian associations, but those associations do not establish Egyptian origin.

“The short coat means little daily care overall.”

The coat has modest grooming needs, but prospective owners should also consider the breed’s substantial exercise profile and hunting interest.

“Breed descriptions guarantee an individual dog’s behavior.”

Breed descriptions are useful general guidance, not a promise about an individual dog’s temperament, health, or compatibility with other animals.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much exercise does a Pharaoh Hound need?

The Royal Kennel Club recommends more than two hours of exercise daily as a breed-profile category. AKC mentions two 15–20 minute runs daily as an example for a “self-runner.” These are general recommendations, not prescriptions for every dog; tailor activity to the individual dog’s age, health, and fitness.

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Are Pharaoh Hounds good family dogs?

Breed descriptions characterize them as friendly, affectionate, playful, and active. Whether a particular dog suits a family depends on its temperament and the household’s ability to meet its needs. Supervise children’s interactions with dogs.

Are Pharaoh Hounds good with cats and small pets?

Do not assume compatibility. The breed’s rabbit-hunting background and the breed club’s caution about unsupervised dog-cat interactions make it important to assess the individual dog, supervise appropriately, and use separation when needed.

How much grooming does a Pharaoh Hound need?

The Royal Kennel Club lists weekly grooming. AKC recommends light daily brushing or a more thorough weekly brushing, plus baths as needed and routine attention to ears, nails, and teeth.

How long do Pharaoh Hounds live?

The Royal Kennel Club gives a lifespan category of over ten years. The Pharaoh Hound Club of America FAQ reports an average of 12–14 years and says some dogs reach 16 or more. These are estimates from different sources, not guarantees.

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What health tests should I ask a breeder about?

AKC lists patella, hip, ophthalmologist, and thyroid evaluations among tests recommended by the national breed club; its CHIC discussion describes hips, elbows, patellae, and eye disorders. Ask the breeder and breed club for the current recommendations and review actual results.

The Bottom Line

The Pharaoh Hound is a Maltese hunting breed with an affectionate, playful, active profile and a short, relatively easy-care coat. Its substantial exercise needs and hunting interest deserve careful consideration. Learn about the individual dog, ask about current health screening, and decide whether you can meet its needs before bringing one home.

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