Pharaoh Hound - a breed of dog related to greyhounds, is considered a great helper during the hunt for rabbits. In addition, she can become an excellent companion for her master and a favorite of the whole family. You can learn about whether this animal was a dog of the Egyptian pharaohs, about his character and his care for him from this article.
About origin
A large number of different images and statuettes of animals have survived, which in their appearance resemble the current breed called the Pharaoh's dog. In Egyptian mythology relating to the era of the reign of the ancient kings, there is the god Anubis, who was the guide of the souls of the dead to the underworld. The outward resemblance with him gave rise to the assumption that this breed of dog is directly related to such an ancient civilization.
Initially, it was assumed that the Phoenicians brought these animals to Malta, where they existed for more than 2 thousand years with virtually no change. However, modern scholars have disproved this hypothesis, since DNA analysis has shown that Pharaoh's dogs have no relation to Ancient Egypt.
The Maltese are convinced that the birthplace of animals is the Mediterranean, and in particular their island. They consider the current name of the breed to be fundamentally wrong. The islanders themselves call it “kelb tal-fenech”, which means “rabbit dog”. There were times when only these animals were allowed to hunt poor peasants, who took with them trained dogs. Knights who were members of the Order of Malta who came to the island banned the only fishing available to them. This led to the uprising, known in history as the “rabbit riot”, in which both peasants and clergy took part.
For the first time, Maltese hunting dogs are mentioned in a document dating back to 1647, authored by one of the members of the Order of Malta. With the onset of the 20th century, the first representatives of this breed came to the UK, but for some reason no one liked it. Only after 40 years, they fell in love and began to be appreciated in England and on the American continent. For the first time, the international standard for this breed was approved in 1977.
Description
The Pharaoh Hound is a true athlete, as she is strong and muscular. However, at the same time, she looks very flexible, graceful and elegant. The body is slim and well defined. The growth of representatives of this breed varies from 55 to 63 cm, and weight - from 18 to 27 kg. Males are always slightly larger than bitches. Excessive aggressiveness or shyness, as well as physical and other behavioral abnormalities are considered disqualifying defects of the breed.
The head of the animal has a wedge-shaped shape with clear outlines and a round forehead. The nose is large with wide nostrils, painted in flesh color. The transition from it to the forehead is weakly expressed. The neck is dry, long and muscular, without suspension. The ears are large, erect, pointed at the tips. Almond-shaped eyes are wide apart, have a very beautiful amber shade. The dog’s look is noble and intelligent.
The lower outline of the chest does not reach the elbow joints. The upper back, along with the croup, form an almost straight line. The paws are strong, and the fingers on them are tightly compressed. The limbs are slender and muscular. The tail is slightly curved, thick at the base, gradually tapering towards the end, reaching to the hock joints.
The description of the breed of the pharaoh dog will be incomplete, not to mention one very interesting feature. The fact is that its representatives know how to smile, and also blush. If they do the first almost constantly, then the second only at moments of happiness or excitement, when the tips of the ears, nose and rims of the eyes begin to turn pink.
Wool and color
In all the photos of the pharaoh’s dog, it can be seen that it has a short hairline. She has a soft, silky coat that shimmers in the sun. However, in some areas it is stiff and tightly attached to the skin.
All shades of red are allowed, starting from a not-so-dark tan and ending with a rich chestnut. The paw pads, claws, nose and mustache must match the color of the coat. White markings are also allowed if they are on the tip of the tail, legs, chest, middle of the forehead or nose. Light spots on the back, sides or back of the neck are considered deviations from the generally accepted breed standard and are unacceptable.
The eyes of animals should have an amber hue. It blends beautifully with coat color. It is interesting that the puppies of a pharaoh dog initially have blue eyes, but when they begin to grow up, they take on a light golden or yellow hue, which gradually begins to darken.
Character
Looking at the photo of the pharaoh’s dog, you can confidently determine that this is a cute, affectionate and kind animal, loving, without exception, all family members. The pet belonging to this breed is very playful and active, so it is perfect for cheerful and energetic people. He is infinitely devoted to his master, but at the same time he will from time to time demonstrate his independence.
Since the pharaohs are small in stature, quite good natured and completely devoid of aggression towards people, they will not be suitable for the role of a guard, but they will be warned about the arrival of a stranger with a loud bark.
They do not like loneliness. If they are left alone for a long time, they will begin to get bored. To attract attention, they often bark pointlessly. By the way, this is considered a disadvantage of the breed, which will have to put up with or not leave the dog for a long time alone. So that the animal does not spoil things in your absence, it must be provided with toys, and various small items should be hidden in a place inaccessible to him.
The pharaohs have a fairly strong nervous system, they are very curious and sociable. They get along well with children and enjoy playing with them. It is worth noting that these animals have a special sense of ownership, which applies both to their lounger and place, and to all the toys that they give them from the moment they appear in the house. This feature must be reported to children. They need to be taught that you can’t get into a dog’s house or drive him out of there, as well as pick up a sunbed or toys. Children should understand that this is a member of the family and respect their interests.
The dog of the pharaohs gets along well with other animals, especially if it grows with them in the same house. However, during walks on the street it is better to keep her on a leash, as an affectionate and cute pet here turns into a real hunter. A cat, a small dog or a flock of birds become the object of his close attention. Since the pharaohs are greyhounds, this is natural for them, so the owner must constantly educate and control his pet.
Pharaohs love their owners very much and subtly feel their mood. For example, a dog will react to some joyful event in the family with its inherent fun - it will energetically wag its tail, jump, bark loudly and smile. But if some kind of unhappiness happened, she could fall into a severe stressful state, which is expressed in passivity unusual for her, dull look, drooping ears and even refusal to eat.
Parenting and training
Such a breed of dogs, like the Pharaoh's dog, must be socialized from an early age, as their puppies are characterized by some timidity and timidity. Therefore, as soon as the pet appears in the house, the owner needs to take him for a walk as often as possible, familiarizing himself with the environment, other people and animals.
Since the dog is very intelligent, it is quite easy to train and train it. The dog grasps all the basic skills literally on the fly, however, before executing any command, he will first think about the best way to act. Sometimes because of his stubbornness, the dog may not obey the owner. Therefore, during training, it is very important to make it clear to the dog who is in charge here, since only by taking the “leader” position will the owner be able to achieve success in training and raising such a dog breed as the Pharaoh’s dog. In the photo below, the dog executes the command "Barrier!".
If the pet does not obey and does not want to fulfill one or another order, in no case should one yell at it, let alone beat it. It is enough to chastise the dog, speaking to him in a harsh tone. He will certainly understand that he was wrong, and will fulfill the required command. So that the pharaoh does not lose interest in training, you need to use new teaching methods every time, and at the end of the lesson you must praise him.
Maintenance and care
Pharaohs can live in an apartment, but an ideal option for them is still a country house. In the summer, the pet can be accommodated in an aviary with a high fence, as having noticed a small animal, it will easily jump over a low fence. But to put such a dog on a chain is highly not recommended.
In the cold months, you can’t leave the animal to live on the street, as it will not be able to tolerate cold and damp due to the thin coat and the almost complete absence of subcutaneous fat. On the contrary, during walks he needs to wear either a special jacket or overalls.
In all the photos of the pharaoh's dog, it looks perfect, and this is not surprising, since the dogs of this breed are extremely clean. That is why the process of caring for them will not take much time and will be very simple. Let's start with hair care. Despite the fact that the hair is very short, it still needs to be cleaned from time to time. For these purposes, use either a special glove or a rubber brush. They help cleanse the coat of various impurities, as well as dead skin particles and hairs.
Pharaoh’s dogs molt only twice a year, and even then this process takes place painlessly and almost imperceptibly for the owner. Unless the owner will have to comb out the dog a little more often with a special glove.
Given the cleanliness of these animals, they can be bathed no more than once every two or three months. For these purposes, a hygienic product specifically designed for puppies or baby shampoo is suitable. Since this breed is very sensitive to all kinds of chemicals, it is necessary to very carefully approach their choice.
It is also worth paying attention to other simple procedures relating to the hygiene of the ears and eyes of the dog. They are usually performed weekly, as well as as needed. To do this, use a cotton swab, which remove the accumulated dirt. These simple actions will help to avoid the appearance of various infections that adversely affect the condition of the auditory and visual apparatus of the animal.
The pharaohs need to shorten their claws, but only if they do not have time to grind themselves. Now about brushing your teeth. This procedure must be carried out starting from puppyhood. Then it will be easier for the pet to carry it when it grows up. In addition to the above procedures, veterinarians recommend doing all the necessary vaccinations. If you follow these simple rules for caring for animals, then the dog will be able to please you with his presence for many years.
Nutrition Pharaohs: Natural Products
Each owner must decide for himself which feeding to choose. There are two options - a ready-made diet or natural products. If the latter, then it is worth thinking about a balanced diet, so that the animal can receive in sufficient quantities those products and substances that it needs for growth and normal development.
In the first place in the diet of the breed of the pharaoh dog is meat. Ideally, it should be at least half of all the food consumed by the animal. For this purpose, beef is best. Poultry should be introduced into the dog’s diet with great care, because its body is prone to allergic reactions and digestive problems. Introducing turkey or chicken into the menu, you need to carefully look at your pet: does it have itching, any skin rashes or upset stomach. If everything remains normal, then you can continue to give him a bird.
In addition to meat, various offal, as well as large bones, must be included in the menu. Usually they are added to cereals boiled in water or broth and seasoned with vegetable oil. Sour milk products and vegetables, which will contribute to good digestion, must be included in the pet's diet. If your pet is prone to allergies, then a good veterinarian will help you make a list of products and choose the right diet for your dog. Also, in addition to products, the dog needs to periodically give preparations that are vitamin-mineral complexes that will make up for the lack of these substances in the animal’s body in the amount of the daily norm.
A caring owner should know that it is extremely undesirable to feed the dog of the pharaohs with food from his table, because it may contain foods forbidden to animals that have ever had any allergic manifestations. These include:
- various pickles and marinades;
- all smoked meats;
- various sweets, pastries and pastries, including chocolate;
- minced meat and tubular chicken bones;
- potatoes and legumes;
- nuts, raisins and grapes;
- fried foods and fatty pork;
- pasta and bread.
Pharaohs nutrition: dry food
For such pets, you need to choose only high-quality diets that belong to the premium categories and above, specially designed for dogs prone to food allergies. However, in any case, each feed introduced into the animal’s menu for the first time requires close monitoring of the condition of the dog. Its granules should be either medium or large. This allows you to keep the dog’s teeth in good condition, preventing the appearance of stones on their surface. If the owner has chosen a dry type of feeding for his dog, then he must provide the pet with free access to water. In addition, keep in mind that greyhounds are very active and almost constantly in motion.
First, puppies of a pharaoh dog, whose photos are in this article, are fed three or four times a day, and when they grow up, they, like adults, are transferred to two meals a day. Serving size directly depends on the weight of the animal, its activity and age. If the dog is too mobile, then he will need more food. In addition, the serving size fluctuates seasonally: due to the summer heat, the dog can eat much less than usual, and in winter - vice versa.
Breeders always warn people who want to have puppies of a pharaoh’s dog that they can’t be overfed in any case, otherwise it will inevitably lead to overweight and subsequent obesity.
Breed-specific diseases
Usually the dog of the pharaohs has excellent health and is almost always in excellent physical shape. However, not one of the breeds is safe from their inherent diseases. In this case, the main thing for the owner is to determine in time that the pet is unwell and show it to an experienced veterinarian as soon as possible. Here is a list of the most common diseases of this breed of dogs:
- bloating due to improper feeding;
- various ear infections;
- von Willebrand disease;
- dysplasia;
- hypothyroidism;
- allergies, especially to anesthetics;
- dislocation of the knee.
However, do not despair, since not every dog ​​is susceptible to the above diseases. By and large, it depends on the conditions of detention and diet of the animal. Attentive and friendly attitude to your pet can extend their happy life to 15-17 years. Then, even in the "advanced" age, the dog will be active, very mobile and have a good physical shape.
Where to get a puppy
Now Pharaoh's dogs in Russia are so far a rarity. Therefore, it is quite difficult to buy it. If you want to get a puppy of this breed, you have to agree on this in advance. The rarity of the breed in the country is mainly due to the high price, and experts do not advise buying a dog from dubious breeders or random people. However, if you nevertheless decided to take such a step, then you will be sold an animal without documents for at least 800 dollars (45,000 rubles). At the same time, there is no guarantee that the puppy is healthy or purebred.
The approximate price of a thoroughbred puppy, but with slight deviations from generally accepted standards is $ 1,500 (84,800 rubles), and from titled parents with all the necessary documents and a good pedigree, which later will be suitable for breeding and exhibitions, more than $ 3,000 (169,700) rub.).