Dog breed profile
Pharaoh hound
A detailed profile covering characteristics, everyday care and linked health conditions.
Quick facts
Typical guide only; individual needs vary.
Profile description
The Pharaoh Hound is a medium-sized, elegant hunting breed associated with Malta, where it has traditionally been used to hunt rabbits. Despite its name and ancient-looking appearance, its modern development is linked particularly to the Maltese islands. Most adults stand around 53 to 63 centimetres tall and weigh approximately 18 to 27 kilograms.
The breed has a lean, athletic body, large erect ears, amber eyes and a short coat in shades of tan or chestnut, sometimes with limited white markings. Pharaoh Hounds are intelligent, affectionate, alert and playful. They often form close bonds with their families while remaining reserved or cautious around strangers. Their hunting background gives them a strong prey drive, excellent hearing and sight and a tendency to pursue rabbits, cats, birds or other moving animals.
They can be sensitive to harsh handling and may become anxious in chaotic environments. Indoors, properly exercised adults are often calm, but outdoors they are fast, agile and capable of jumping considerable heights. This breed generally suits active owners who can provide secure running space, gentle training, companionship and careful management around smaller animals. Individual Pharaoh hounds still vary with breeding, early experience, health and training, so these breed tendencies should guide preparation rather than predetermine the personality of every dog.
Before choosing a Pharaoh hound, prospective owners should consider adult temperament, activity and handling needs as well as appearance. A well-matched Pharaoh hound is normally included in everyday family life and given clear outlets for the same instincts that shaped the breed's original work or companionship role. Responsible selection of a Pharaoh hound should consider stable temperament, functional structure and documented health history alongside colour, coat and outward breed type.
First-time dog owner tips
Practical preparation for welcoming this breed into your home.
Care requirements
Daily Pharaoh hound care requires daily exercise, including walks, scent activities and regular opportunities to sprint within a large, securely fenced area. Fencing should be high and free from climbable objects.
Off-leash exercise should not occur near roads or wildlife because the dog may chase movement and cover ground rapidly. Training should use positive reinforcement, gentle handling and short, varied sessions. Recall should be practised, but owners should not rely on it as the only safety measure. Introduce brushing, foot handling, mouth examination and quiet restraint to the Pharaoh hound in brief rewarded steps before any of those procedures becomes urgent.
The short coat requires weekly brushing and occasional bathing. The breed has little body fat or protection from cold conditions and may need warm clothing and padded bedding during winter. Routine hygiene for the Pharaoh hound includes regular tooth brushing, short nails and checking the ears for irritation. Measure the Pharaoh hound's food against actual workload and reassess portions after growth, desexing, illness or a change in activity rather than relying indefinitely on the packet guide. A monthly weight or body-condition record makes gradual change in a Pharaoh hound easier to detect than appearance alone, particularly when day-to-day familiarity masks a slow trend.
Food should maintain a lean, athletic body condition. Regular veterinary examinations should monitor eyes, thyroid function, joints, skin and general mobility. The dog should be protected from prolonged cold and supervised around cats, rabbits and other small animals. Secure doors and gates are important because an excited Pharaoh Hound may quickly pursue wildlife. Preventive planning for the Pharaoh hound should reflect family history and give particular attention to mobility and joint comfort, coordination and neurological function, without assuming that a breed association means an individual dog is affected.
Conditions linked to this breed
Elbow Dysplasia
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Epilepsy (Idiopathic, Primary or Inherited Seizures)
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Luxating Patella
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General dog health conditions
These conditions can affect dogs generally and are not presented as conditions specifically associated with this breed.
Cataract [Cloudiness of the Lens of the Eye]
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Diabetes Mellitus
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Hypothyroidism
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Otitis Externa (Ear Infections)
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Pancreatitis
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