Breeds / Large
Pharaoh Hound puppies
Playful and affectionate at home, aloof with strangers, an intelligent Maltese sighthound with a strong hunting drive and a sensitive streak.
The facts
- Size class Large
- Country of origin Malta
- Adult weight 20.4 to 24.9 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 45 to 55 lb
- Adult height 53 to 64 cm
- Energy level High
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Short smooth
- Shedding Moderate
- Typical lifespan 12 to 14 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Reliably good
About the Pharaoh Hound
The Pharaoh Hound is the national dog of Malta, where they have long hunted rabbits over stone walls and rough ground using sight, scent and hearing together. This is a lean, athletic dog of about 20.4 to 24.9 kg standing 53 to 64 cm, with big upright ears, a short tan coat and the odd habit of blushing, since the nose and ears flush rosy when they are excited or pleased. At home they are playful, clownish and affectionate, and distinctly reserved with strangers.
Two good runs or brisk walks a day keep one fit, but free running belongs inside a tall, secure fence because the hunting drive overrides training. Grooming is a weekly brush and little else. Pharaohs are sensitive and do badly with harsh handling, and they are thin skinned enough to want a coat in cold weather. They suit an active, patient household, with supervision and socialisation around children. Whatever you do, do not rely on recall off lead.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Pharaoh Hound puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Hip and elbow dysplasia, which breeding stock should be x-rayed for
- Patellar luxation, diagnosed by physical examination of the stifle
- Eye disorders, found by an ophthalmologist evaluation of breeding stock
- Sensitivity to anaesthesia, common in lean sighthounds and worth raising with the vet before any surgery
Your Pharaoh Hound puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a Pharaoh Hound.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 20.4 to 24.9 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 24.9 kg; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other large breeds
More on the Pharaoh Hound
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- Health notes from Pharaoh Hound breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/pharaoh-hound/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Photo: Pleple2000, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.