Pharaoh Hound
HISTORICAL SUMMARY
THE Pharaoh Hound originally called kelb-tal fenek is a dog that came from Malta Island. Their ancestors are from the region of Ancient Egypt, where it is possible to find representations of these dogs in hieroglyphics on the walls of the tombs of the pharaohs, hence the name of the breed, which translated into Portuguese is nothing more than “Hound of the Pharaoh”. It is believed that this race reached Malta via the Phoenician merchants' vessels, spreading throughout the Mediterranean by seas. For centuries, peasants in rural areas of Malta have used these dogs to hunt rabbits and other small prey in games, being bred with care so as not to lose their physical and hunting characteristics. Currently, the Pharaoh Hound is known to be a great companion dog, being used as a therapy dog to help people with physical or mental difficulties recover.
Country of Origin: Malta .
GENERAL APPEARANCE: Medium size, noble size and well defined contours. Graceful but strong. Very fast with free and easy movements and alert expression.
BEHAVIOR AND TEMPERAMENT: Alert, intelligent, friendly, affectionate and playful.
HEAD: Snout slightly longer than skull. Skull parallel to muzzle, entire head represents a truncated wedge when viewed in profile and from above.
CRANIAL REGION
Skull : Long, thin and well chiseled.
Stop : Light.
FACIAL REGION
Truffle: Flesh color only, matching coat color.
Jaws and Teeth: Strong jaws and teeth; scissor bite.
Eyes: Amber color, matching the coat color. Oval, moderately deep, with a lively and intelligent expression.
Ears : Set on high, carried erect, when alert; but very mobile, wide at the base, thin and large.
NECK : Long, dry, muscular and slightly arched. No dewlap.
TRUNK
Croup: Falling slightly from the croup to the root of the tail.
chest : Deep, reaching the elbow. Ribs well sprung.
Bottom Line : Moderately tucked up.
TAIL: Medium set, quite thick at the base and tapering (tail in whip), reaching exactly the point below the hock at rest. Carried high and curved when in action. The tail must not be carried between the legs. A screw (coiled) tail is undesirable.
MEMBERS
PREVIOUS : Straight and parallel.
Shoulders : Strong, long and well leaning back
Elbows: Very close to the body.
Metacarpals: Strong.
HINDQUARTERS : Strong and muscular. Parallel limbs when viewed from behind.
Knees : Moderate angulation. well developed thighs
Paws : Strong, well sprung and firm, turning neither out nor in. Paws with good pads. Ergots can be removed.
DRIVE : Free and fluent; head carried quite high. The dog must cover the ground well, without any apparent effort. Legs and paws should move in line with the body; any sideways tendency, or high stride (hackney), is highly undesirable.
COAT
By : Short and shiny, ranging from fine and dense to slightly hard. No fringes.
COLOR:
Deep brown or brown with white spots allowed as follows: White tail tip is highly desired. White on the chest (called a star). White on the fingers. A stripe in the center of the muzzle is allowed. Any stain or white spot other than those indicated above is undesirable.
SIZE : Males: ideal 56 cm. Females: ideal 53 cm.
FAULTS
Any deviation from the terms of this standard should be considered a fault and penalized in exact proportion to its severity and its effects on the health and well being of the dog.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS
• Aggressiveness or excessive shyness.
• Any dog that shows any sign of physical or behavioral anomaly must be disqualified.
• Lack of typicality.
• Overshot or undershot.
• Different colored eyes.
• Narrow sternum region: very narrow ribs at the bottom;
• Curled tail.
• Crooked or semi-crooked limbs.
• Woolly fur.
• All black or white dogs.
• Important depigmentation.
• Size different from that stipulated by the standard.
• Visible disability; anatomical malformation.
• Fearful or aggressive animal.
GRADES
• Males must have both testicles, of normal appearance, well let down and accommodated in the scrotum.
• Only clinically and functionally healthy dogs with typical breed conformation should be used for breeding.