Anyone who has ever looked at the pottery or paintings in the tombs of Ancient Egypt will recognise the Pharaoh Hound of modern times. Indeed, it is quite remarkable that breed type can have lasted through literally thousands of years. The obvious elegance of outline of the breed makes it easy to understand the degree to which this classic dog was venerated by the Pharaohs of old.

The Pharaoh Hound became a native of Malta, an island colonised by the Phoenicians around 1,000 BC. They almost certainly took their dogs with them, and it was from that island that the first imports came, with the breed finally establishing itself in Britain in the 1970s. The most striking feature of the Pharaoh Hound is his shining, glossy coat of rich tan verging on red. The erect ears, the amber eyes with their keen gaze, and the athletic enthusiasm make him a dog that appeals to lovers of the aesthetic, but his ability to hunt both by scent and sight makes him much more than an object of beauty. He really is a working hound and as such needs an owner who is ready and able to give him both exercise and affection.

His short coat makes him easy to maintain in prime condition, but equally makes it necessary to prevent him being exposed to intense cold without proper protection.