Pharaoh Hound E-Book

Juliette Cunliffe

• Herausgeber: CompanionHouse Books
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Serie: Comprehensive Owner's Guide
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 209

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2012

Beschreibung

Written by hound-breed authority, Juliette Cunliffe, this colorful and comprehensive volume discusses the Pharaoh's history in Egypt, Malta and beyond, the breed's unique characteristics and personality and breed standard. The new owner will welcome the author's insightful advice about training this sensitive and intelligent breed as well guidance on puppy selection and care, house-training and health care. In addition to an authoritative text, written with both the pet owner and breed fancier in mind, this book presents over 135 color photographs that prove to be as attractive as they are informative.

Leseprobe

Physical Characteristics of the Pharaoh Hound

(from the American Kennel Club breed standard)

Skull: Long, lean and chiseled. Only slight stop. Top of the skull parallel with the foreface representing a blunt wedge.

Ears: Medium high set, carried erect when alert, but very mobile, broad at the base, fine and large.

Eyes: Amber colored, blending with coat; oval, moderately deep set with keen intelligent expression.

Nose: Flesh colored, blending with the coat.

Neck: Neck long, lean and muscular with a slight arch to carry the head on high. Clean throat line.

Color: Ranging from tan/rich, tan/chestnut with white markings allowed as follows: White tip on tail strongly desired. White on chest (called “the Star”). White on toes and slim white snip on centerline of face permissible.

Forequarters: Shoulders long and sloping and well laid back. Strong without being loaded. Elbows well tucked in. Forelegs straight and parallel. Pasterns strong. Feet neither cat nor hare but strong, well knuckled and firm, turning neither in nor out. Paws well padded.

Size: Height—Dogs 23 inches–25 inches. Bitches 21 inches–24 inches. All over balance must be maintained.

Coat: Short and glossy, ranging from fine and close to slightly harsh with no feathering.

Tail: Medium set—fairly thick at the base and tapering whip-like, reaching below the point of hock in repose. Well carried and curved when in action. The tail should not be tucked between the legs.

Hindquarters: Strong and muscular. Limbs parallel. Moderate sweep of stifle. Well developed second thigh. Dewclaws may be removed. Feet as in front.

Contents

History of the Pharaoh Hound

Go back to ancient times to trace the history of this over-5,000-year-old breed, one of the oldest in dogdom. Learn about its association with ancient Egyptians; its long history in Malta as Kelb Tal-Fenek, the rabbit hunter; and its importation to other countries around the world.

Characteristics of the Pharaoh Hound

Probe the unique personality of the Pharaoh Hound. Along with being an intelligent, alert and personable companion, this is a high-energy dog with chase and escape instincts who requires the right owners to train and care for him. Also discuss physical characteristics and the health concerns seen in this generally hardy breed.

Breed Standard for the Pharaoh Hound

Learn the requirements of a well-bred Pharaoh Hound by studying the description of the breed set forth in the American Kennel Club standard. Both show dogs and pets must possess key characteristics as outlined in the breed standard.

Your Puppy Pharaoh Hound

Be advised about choosing a reputable breeder and selecting a healthy, typical puppy. Understand the responsibilities of ownership, including home preparation, acclimatization, the vet and prevention of common puppy problems.

Everyday Care of Your Pharaoh Hound

Enter into a sensible discussion of dietary and feeding considerations, exercise, grooming, traveling and identification of your dog. This chapter discusses Pharaoh Hound care for all stages of development.

Training Your Pharaoh Hound

By Charlotte Schwartz

Be informed about the importance of training your Pharaoh Hound from the basics of housebreaking and understanding the development of a young dog to executing obedience commands (sit, stay, down, etc.).

Health Care of Your Pharaoh Hound

Discover how to select a qualified vet and care for your dog at all stages of life. Topics include vaccinations, skin problems, dealing with external and internal parasites and common medical and behavioral conditions.

Showing Your Pharaoh Hound

Enter the dog-show world and find out how shows are organized and how a champion is made. Go beyond the conformation ring to competitive trials and events in which the breed excels, including lure coursing and agility trials.

Behavior of the Pharaoh Hound

Learn to recognize and handle common behavioral problems in your Pharaoh Hound, including barking, jumping up, aggression with people and other dogs, chewing, digging, separation anxiety and more.

KENNEL CLUB BOOKS®PHARAOH HOUND

ISBN 13: 978-1-59378-342-6

eISBN 13: 978-1-62187-051-7

Copyright © 2004 • Kennel Club Books® • A Division of I-5 Publishing, LLC™

3 Burroughs, Irvine, CA 92618 USA

Cover Design Patented: US 6,435,559 B2 • Printed in South Korea

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by photostat, scanner, microfilm, xerography or any other means, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the copyright owner.

Photographs by Isabelle Français and Carol Ann Johnson

with additional photographs by

Norvia Behling, T.J. Calhoun, Doskocil, Bill Jonas, Mikki Pet Products, Alice van Kempen and Doreen M. Wright.

Illustrations by Patricia Peters.

The publisher would like to thank the owners of all of the dogs featured in this book, including Jan Butterworth, Lori Evans, Gregory & Lisa Mitrosky, Jill & David Morris, Marilyn M. Smith.

One of the ancient breeds of dogdom, the Pharaoh Hound is an intriguing sighthound whose history spans thousands of years.

THE PHARAOH HOUND IN ANCIENT HISTORY

The Pharaoh Hound ranks among the oldest of domestic dogs recorded in history, indeed some say it is the very oldest. This red hound was a great favorite of Egyptian nobles and was known 3,000 years or so before Christ, for there are many murals on tombstones and on papyrus, depicting a remarkably similar middle-sized sighthound with erect ears.

Anubis, who in Egyptian mythology was considered the inventor of embalming, as well as being guardian of tombs and judge of the dead, is often said to resemble today’s Pharaoh Hound. However, it must be said that there is still controversy among Egyptologists as to whether Anubis was a dog or a jackal.

Indeed the history of this captivating breed is a little controversial, and it is not always easy to distinguish between fact and fiction. While the majority of enthusiasts clearly believe that the Pharaoh Hound was one of the hounds of Egypt, there are others who claim that, under the name of Kelb Tal-Fenek, this breed really has its roots in Malta. Supporters of this theory believe that in Egypt itself, this dog was considered to be of Maltese origin. Whatever one chooses to believe about this breed’s early origin, there is no disputing the fact that these hounds have been preserved in Malta for many a long year. They have been bred for hunting rabbit, as well as for guarding the homesteads, many standing picturesquely on look-out from the flat rooftops.

Anubis, ancient Egyptian god of death, has been represented by a dog-like figure with erect ears and a pointed snout. This painted wooden statue is dated about 300 BC.

Over time, dedicated researchers have concluded that the Pharaoh Hound is in fact a mixture of Canis doerdelini, Canis lupaster and pariahs. From the first, the breed obtained its elegant silhouette; from the second, its beautiful limbs; from the last, its erect ears and gentle nature.

Going back to dogs of this type in ancient Egypt, there is evidence that such dogs were used primarily to hunt hare, gazelle, antelope and ibex (a type of wild goat). It is also fascinating to note that in Egypt, not only humans but also dogs were mummified, and mummies of dogs measuring 22 inches (56 cm) at the shoulder have been discovered. Such mummification ensured that they could enter the afterlife. When Tutankhamen’s burial chamber was opened, among the treasures was a life-sized dog resembling a Pharaoh Hound, and inside a mummified dog.

© KÖNEMANN VERLAGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH, KÖLN /A. JEMOLO.

Representation of the nocturnal voyage of the sun god, in a boat pulled by four Anubis dogs, while four cobra snakes pray. Animals figure heavily in Egyptian pre-Christian history. The Anubis dogs certainly resemble the Pharaoh Hound.

Pliny the Elder (23–79), the Roman writer and encyclopedist who was the foremost authority on science in ancient Egypt, wrote on quadrupeds. He mentioned the red dog, saying that because its hearing was so good, it was tethered along the Nile so that it could watch out for intruders and give warning of their approach. These red dogs were also sacrificed to the gods.

The burial chamber of Pashedu, dated about 1200 BC, is guarded by two Anubis dogs.

Front (left) and back (right) sides of a slate carved between 6000 and 5000 BC, depicting ancient dogs hunting gazelle.

Left to right: One of the dogs depicted on the tomb of Antefa II; an ancient Egyptian pet dog; “Akbaru,” the Khufu dog.

THE PHARAOH HOUND IN MALTA

The Phoenicians were seafarers who arrived in Malta in pre-Christian times. When they settled on the islands of Malta and Gozo, they took with them their hounds. In Malta, the Pharaoh Hound is therefore believed to have existed for over 2,000 years. It was here that the breed developed, unaffected by outside influence, with the result that this hound breeds very true to type.

However, the earliest written reference to the breed in Malta was in 1647, when Commendatore Fra. G. Fran Abela wrote of dogs called “Cernechi,” which were “esteemed for the hunting of rabbits.” They were “in demand primarily for stony, mountainous and steep locations.” We should thus also consider that there was a long gap between this date and the decline of the Pharaonic Empire.

Whether or not one accepts that these Maltese islands were the original home of the breed, there is no doubt that the dogs have been preserved here by the inhabitants who know them as Kelb Tal-Fenek. However, for simplicity’s sake, I hope the Maltese will forgive the author for using the name Pharaoh Hound, for this is the name by which the breed is known more generally in most countries throughout the world.

A theory upheld by exponents of the breed in Malta is that the Pharaoh Hound might well be a descendant of the ancient type of prick-eared hound that is found in many different cultures around the Mediterranean Sea. As one finds with many closely associated breeds in various groups, it is understandable that, over time, specific breeds developed in their own countries. In Portugal, we find the Podengo Português; in the Balearic Islands, the Podenco Ibicenco or Ibizan Hound; in the Canary Islands, the Podenco Canario; and in Sicily, the Cirneco dell’ Etna. In Malta, the Pharaoh Hound has undoubtedly become a native of that country and until a few decades ago they were not known outside Malta. However, since then, they have spread to many countries of the world.

A HUNTING HOUND

In Malta, the Pharaoh Hound, or Kelb Tal-Fenek, as he is known there, hunts not only rabbit but also quail and woodcock. When hunting birds, the dog searches out, then flushes the birds, so that they can be shot down by the hunter. Just a few hunters also train their Pharaohs to retrieve the birds when shot, as well as to retrieve the rabbits they have killed.

The Ibizan Hound is a close relative of the Pharaoh Hound.

The Pharaoh Hound, known there of course as the Kelb Tal-Fenek, is held in such high esteem in Malta that, in 1974, it was declared the country’s National Dog. In 1977, a Maltese Lira coin was minted, depicting this distinctive breed of dog on its reverse.

USE AS A RABBIT DOG

In earlier years, it was necessary for people in Malta to hunt rabbit for food, for life could be hard. Today, though, rabbit hunting is considered more of a sport and a means of keeping a tradition alive. The breed in Malta is today used for hunting, primarily by farmers who keep several dogs, utilizing their cooperative abilities. Often they work with a dog and bitch, which they call a “couple,” and selection of dogs is based on hunting ability. In this way, the efficiency of the breed has been preserved.

Head study of a rough-coated Ibizan Hound.

An ancient papyrus painting. Within its detailed images and writings are ancient dogs resembling Pharaoh Hounds.

Although rabbits in Malta are exceedingly nimble, jumping easily from one stone to the next over difficult, rocky terrain, they tend not to dig burrows. Rather, they take refuge under rocks and in the walls of rubble. Near the coast, they hide inside cracks and crevices. Dogs that have been bred to work in this rugged landscape need to be tough and well-built, as is the Pharaoh Hound.

These hounds have a remarkably good sense of smell for a sighthound. They work away from the wind so that they can get the smell of the rabbit early, while the rabbit does not notice the approach of the dogs. It is also interesting to note that the dogs are keen to roll in rabbit droppings, a further way of concealing their approach as their scent is thus disguised. Endurance is high and these hounds can work all night if necessary. If worked during daylight hours, the dog stands considerably less chance of surprising a rabbit, for the dog announces his location of the prey by barking and enthusiastic scratching.

When the dog brings the hunter’s attention to a hidden rabbit, the hunter employs a ferret, carried in a basket and wearing a little bell. As the ferret moves along in inaccessible places, the dog can follow the sound of the ferret until the rabbit bolts. For readers who are wondering about the relationship between dog and ferret, in Malta they both grow up together, so the Pharaoh Hounds do not consider the ferrets as prey, and, in any case, the dogs respect their sharp teeth!

Of course there are occasions on which a dog loses sight of its prey, in which case the Pharaoh Hound will search the area in ever-widening circles until located again. On difficult ground, the dog will sometimes jump high to become oriented. At the kill, the Pharaoh Hound grips the rabbit by biting into its neck or back, then shaking it until dead.

THE PHARAOH HOUND ARRIVES IN BRITAIN

Mrs. Shoppe of Dulverton in Somerset, UK, is responsible for registering the first Pharaoh Hound imported to Europe. She knew that other Pharaoh Hounds had been brought into the country by servicemen but she found no trace of these when she endeavored to put her own dog to stud.

Her Pharaoh did, however, have the distinction of being portrayed in Hutchinson’s Encyclopaedia, published in the early 1930s. There were two photographs, under the name Kelb Tal-Fenek, with the comment that this breed was an excellent friend to its owners and made a good watchdog. Of interest is that, each season, Mrs. Shoppe’s Pharaoh hunted with the Quantock Stag Hounds.

As you may have anticipated, the breed did not thrive in Britain. Fortunately, though, in the 1960s, Major General Adam Block, commanding in the Mediterranean, purchased and imported Bahri of Twinley in 1962, this with his wife, Pauline. Further imports followed: Twinley Valletta, Chu-Cha and Luki, Pupa and Sibuna Ziff. Some of these were owned in partnership with Mr. and Mrs. Liddell Grainer and Mrs. Anne Dewey, who was to become the first secretary of the breed club.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

The original breed name applied for in Britain was Kelb Tal-Fenek, the literal translation of which is “rabbit dog,” though a more precise translation is actually “rabbit-hunting dog” or “rabbit hound.” This application was refused on the grounds that it was “unacceptable,” but some people still rightly wonder why this was so. After all, we do have Otterhounds, Foxhounds and even Dachshunds, which when, translated from German, means “badger dog.”

Until this time the breed was still known as the Kelb Tal-Fenek, which, in translation meant “rabbit dog.” The English Kennel Club, however, refused to register the breed, stating that the name was totally unacceptable because it translated merely to “rabbit dog.” As a result, Pauline Block and Anne Dewey contacted the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), inquiring what name they used for this breed. The reply, received in November 1965, said that “the race bred in Malta is recognized by the FCI as the Pharaoh Hound.” So it was that the name Pharaoh Hound came into use in Britain, although the Maltese name Kelb Tal-Fenek appeared in brackets alongside the name.

Mrs. Shoppe’s Kelb Tal-Fenek, the first of this breed in Britain.

SIGHT, SCENT AND SOUND HOUND

Although classified as a sighthound, the Pharaoh Hound actually uses both sight and smell when hunting his prey. The breed also has an acute sense of hearing.

In America and Britain, the Pharaoh Hound is exhibited in the Hound Group, and under the FCI it falls into Group Five, which is for “Spitz and Primitive types.”

In 1972, Lionel Hamilton-Renwick imported hounds from Gozo, and in 1973 and 1974 there were further importations. The English Kennel Club granted the breed full recognition in 1974, giving permission for Challenge Certificates to be awarded, something that was to happen in 1975. The breed’s first champion, Kilcroney Rekhmire Merymut, a male, was bred by Mrs. G. Le Strange-West and co-owned by the highly successful partnership of Miss Monica Still, Dr. Christine Singer and Dr. Jeanne Druce. These three ladies, founders of the Merymut Kennels, had visited Egypt, where they were fascinated by the prick-eared hounds they had seen on tombs. In a Harley Street dental office, they later came across an article about the breed, written by Lionel Hamilton-Renwick, and so began the Merymut dynasty.

The Podenco Canario is a related breed that is similar in looks to the Pharaoh Hound.

Eng. Ch. Kilcroney Rekhmire Merymut, a natural extrovert who loved the sound of applause, did much to promote the breed before championship status was granted. The first bitch to gain her championship title in the UK was the second champion in the breed, Tarnach Twinley Xamxi, bred by Pauline Block and owned by Liz Waugh. Eng. Ch. Talkaccatur Bardaxxa is also worthy of note, for this was the first of the Maltese imports to gain a title in Britain.

THE PHARAOH HOUND IN THE ANTIPODES

The Pharaoh Hound arrived in Australia and New Zealand in the 1970s, firstly in New South Wales and Victoria, and soon after in Tasmania.

THE PHARAOH HOUND IN THE US

The Pharaoh Hound first arrived in the US in 1967, and the first litter was whelped in 1970, when the breed’s parent club, the Pharaoh Hound Club of America, was founded. The breed was accepted into the American Kennel Club’s Miscellaneous Class in 1973, and recognized for registration in the AKC’s Stud Book in 1983. On January 1, 1984, it was entered into the Hound Group, becoming eligible for full championship status in America. The breed ranks in the lower quarter in registration statistics with about 100 puppies registered annually.

Pharaoh Hounds at an outdoor dog show. This intriguing breed attracts much interest and attention in the show ring.

In the US, the Pharaoh Hound takes part in lure-coursing field trials, which are open to all breeds of sighthound and in which they gain titles by carrying out the work for which they were originally bred. In such trials, the hounds chase a white plastic bag, representing a rabbit, and no live game is used. They also take part in open field coursing, though this is primarily available only on the West Coast. Obedience trials are also popular competitive events, but because Pharoahs can be somewhat stubborn, they rarely accomplish competitive obedience titles.

Pharaoh owners are very proud of their dogs and fascinated by the breed’s history and personality. Good specimens can be found world-wide.

The Pharaoh Hound is a unique breed, both in appearance and in temperament, and of course its history is thoroughly fascinating. An extremely intelligent dog, the Pharaoh Hound is playful and loving, and yet also dignified and, as some people put it, “self-contained.”

The Pharaoh Hound is absolutely not a suitable breed for everyone; it can be very demanding and has a mind of its own. Owners should therefore think long and hard before making the decision to own one, always keeping uppermost in their minds that this is a breed that was selectively bred for hunting, and, even after such a long period of time, the hunting instinct is still strong.

PERSONALITY

The personality of the Pharaoh Hound is quite different from that of most other breeds. Pharaohs are devoted to their owners and enjoy being with them, but they are unlikely to pester their owners for visible affection. Although they like to be loved, they will decide when they want this attention. This is a sociable breed, one that enjoys companionship, be it of humans or other dogs. There is no doubt that, if given the opportunity, a Pharaoh Hound will enjoy the comfort of an easy chair and have absolutely no objection to sleeping on (or under) the blankets at night. When taking on a Pharaoh, it is therefore important to start as you mean to go on!

DOGS, DOGS, GOOD FOR YOUR HEART!

People usually purchase dogs for companionship, but studies show that dogs can help to improve their owners’ health and level of activity, as well as lower a human’s risk of coronary heart disease. Without even realizing it, when a person puts time into exercising, grooming and feeding a dog, he also puts more time into his own personal health care. Dog owners establish more routine schedules for their dogs to follow, which can have positive effects on their own health. Dogs also teach us patience, offer unconditional love and provide the joy of having a furry friend to pet!

With strangers, the breed can be rather reserved, and this tends to apply rather more to the females than to the males. Pharaohs like to take their time to get to know guests, but once they have accepted them, those guests can expect a warm welcome on future visits. This breed is highly alert, making it a good watchdog, likely to bark loudly at the approach of a stranger or visitor to the house.

By nature, the Pharaoh Hound is an entertainer, one that seems to thoroughly enjoy making his owners laugh at his antics. Everything this hound does is looked upon by him as something that can be a potential game, and so it should come as no surprise that the Pharaoh Hound rarely adapts easily to traditional training. But success can be achieved, provided that an owner is consistent, fair and gentle.

A Pharaoh Hound can be quite stubborn when the fancy takes him. Although Pharaohs understand a lot of what is said to them, they usually don’t seem to understand until the second time it is said! Actually, they learn very quickly, but they learn the bad things too, not only the good. Not a bad thing, I suppose, but one of my favorite stories about the breed I love most is of the Pharaoh Hound who jumps up to pick his own apples off a tree in his owner’s garden. It is said that Pharaohs don’t wait for anything to happen by itself, but instead make an active contribution to life around them.

THE ALLURE OF LURE COURSING

Pharaoh Hounds greatly enjoy lure coursing, giving the dog an opportunity to experience the joy of the chase, without taking live prey. In some countries, such as Denmark, it is forbidden to hunt live game, so lure coursing is a means of satisfying the dogs’ natural desire to run and to chase.

They love to play and, in fact, often respond best when they know that what they do will make their owners laugh. However, they should not be played with roughly, and it should always be borne in mind that they hate to feel trapped or cornered. Curious dogs, they have a tendency to steal things, and many owners say it is sensible to “Pharaoh-proof” the house, so as to avoid finding little things missing. It is not unknown for a Pharaoh to steal the towel when his owner is in the bathtub or shower, whisking it away through the house, only to hide it in some inaccessible place! When their owners are not at home, most Pharaohs are kept in a room where they can do no harm, in a kennel run or in a large crate.

Pharaoh Hounds are known for their wizardry in the art of escape, so tall, sturdy fencing and watchful eyes are necessary on the part of Pharaoh Hound owners.

A HAPPY COMPANION

Pharaoh Hounds are affectionate to family members and most enjoy participating in family life if given the opportunity. They are naturally clean dogs with no doggy odor. Dogs whose owners spend too little time with them have a way of looking miserably unhappy and bored.

Pharaoh Hounds are sensitive dogs and should never be punished physically. Raising your voice in reprimand is quite enough. Indeed, Pharaohs have the rather charming habit of blushing when they are excited, their nose and the insides of their ears turning to a deep mauve. This is a dog that can also “smile” when he is happy; this he does by wrinkling the corner of his lips up over his teeth.