Amber eyes, a flesh-coloured nose and a tan coat: the FCI standard requires them all to blend together. Add large, highly mobile ears, which it particularly uses when hunting at close range. Its name suggests Egypt, but the standard gives Malta as the country of origin.
| FCI | Group 5 (Spitz and primitive types), Section 6 Primitive type, Standard No. 248, without working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Malta (patronage Great Britain) |
| Height at the withers | Males 56 to 63,5 cm, females 53 to 61 cm |
| Weight | Not specified in the FCI standard |
| Life expectancy | Median 10,0 years from only 36 dogs analysed in a British study (McMillan et al. 2024), therefore highly uncertain |
| Coat | Short and glossy, ranging from fine and close-fitting to slightly harsh, without feathering |
| Colours according to the standard | Tan or rich tan; permitted white markings are a tail tip (highly desirable), chest patch (“the star”), toes and a narrow blaze |
A hunter from a Mediterranean island
The standard includes no history section. It gives Malta as the origin, Great Britain as the patronage country, and describes an alert hunter working by nose and eyes. The FCI granted definitive recognition in 1963; the new version of the standard dates from October 2026. A Mediterranean study describes the Pharaoh Hound and Cirneco dell’Etna as genetically closely related to the Ibizan Hound (Podenco Ibicenco) (Martínez-Sáez et al. 2025).
Playful, affectionate and alert
Alert, intelligent, friendly, affectionate and playful: the standard’s concise description. At home it is usually a quiet, gentle housemate seeking closeness. Outside, it switches quickly when something moves.
A sprinter with a passion for hunting
Very fast, with free, easy movement: running is part of its design rather than a hobby. Off-lead exercise is safest in enclosed spaces, alongside carefully trained recall and plenty of long-line use. Coursing, mantrailing or jogging together give it what it needs. Introduce cats and small pets early and gently.
Little coat, little work
The short, glossy coat needs little more than a weekly session with a rubber grooming mitt. A coat is sensible for this slim dog in cold, wet weather, as is a soft place to lie.
What research knows about it
Surprisingly little. In the British analysis by McMillan et al., 23 of the 36 Pharaoh Hounds recorded had died, with a median of 10,0 years, but an uncertainty interval from 6,9 to 13,3 years. Crossbreeds reached 12,0 years. With so few dogs, this is a pointer rather than a verdict. A study of 192 sighthounds from eight breeds, including Pharaoh Hounds, found marked differences in blood and organ-function values between breeds. The authors advise against simply applying Greyhound reference values to other breeds (Uhríková et al. 2013). Mention this to your vet if a laboratory result looks unusual.
A good fit if
you want a friendly, elegant dog, enjoy the outdoors and know safe places to run. Families with older children will find a playful companion.
Less suitable if
you hope for unrestricted off-lead walks in woodland, keep small pets loose in the garden or want a dog that follows commands without question.
For its Portuguese relative, read the entry on the Portuguese Podengo (Podengo Português). The breed quiz can show whether a sprinter with hunting passion suits you; our book offers more detail: “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). For the early days with a puppy, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. Its slender silhouette looks striking as a poster in a wooden frame or as a digital artwork to download.
Further reading
- Rhodesian Ridgeback: the dog that thinks alongside you rather than simply obeying
- Dog pulling on the lead: 5 mistakes almost everyone makes
- Is my dog overweight? How to assess body condition and ideal weight
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 248 Pharaoh Hound (Pharaonenhund) (fci.be, English version dated 06.10.2026, valid standard published 08.09.2026, no German version verfügbar); McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024; Uhríková I et al., Haematological and biochemical variations among eight sighthound breeds, Australian Veterinary Journal 2013; Martínez-Sáez L et al., Breed-specific variation in canine cytokine profiles in a leishmaniosis-endemic region, Microbial Pathogenesis 2025.
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