🦮 Large · Malta

Pharaoh Hound: Size, Weight & Temperament

A slender, ancient hunting breed with a pronounced prey drive and a sensitive temperament that needs securely fenced exercise areas and warm protection from cold.

~ Some experience
Pharaoh Hound dog breed portrait
Photo: Peter Gatt · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Weight male18–27 kg
Weight female16–25 kg
Shoulder height53–63 cm
Size classLarge (25–45 kg)
Fully grownat approx. 16 months
Life expectancy12–14 years
Activity levelHigh
OriginMalta
ClassificationFCI Group 5 (Primitive Type - Hunting Dogs)
Temperament & character

The Pharaoh Hound is alert, sensitive, and closely bonded to its owner, with a strongly developed sight- and prey-hunting instinct. It is usually reserved rather than aggressive toward strangers.

Exercise & stimulation

The breed needs regular, extensive exercise with controlled off-leash time in secure areas along with chase or scent games. Because of its strong prey drive, off-leash exercise without a fence is risky.

Grooming

The very short coat is low-maintenance and needs hardly any brushing. Due to low subcutaneous fat, the breed is sensitive to cold and needs extra protection in winter.

Suitable for beginners?

The pronounced prey drive and sensitivity call for gentle yet consistent handling as well as secure fencing. With relevant experience handling sighthounds, the breed is manageable.

Health & common problems

The breed is generally considered robust with few known hereditary conditions; patellar luxation and dental misalignment occur occasionally. As with sighthound-type breeds, visible ribs are typical and not a sign of malnutrition.

Good with: Active owners with a securely fenced property

Is your Pharaoh Hound at a healthy weight? Calculate the ideal weight and the right portion size for free in the Souldog app.

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This information is for general guidance and does not replace veterinary or breeder advice. Temperament and health vary individually within every breed.