Basic Care Information
Pharaoh Hounds have a very high prey drive; thus they need to be kept in a fenced yard (the fence being at least five or six feet high). An ideal fence would have part underground, as some (not all) Pharaohs choose to try to tunnel to freedom. Some owners in more rural areas have been successful using electronic collars, which allow the dog to be off lead, but as a general rule of thumb, they should always be leashed when out of their house or yard. Electronic collars and fences might keep your dog in, but they won’t keep other animals out; this can often be a problem. When they are "on game" they become selectively deaf, and will ignore you until they've finished the hunt. Be sure that all doors to the outside world shut securely too, as (like many dogs) they’ll want to do some “exploring” of the neighborhood, sometimes with tragic results.
Pharaohs are very much indoor dogs. They do not kennel well, and I expect all animals I sell to be kept as “indoor" pets, first and foremost. Naturally, this doesn’t mean they can’t go outside! It just means that I don’t expect them to live outdoors all day without free access to the inside, nor to sleep outdoors (unless you’re camping<G>) Regarding socializing with other etc: Pharaohs will happily co-exist with other pets, birds and cats included. Until your puppy is completely reliable however, you MUST supervise him/her. The same animals that are friends indoors (read cats, bunnies, and all other small furry things) will become prey outside, so please use common sense.
Grooming needs are minimal. This is one of the reasons I selected this breed-I'm busy grooming five kids! A regular bath, weekly toe-trimming and ear cleaning, a quick brush with a hound glove, and a daily tooth brushing (yes, tooth-brushing!-hey, doggy breath is gross, and vet bills can add up! Poor dental health is associated with many other health problems, and can shorten your dog's life.) are about all they need.
Pharaohs shed minimally, and are a good choice for people with allergies. Most people, even those that are allergic to dogs or have asthma (two of my children do), can tolerate Pharaohs. Pharaohs have no "doggie" odor, even when wet.
Pharaohs housebreak pretty easily, especially if there's a dog to show them the way. They are very catlike in their habits-they groom themselves regularly, and have the independent, slightly standoffish nature of a feline.
Because I have a large family and somewhat limited time, I feed my dogs a high quality commercially prepared dog food. If you can, I would encourage you to consider one of the raw diets such as the BARF (Bones and Raw Food)-it’s great for the total well-being of the dog, and keeps their teeth nice and white, and their coats in great shape. I’m happy to discuss the pros and cons of various diets with you if you have concerns or questions.
Naturally, just like humans, dogs need regular vet checkups, as well as regular professional tooth care (you brush, then go to the dentist for a cleaning, and so should your dog). It also goes without saying that proper immunizations, heartworm and flea prevention and good hygiene will keep your pet happy and healthy for many years.
Nasty Habits
There is no perfect dog (except yours and mine of course!) and no one perfect breed, but there are perfect matches for different types of people. With that statement in mind, here is a list of potentially irritating or unlivable traits that some Pharaohs have exhibited. Please keep in mind that these icky habits vary from individual to individual-a few do, and many don't-and that all of the habits listed can occur in any breed. Of these nasty habits, almost every case can be cured with a varying amount of attention and diligence-please consult your breeder and/or a dog behavioralist for specifics.
Some Pharaohs (mine don't) have developed the nasty habit of coprophagia (stool eating). This stems from their feral days when in the wild they needed to cover up their trail. They are not the only breed that does this-almost any breed can become a stool-eater. The trick here is early prevention-clean up right away after your puppy, and it shouldn't be a problem. Like I said, it's a habit (in my personal opinion), and mine don't (knock on wood!!!). Should this distasteful (pun intended) habit rear its ugly head, please consult your breeder for some tried and true solutions. And remember: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Just clean up after your puppy right from the start and all should be well.
Pharaohs can be prone to excessive barking, and again, not all of them do this. However, they are not “yappy”. Almost any breed can become barkers; pack-type breeds are more prone to this. Pharaohs are Hounds first and foremost, and this barking is called "giving tongue". When hunting in packs, as hounds do, it lets the others know that game has been located, and alerts the hunter to the location. At home, it's called irritating.
Boredom and stress are the primary reasons for anxiety barking (as opposed to your dog barking when a stranger is at the door, something I heartily approve of.) Outside stimuli is a second cause (I have ugly wire fences-this gives my dogs plenty to see-and to bark at!) Keep your dog stimulated and with companions, and out of view of outside stimuli, this will minimize the problem. (And if you do, call me-I have cures!)Many Pharaoh Hound owners have had great success with electric bark collars (the citronella ones don’t work very well), and others have debarked their dogs. No this doesn’t render them silent-it just lowers the volume!
Some (not all) Pharaohs are diggers and love to excavate. I’ve only had one try this stunt, and when redirected, quit it. Because many owners live in areas more rural than mine, they allow their dogs to dig. This habit, not particular to Pharaohs, is one best left to the owner to decide. Mine don’t dig because they have other things to do (many, evil, evil things…). My personal opinion regarding this potential bad behavior is that:
a) monkey see, monkey do, so don’t let your Pharaoh hang around with a bad crowd <VBG>. I have friends with gorgeous Pharaohs that are involved with all aspects of dogdom. One "evil seed" (he’s not really evil-he’s gorgeous and sweet) promptly taught the others to dig .
b) A bored, unattended dog of any breed is a destructive dog, so letting them do what they should be (herding, hunting, hauling, being your loyal companion and so on) will help.