One of the oldest domesticated breeds known to man is the Pharaoh Hound, and as you may have figured out, they originated in ancient Egypt! Lisa Chelenza has more about this storied breed in this edition of Pet Pointers.

Images of the Pharaoh Hound have been found on the walls of tombs in ancient Egypt and in art on the island of Malta, where they are now honored as the national dog of Malta. The breed is known for their lean athletic body, reddish-golden coat with white markings on their chest face and toes and believed to date back thousands of years when Pharaoh Hounds were hunting companions for nobility. Modern Pharaoh Hounds are still used to hunt rabbit and herd sheep on family farms of Malta.

These unique dogs are rare in the U.S., but as with any breed they can still be given up. Leah Pekarsky wasn’t looking for a Pharaoh Hound when Electra came into her life, but was shocked once she realized what Electra was.

“She is what I call a Craigslist special. What that means is someone was giving her away for free on Craiglist which is something you should never do because you can’t always be sure they will be going to a good home. Someone can say, ‘I am fabulous let me adopt your dog,’ but they may not be all that great,” said Pekarsky.

While they do get along with other dogs, these sight hounds have been known to chase cats and may not be the best choice for a multi species home.

The Pharaoh Hound is at their best with vigorous daily exercise and a soft warm place to sleep at night with their human family. Pharaoh Hounds also have several unique qualities. They smile when they are happy and will visibly blush on their ears and nose when excited.

Before you bring home any pet do your own research and learn as much as you can about the animal and the kind of care they need to be happy and healthy!