All about the pharaoh dog

If you want to acquire a sporty, playful pet with an excellent hunting talent and at the same time the ability to be a devoted friend, you should opt for the pharaoh dog.

Smart and selflessly loving children, such a greyhound also knows how to blush - in moments of sincere happiness her ears, nose and iris rim really blush, which is unique in itself, like her constant smile.

Pharaoh Hound comes from the oldest animals that live in Egypt 2 thousand years BC. NS., and then spread to the Mediterranean countries, in particular to Malta, where they were brought by Phoenician merchants. There, Egyptian individuals intermarried with the population of local dogs, and their offspring took on an appearance that has remained the same to this day.

However, Maltese residents to this day consider the name greyhound in the place of the pharaohs' homeland inappropriate. - in their opinion, the animal originally appeared on their island, and the British called it the pharaoh dog based on the similarity of the beast with the ancient deity - Anubis, mainly depicted as a bright red dog.

Since fishing for small game helped the poor of the island to survive, the ban was soon followed by their rebellion, which is reflected in the chronicles of that time.

Kelb tal-fenech, as the Maltese called their dog, came to Great Britain at the beginning of the 20th century, at first the English dog breeders did not like it, but after 40 years the greyhounds were nevertheless recognized as the official breed of pure blood.

The main purpose of the dog is hunting, since the animal has excellent eyesight and excellent instinct. The breed is called primitive, but only because the greyhound did not actually mix with other animals and has an impeccable pedigree.

In terms of appearance, there are established ICF standards, by which the merits of each individual are judged:

• the dog has a slender and muscular body of medium size with clear contours, its physique is distinguished by grace and nobility;
• in size, the body is slightly longer than the height of the animal at the withers;
• deep sternum with curved ribs, not reaching the elbow joint;
• the stomach is tucked up, a little pulled in;
• the animal has a stately, long neck with strong muscles and slight curvature;
• the head is elongated in the form of a wedge, clearly marked with a round forehead;
• long muzzle tapers towards the nose;
• high-set ears, wide closer to the head, with pointed tips, mobile, in a standing position;
• a flesh-toned nose with wide nostrils;
• the dog has almond-shaped eyes of medium size, widely spaced, predominantly honey, amber;
• the bite is correct in the form of scissors, the teeth are large and strong, only 42 teeth;
• croup well developed, slightly sloping, favoring a parallel stance of the hindquarters;
• the tail is medium in the form of a whip, tapering to the tip, covered with short hair, the permissible length is up to the hock of the legs;
• short shiny coat, no undercoat;
• the skin is smooth, rather thin and has no folds;
• the legs of the animal are straight with strong pasterns and elastic pads, set parallel.

Disqualifications, as a rule, are subject to dogs with obvious deviations from the standard indicators, as well as those characterized by increased shyness or aggressiveness.

There is no black greyhound, but according to the standard, it may have white spots on the forehead and bridge of the nose, on the legs, chest and end of the tail. If white markings are found on the back, flanks and on the back of the neck, the animal may be discarded. When a puppy has such deviations, it precludes a purebred greyhound.

Unlike bald animals, whose yellow-golden skin color resembles hair.

Despite the great love for the owner and household members, including children, the animal can periodically demonstrate character and disobey. This is due to the fact that his peculiarity is the ability to think outside the box and appreciate his own person.

Meanwhile, barking can be attributed to the shortcomings of the breed, and you can hear it when the greyhound is bored, it remains alone for a long time.

Another sin is found for the tailed friend - he, like any self-respecting dog, can gnaw furniture and household items, so you have to buy dog ​​toys in advance. It is worth getting ready for the fact that the animal will be sensitive to its own things, not only to toys - to a couch, bowls, a house.

By the way, a dog can make friends with pets if it grows up with them. So that it touches the territory of the street, there the dog forgets about such details, and instantly turns on its hunting instinct. And if not educated, he can terrorize everyone.

Despite the average size, the animals are compact and require a minimum of space in the dwelling. Pharaoh's dog is a sensitive psychologist who understands the mood of a person without words, in addition, it needs constant communication. Possessing a good memory, animals quickly memorize commands, but in order to achieve complete obedience from them, you need to deal with them from early childhood, and also regularly repeat the lessons already passed.

In a favorable environment, they do not stop smiling, are playful and cheerful, infecting with their cheerfulness, but if something unpleasant happens, the dog will worry along with other family members - some dogs at the same time refuse to eat, become lethargic, do not show interest in things, who have always interested them.

If you are going to take a puppy with a greyhound, it should be understood that he will not be able to live on the street - because of the short hair and lack of fat, the animals freeze, so the booth and open enclosure are not suitable for them.

In good conditions and in the absence of diseases, "pharaohs" are able to please their owners for a long time - they live from 12 to 17 years.

The good health of dogs in general does not exclude certain diseases to which the breed is predisposed.

• With metabolic disorders in old age, many pets are prone to deformities of the hip and elbow joints.
• Due to congenital dislocations of the knee joints, damage to the animal's limbs is likely even with minor injuries. This is due to the underdevelopment of connective tissue and ligaments. It is possible to cure such an anomaly, but often it requires surgical intervention.
• Due to overeating and weakness of the ligaments that support the internal organs of the dog, the pet sometimes has such a violation as obstruction of different parts of the digestive tract. The development of pathology begins with increased gas production, and as soon as this symptom is detected, you must immediately contact your veterinarian.
• Pharaoh dogs also suffer from a tendency to allergies, so any drugs for treatment, food and hygiene products should be chosen especially carefully.

Doctors tirelessly repeat that the owner should not independently treat a sick animal, since the threat of immunological reactions is always relevant.

When purchasing a purebred Pharaoh dog, the owner will have to think over the care of the animals, the main points of upbringing, the menu of the future pet to the smallest detail.

A puppy, when first introduced to human housing, can be timid and shy, so the owner must establish contact with the young animal and thus unleash its potential. The most important thing is to become a leader, "leader of the pack" for your pet.

To do this, you need to constantly raise a cub.

Also, the owner should always have a treat with him in case of encouragement.

An animal, be it a puppy or an adult dog, should never be yelled at, much less scolded or violently punished.

Of course, one of the main points of training is knowledge of the teams.

• Every dog ​​should know well what "Place" is. In order for the baby to understand what they want from him, at first you can pick him up and carry him to the lounger.
• "Fu" - this command is given if the animal tries to rush at a person, animal, bites or gnaws on prohibited things, or picks up something on the street.It is advisable to say this word in a threatening tone, but not too often and on appropriate occasions.
• Equally important are the commands "Sit" and "Lie", which are taught to puppies as early as 2 months.

In the future, education provides for the knowledge of the pet and other commands, such as "Nearby", "To me" and others

For his dog, the owner can choose natural food or industrial food, which must be of high quality. You can first consult with the veterinarian and the owner of the puppy's parents.

You should not give your dog budget foods that may contain harmful ingredients or cause allergies. It is advisable to feed a premium food that is safe and well balanced.

The granules should be quite large, they are given to puppies at the age of two months soaked (in boiled water or lactic acid drinks).

Among other products, the most useful for the Egyptian greyhound are:

• meat products, primarily beef, lamb, rabbit and turkey meat;
• offal - liver, heart, scar;
• vegetables, herbs and fruits;
• low-fat dairy products, including cottage cheese;
• boiled fish fillet;
• fresh beef moss;
• vegetable oil in the amount of 1 large spoon per day;
• chicken, if it does not provoke allergies.

Pork, any sweets, potatoes, pasta, smoked delicacies and sausages, raw minced meat, nuts, legumes, fried foods are harmful to animals.

Adult dogs are fed twice a day - early in the morning and in the evening, puppies often - depending on age, up to 5 times a day. If the animal is transferred from one type of food to another, they do it gradually over the course of a week, gradually increasing the portions of the new food and decreasing the dosage of the previous food.

The procedures required for an Egyptian dog include a number of required actions.

• Brushing your pet with a natural hair brush or rubber gloves. It is used as a massage to stimulate blood circulation and to remove necrotic particles of hair and skin. At normal times, this is done about twice a week, and during the molting period - daily.
• Periodically, you should inspect the ears of the animal, wiping the inner surface with warm boiled water. If irritation occurs - redness or itching, as well as a repulsive odor, you need to take your pet to a doctor. Shaking his head and rubbing his ears may be due to ear mites, otitis media, or food allergies. Otodectosis is most often affected by adolescents and young dogs, whose immune system has not yet been formed.
• Regular examination of the eyes is also necessary - once a week they should be wiped with chamomile infusion, it is better to do this with a cloth made of soft, lint-free cloth.
• Bathing is provided when the coat is dirty, and for this the owner must have a special, hypoallergenic pet shampoo. In winter and in the off-season, in order to avoid colds, it is better to use dry shampoos, which are rubbed into the hairline and then combed out of the wool.
• In addition, after each walk, you need to wash or wipe the dog's paws, and rub vegetable oil or special wax into the pads.

The claws are trimmed once a month, after wetting the paws in warm water.

Also, brushing your teeth up to 4 times a week with dog paste is considered mandatory.To prevent the formation of tartar, pets are given hard treats or food.

It is necessary to walk with the animal in the morning and in the evening for 1.5-2 hours at any time, and in winter, warming the dog's body with fleece overalls.

In the warm season, it is important to timely vaccinate your pet, which will protect not only from possible diseases, but also from parasites like ticks and fleas that carry all kinds of infections.

When buying a purebred puppy you may need various accessories related to care and maintenance:

• convenient bowls for water and food, designed for the narrow muzzle of the animal;
• hypoallergenic care products;
• brush for combing (rubber and with natural bristles);
• quality clippers;
• means of protection against ectoparasites;
• veterinary shampoo, ear and eye lotion;
• special toothpaste and toothbrush for dogs;
• moderately hard and resilient mattress;
• collar and leash;
• insulated clothing for the cold season, raincoat;
• dog toys and dental treats.

It is advisable to purchase all these accessories even before the puppy appears in the apartment.

To choose a puppy that is physically and mentally healthy, you should carefully study the living conditions of the mother of the cub. If the animal spends most of the day in an aviary or even a cage, it is difficult to hope that the puppy will behave adequately. And also the parent should be well-groomed, have a normal, inexhaustible appearance.

The baby should have:

• small but tight tummy;
• smooth, shiny coat;
• lively eyes (often blue, which then change color);
• cold, wet nose;
• straight, parallel legs.

If a dog's belly is pulled in or strongly swollen, then most likely it has worms in its body. Curved feet are a deviation from the standard, excluding pure dog blood.

If strange growths are noticeable on the limbs or ribs of the animal, this indicates that the puppy may have an initial stage of rickets.

If the cost of the proposed dog is much lower, it is worth considering that this is a mestizo at best.

You can watch the video about the pharaoh dog below.