Official ICCF Breed Standard
Brief Historical Summary
The Pharaoh Hound is considered one of the oldest Mediterranean breeds, its origin closely associated with the island of Malta, where it developed naturally under hot climate conditions and limited resources. Despite its name, a direct connection to ancient Egypt has not been confirmed, yet the breed’s type and working qualities resemble dogs depicted on ancient frescoes. In Malta, Pharaoh Hounds were used for rabbit hunting, which demanded speed, endurance, and acute sight, hearing, and scent. Systematic breeding began in the 20th century, after which the breed gained international recognition, remaining rare but highly valued for its natural elegance and working ability.
General Appearance
The Pharaoh Hound is a medium-sized, dry, elegant yet muscular dog with clean outlines and a noble, expressive type. The body is of slightly elongated format, the silhouette harmonious, with a level topline and a light arch over the loin. The head is long, shaped like a blunt wedge. The chest is deep; legs are long, dry, and straight, with compact feet. All proportions emphasize the breed’s adaptation for fast running over uneven terrain. The dog appears alert, energetic, and expressive, with a notable ability to “blush”—ears and nose turn pink when excited. The overall impression combines speed, refinement, strength, and natural elegance.
Important Proportions
The height-to-length ratio is slightly elongated but harmonious, ensuring ease of movement. Chest depth reaches the elbow, providing the necessary capacity for breathing during active work. Muzzle and skull length are approximately equal; the stop is very slight; head lines are straight. The neck is long and dry, creating an elegant transition to the body. Shoulder blades are well laid back, matching the length of the upper arm. Thighs and lower thighs are long, providing strong drive. The croup is moderately sloping. All proportions aim at optimal speed, agility, and energy without extremes of lightness or softness.
Behavior and Temperament
The Pharaoh Hound has a balanced, intelligent, and sensitive character. It is an attentive and emotionally expressive breed that forms strong bonds with its family and shows gentleness at home. Despite its ancient hunting background, the dog remains friendly, social, and people-oriented. Outdoors it demonstrates a strong prey drive and requires safe spaces and reliable control. The breed is highly intelligent, learns quickly, but is independent, responding best to gentle training methods. Pharaoh Hounds are expressive in their emotions: they may “smile,” lift their ears, and blush when excited. With proper socialization, they get along well with children.
Head
The head of the Pharaoh Hound is long, dry, cleanly chiseled, and shaped like a blunt wedge. The skull is moderately broad, slightly arched, tapering smoothly toward the muzzle. Stop is very slight; the transition is smooth. The muzzle is long, straight, strong, with dry jaws and tight lips. The nose is always flesh-colored or pink, harmonizing with the coat. Eyes are oval, amber-colored, giving the breed its noble expression. Ears are large, erect, high-set, thin, and mobile, emphasizing the dog’s expressiveness. The overall head must be balanced, without heaviness or excessive refinement.
Foreface
The foreface is long, dry, and tapers harmoniously toward the nose, forming a clean, straight profile. The muzzle is straight, slightly tapered, but not overly fine. Jaws are strong and even, with a scissor bite and well-developed teeth. Lips are thin, tight, and dry. The suborbital region is clean, without excessive depth or fullness. The nose is large, flesh or pink in color, matching the coat; pigmentation must be even. The stop is extremely smooth and barely noticeable. All facial lines emphasize the wedge shape and natural refinement of the breed.
Eyes
Eyes are oval, medium-sized, slightly oblique, giving a noble and expressive look. Color is predominantly amber, from light to deep copper, harmonizing with the coat. Eyelids are dry, tight, without loose skin, pigmented in flesh or pink tones. The expression is lively, attentive, sometimes slightly thoughtful, reflecting the breed’s ancient type. Undesirable are round, protruding eyes, incorrect eyelid pigmentation, and overly dark or cold iris shades that disrupt breed type. Eyes must reflect the softness, intelligence, and emotional nature of the Pharaoh Hound.
Ears
Ears are large, erect, high and wide set, forming the breed’s characteristic appearance. They are thin, mobile, and shaped like elongated triangles with rounded tips. When excited, ears point forward and upward, giving alertness; at rest they may tilt slightly back. A clear vertical set without folds or weak bases is essential. Undesirable are ears that are too small, low-set, heavy, or semi-erect. The breed is known for expressive ear movement, which reflects its sensitivity and responsiveness.
Neck
The neck is long, dry, elegant, widening gradually toward the shoulders. The topline is smoothly arched, emphasizing the noble profile. Muscles are well developed but not coarse, giving both strength and refinement. Carriage is high, the head held confidently without tension. The throatline is clean, without folds or dewlap. The neck must provide free head movement and support balance during running. A short, overly thick, or excessively long neck disrupts the silhouette and function. A correct neck highlights the breed’s elegance and working nature.
Body
The body is dry, tight, and muscular, combining strength with lightness. The topline is level with a slight rise over the loin. Withers moderately defined; back straight, strong, medium length. Loin slightly arched, broad and muscular but not heavy. Chest deep to the elbow; ribs moderately arched, not barrel-shaped. Underline well tucked; abdomen drawn up, reflecting the breed’s dry format. The croup is slightly sloping, long, and muscular. Undesirable are looseness, sagging back, excessive arching, or narrow, flat chest. The body must express endurance and the breed’s functional purpose.
Tail
The tail is long, thin, low-set, carried in a natural soft curve at rest, tapering to the tip. In movement it may rise but must not curl or rise above the topline. Coat on the tail is short and smooth. The shape must be smooth without kinks, thickening, or breaks. Undesirable are short, overly thick, high-set, or crooked tails. A correct tail enhances the overall elegance and completes the harmonious silhouette.
Exterior Description
Forequarters
Forequarters are straight, dry, long, and fine-boned but strong, ensuring light and enduring movement. Shoulder blades long, well laid back, fitting closely and forming a harmonious angle with the upper arm, allowing free, extended stride. Upper arm muscular and sufficiently long but not heavy. Elbows directed backward, not turning in or out. Forearms long, straight, dry, with well-defined tendons. Wrists strong and flexible; pasterns slightly sloping but not weak. Curvature, weak pasterns, or shortened proportions are faults. Correct forequarters provide precision and ease of movement.
Hindquarters
Hindquarters are long, powerful, and well-angulated, providing strong propulsion and stability at speed. Thighs long, dry, muscular, without coarseness. Lower thighs equally long, with well-defined angulation, forming efficient lever action. Stifles well defined, firm, not straight. Hocks low-set, parallel when viewed from behind, strong and not rotated. Rear pasterns vertical, short, without softness or collapse. Cow-hocks, barrel-hocks, joint instability, or weak muscles are faults. Proper hindquarters determine speed, agility, and working function.
Gait / Movement
The movement of the Pharaoh Hound must be light, free, and efficient, with good reach in front and strong drive from the rear. Movement is straight, without lateral deviation or crossing. At the trot, the dog shows a springy, elastic step with a stable topline. The gallop is fast, with good extension and immediate acceleration, reflecting the breed’s hunting nature. Undesirable are short stride, stiffness, heaviness, body roll, high-lifting forelegs, joint instability, or weak drive. Correct movement highlights the breed’s harmony, power, and natural grace.
Coat
The coat is short, smooth, dense, and close-lying, with no undercoat or only minimal trace of it. Texture is fine and silky but sufficiently resilient to heat, reflecting the breed’s origin. Coat highlights the dry format, clean lines, and musculature. Undesirable are long, wavy, sparse, or coarse coats, bald patches, or clear texture faults. Coat must be even in length over the entire body, without feathering on neck, tail, or limbs. Correct coat maintains breed type, facilitates care, and enhances the elegant silhouette.
Permissible Colors
All shades of red are allowed—from light sandy to deep copper-red. Small white markings are permitted on the chest, toes, tail tip, and bridge of the nose, but they must not dominate or break the coat’s harmony. Skin and nose pigmentation are always flesh-colored or pink, matching the coat tone. Prohibited are black, blue, brindle colors, and excessive white covering head or body. Color should be even, warm, and characteristic. Spotting or dilution not typical of the breed is undesirable.
Size
A medium-sized breed with clear but not exaggerated sexual dimorphism. Height at the withers: males 56–63 cm; females 53–61 cm. Weight is proportional to format, typically 20–25 kg, but the standard does not require exact values, emphasizing harmony of build. The dog must be dry, athletic, elegant, without coarseness, heaviness, or obesity. Size must not compromise speed, agility, or endurance. Too small or overly large dogs are faults if proportions disrupt balance and function.
Faults
Faults include deviations that do not destroy type but impair harmony or function. Insufficient chest depth, flat ribs, weak loin, or sagging topline. Mild elbow deviation, weak pasterns, insufficient rear angulation. Slightly non-parallel limbs, mild stiffness, or shortened stride. Slightly low-set or insufficiently firm ears. Eyes too light or slightly protruding. Minor lack of pigment on nose or eyelids. Temporary loss of elegance due to age, stress, or condition is also considered a fault.
Disqualifications
Disqualifying faults include severe deviations destroying breed type or health. Aggression, extreme shyness, or behavior preventing examination. Complete depigmentation of nose, bright-pink nose on darker shades, extensive white covering head or body. Any black, blue, or brindle coloration; absence of eyelid pigment. Incorrect bite: overbite, underbite, level bite, missing several teeth beyond norms. Incorrect ear shape, folds, ear paralysis. Congenital or acquired limb deformities, severe movement abnormalities, major structural defects, albinism. Any condition impairing the dog’s functionality leads to disqualification.
Important Notes
Evaluation must focus on breed type, balance, and functional ability. The breed must retain elegance without exaggeration, lightness without fragility, and dryness without emaciation. Excessive refinement—overly narrow muzzle, excessively long limbs, exaggerated loin arch—undermines function. Coat should be warm and even in tone, without darkening or patches foreign to type. Sensitivity must be considered—stress may affect movement and expression. Minor developmental deviations in young dogs are acceptable if type remains intact. The priority is preservation of health, outline, pigmentation, temperament, and functional mobility.
Conclusion
The Pharaoh Hound represents a harmonious blend of ancient hunting heritage, natural elegance, and refined temperament. Its appearance reflects speed, endurance, and agility; every anatomical element must support functional efficiency. Evaluation should consider overall balance, clean lines, breed expression, and free, confident movement. Excessive lightness, coarseness, insufficient pigmentation, or exaggerated features disrupt type. The breed combines sensitivity, friendliness, and working ability, remaining rare and unique. Breeding goals include maintaining health, natural temperament, breed outline, and functional style, ensuring the breed’s integrity and future stability.
