MyDogBreeds
Pharaoh Hound is originated from Malta but Lurcher is originated from United Kingdom. Pharaoh Hound may grow 12 cm / 4 inches shorter than Lurcher. Both Pharaoh Hound and Lurcher are having almost same weight. Both Pharaoh Hound and Lurcher has almost same life span. Both Pharaoh Hound and Lurcher has same litter size. Both Pharaoh Hound and Lurcher requires Low maintenance.
The Pharaoh Hound hails from Malta and is the national dog there. These dogs are rare and are looked upon as endangered. Because they are a primitive type dog, they enjoy good health.
It has always been used as a hunting dog for rabbits. The dog has been recreated from mixing a combination of other breeds. It certainly seems to be an ancient dog breed, having existed for more than 2 000 years.
It is thought that the dog was imported to Malta by Phoenician traders. The dog has been classified as a member of the sighthound group, and arrived in England in the 1930s and to the USA in 1967. The breed was also officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1984.
The Lurcher is a crossbreed dog that doesn’t seem to have too much certainty around it. There are stories that Lurchers may have been bred to produce a sighthound with more intelligence for hunting.
Hunters discovered that breeding certain breeds with sight-hounds produced a dog better suited for hunting and working purpose.
A Lurcher is a sighthound, a classic working crossbreed and some of the dogs used to bring about this breed were Greyhounds, Deerhounds, Whippets, Border Collies, Bedlington Terriers and Irish Wofhounds among others. This means that the Lurcher has many different looks as well. In the UK, Lurchers have their own shows, but no registry recognizes the dog.
The Pharoah Hound is an elegant looking dog standing at roughly between 53 and 63cm and weighing 18 to 27kg.
They are sleek dogs without any bulkiness about them and the coat is tight fitting with short smooth hair. The coat is a tan or red color, the eyes bright and the color of amber. The ears are fairly large and erect and the long tail slim with sometimes a white tip. The skin can be thin so the dog can be sensitive to the cold.
The neck of the dog is long and lean, as are the legs. An interesting aspect with this dog is that when the dog becomes excited its ears and nose become bright pink.
Pharoah Hounds are calm dogs and they can live in the city or in the countryside. They love kids and will be a wonderful playmate for them. Once he has had a lot of exercise and play, he is the kind of dog that will settle down happily with his human family for some quiet time.
Just as with any other dog, he will require training and socialization to make him obedient and better behaved.
It is difficult to put a size and weight to the Lurcher, This is because of the many dogs used in his development, so that they vary in size and coat type. Generally though, he is a deep chested dog that stands roughly between 50 – 75cm and weighs 25 – 32kg.
However, because Whippet was a dog used in his development, he could be as small as a Whippet, the size of a Greyhound or Deerhound.
Generally he has a shortish coat. Colours of the coat vary greatly so you can find fawn, cream, white, grey, black, tan, silver or grey and bi-colored. The ears are usually small and can be floppy or held erect or back and the tail is usually long.
The Lurcher’s temperament is much like that of the sighthound – loving and calm. It is a good idea to have the Lurcher trained and socialized to help prevent both timidity or aggression.
He is an independent and intelligent dog and can be easily trained. He is a gentle dog and will get on well with children and pets in the home as he is a fairly relaxed breed with a quiet temperament, loving to spend time with his human family. Another advantage is that he is low maintenance and makes a great pet when shown love and care.
The Pharaoh Hound is quite interesting in a number of ways and he is independent, strong-willed and able to entertain and amuse himself.
He loves to join in with the children and be part of their games. He’s intelligent and easily trained and he is also low maintenance.
While he’s not the most attractive dog to many people, others look at him as a true beauty. Whatever your opinion is, he will still make you a good family friend.
The Lurcher is a working- and hunting dog that won’t do well in the city, as he requires large spaces to run.
He is a dog that will need you to provide him with games and other activities as well as a walk every day to keep him fit and lithe. He will therefore require an owner who loves to be active and who is consistent, firm, fair, patient and kind.
With the right human family, the Lurcher is a loving, devoted dog who will make an excellent family pet.
Pharaoh Hounds are uncommon outside of the Maltese Islands and with very little irresponsible breeding, these dogs are virtually free of genetic diseases. A common dog illness to look out for includes -
Your Pharaoh Hound can suffer from patella luxation, and in more severe cases it can be painful and even be disabling for a dog. This ailment comes about when the kneecap is dislocated from its normal position. You’ll find your dog lifting his hind leg quite a bit. Unfortunately this problem can lead to arthritis developing.
Other illnesses to look out for are bloat, cancer, skin allergies and ear infections.
Every dog has the potential to develop genetic health problems, but the way you feed a dog and look after it will play a huge role in his wellbeing.
Lurchers are looked upon as being a pretty healthy dog breed and they can be with you for between 10 and 15 years.
Some of the main health concerns with this dog would be bloat, ear- and eye infections or heatstroke.
Remember that if you’re getting a new puppy, you can prevent some of the major life-threatening diseases by having your puppy vaccinated.
Dogs pant heavily when they’re hot. When the panting isn’t enough, the dog’s body temperature rises and this can be fatal for your pet.
The signs of heatstroke in dogs include vomiting, diarrhea, dullness and loss of consciousness. Being locked in a hot car, being over-exercised or left in a yard without shade and water can bring on heatstroke.
It is imperative to remove the dog from the hot place immediately and cool him down by spraying cold water gently over him while making sure no water enters the mouth or nose. Get him to the vet if you can because of shock and the fact that other problems could have developed.
The Pharaoh Hound’s short coat is easy to groom and it will require a brushing at least twice a week just to get rid of loose hairs.
At the same time trim his nails, check inside his ears for infection and look inside his mouth for any rotting teeth.
Your Pharaoh Hound is an active, energetic dog and he will need a good dose of exercise every day. Take him with you on your walks or allow him to join you with your hikes, jogging or cycling. At home involve him in some ball games.
How much any adult dog eats will depend on a number of factors such as size of dog, age and his activity levels.
You get some excellent dog kibble these days on the market but the idea is to choose one of the high quality ones which have minerals and vitamins in them. Home-made food is also good for your pet and this should be kept simple, consistent and nutritious.
Every now and then you can add in some boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and sweet potato, carrots and spinach to the kibble. Some raw meat added in can also be of benefit to your dog’s health.
Stay away from spicy, exotic foods and keep your dog's food easy like suggested so as to avoid digestive problems
Brush your pet’s coat at least twice a week.
The Lurcher just loves to run and be free, so this is a dog that will want a long walk every day.
Check his eyes and inside his ears for ear infection. Find out how to clean inside the ears and make sure they are kept dry.
Keep his nails clipped, as long nails can hook and cause painful injury to the paw area. Check his teeth too and brush them because dental disease is the root cause of many other diseases.
Make sure your dog has a comfy, dry, warm place to sleep.
Encourage health and longevity by giving your pet high quality food full of vitamins and minerals. If you’re going be giving him commercially manufactured food, make sure its one of the better ones. Try and add in homemade food such as boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables and add this to his kibble as a tasty treat. Some raw meat added in when you can afford it will also be to his advantage.