MyDogBreeds
Rat Terrier is originated from United States but Pharaoh Hound is originated from Malta. Rat Terrier may grow 27 cm / 10 inches shorter than Pharaoh Hound. Rat Terrier may weigh 23 kg / 50 pounds lesser than Pharaoh Hound. Rat Terrier may live 4 years more than Pharaoh Hound. Both Rat Terrier and Pharaoh Hound has almost same litter size. Both Rat Terrier and Pharaoh Hound requires Low maintenance.
Known also as the American Rat Terrier or even as the Rattie, this American dog breed is a farm dog, common on family farms during the 1920's and 1930's.
Miniatures or Standards, these dogs are also recognized by the American Kennel Clubs and thought of today as a multi-purpose companion dog.
He is an American dog breed, having come about from Fox Terriers, Old English White Terriers, Bull Terriers, Manchester Terriers and others. Whippets and Italian Greyhounds have also come into the mix to add speed as a characteristic.
The Rat Terrier started to decline in numbers, and by the 1950's the numbers of the dog were so low that breeders stepped in to restore numbers.
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.
There are different sized Rat Terriers, but the mid-sized one stands roughly between 20 and 36cm in height and weighs between 3 and 4kg.
The single coat is short and smooth and comes in colors such as tan, grey, chocolate, black and in solid colors too such as white. They are mostly in tri-colors - white, tan, black. Ticking is also seen.
With his short coat he is seen as a low maintenance dog even though he is still a shedder, with heavier seasonal shedding.
The ears can sometimes be erect, otherwise they are half-erect, half floppy. The tail has always been traditionally docked, giving him a nice, distinctive look, but today the tail is often just left un-docked. It isn't unusual for a puppy to be born with a short or long tail.
Intelligent, wary, loyal, loving, playful but stubborn, your Rat Terrier is a little bit wary around strangers. Training and socialization can be good for this dog and help him t be obedient and well mannered in all situations. These dogs also want to please. He is an active dog too and makes a great playmate for children, getting on well with kids and other pets in the home.
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.
The Rat Terrier is such a clever, bright dog. These characteristics make him an excellent watchdog with strong jaws for his role of getting rid of rats on farms.
Even though he is a small dog, he isn’t particularly suited to life in the city on a small property as he has quite a shrill bark.
Because of him being small to medium in size, he is well suited to many homes, but you just have to watch out in the city if you live close to your neighbors as he is fairly noisy and active.
He would love a large property where he can just be himself. Provide him with the right home, and you’l have a friend for life.
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.
Rat Terriers are generally feisty, healthy dogs who, with good care, can live to the ripe old age of 16, 17 or 18 years of age.
Just like with many other dogs, he can develop some of the more common dog illnesses there are. If you're opting for a puppy, find a good, reputable breeder.
It can be tricky trying to decide what kind of allergies are causing such problems with your pet. A skin allergy can cause a lot of itchiness and pain for your canine friend and he will bite and lick on the affected spots and make the situation worse. You will need to get him to the vet for some kind of treatment, as such an ailment can drive him mad.
This is a common problem in dogs, with the kneecap or patella being dislocated. It can cause a lot of pain and can be crippling for your dog.
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.
Your Rat Terrier can easily reach 16, 17 or 18 years of age with good food. While you do get some excellent commercially manufactured dog foods, you want to add variety by including some nutritious home-made food too.
Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a healthy choice for your pet. Chop it up and add it into the dry kibble a couple of times a week.No complications - just plain and simple - the way dogs love it.
Some raw meat added in from time to time will help his skin and coat remain healthy. Never leave him without a constant source of fresh, cool water.
The Rat Terrier is an active dog. He just loves to dig too, so if you live close to a beach, he will love running and digging in the sand. If this isn’t possible, he will be happy to be taken on walks with you and maybe for a run in the park.
He loves all ball games and running after a frisbee, and he’s so clever, maybe you can even teach him to fetch the frisbee for you.
The Rat Terrier is a low-maintenance dog and only requires having his coat brushed twice a week.
Check inside his mouth for bad teeth. You can even brush his teeth with special canine toothpaste and brush to remove tartar buildup.
Keep his nails trimmed too if he doesn’t wear them down naturally so as to prevent them hooking on things and ripping into the flesh.
Check inside your dog’s ears too. If you’re not experienced with trimming dog nails or cleaning inside dog’s ears, your vet or professional groomer will do it for you.
During these grooming sessions with your Rat Terrier, check for fleas and ticks as well as for any sores or new lumps. Also, his eyes should be clear and bright with no discharge or redness.
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