Sealyham Terrier vs Pharaoh Hound - Breed Comparison

The Sealyham Terrier is a rare dog breed originating in Wales. The dog was developed in the 19th century by Captain John Edwardes at Sealyham House. The Sealy has been associated with members of the British Royal Family, but its numbers declined to such an extent that it was listed as a vulnerable native breed by the Kennel Club.

The Sealyham Terrier club was created in 1908 and the dog breed was officially recognised by the Kennel Club in 1911. This dog is now recognized by all the major kennel clubs. The American Sealyham Terrier Club was founded in 1913.

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 Sealyham is a dog that stands low to the ground and its height shouldn’t exceed 27 - 30cm and weight should be about 8 - 9kg.

The double coat is considered non-shedding and is wiry and weather resistant. It is nearly always white but can be fawn. They’ve got big heads with dark, deep set eyes. The ears are semi-erect, semi-floppy and the tail is usually docked.

Temperament:

Affectionately referred to as Sealy, there aren't too many of these little dogs left. At one time, they were a very popular terrier breed, but today they are uncommon – almost endangered.

He’s a social dog with his human family but tends to be reserved around strangers. He also tends to be just a little bit more mellow than some of the more rowdier terrier breeds.

He gets on well with other dogs in the home as well as with children. He is an intelligent little dog but is inclined to be stubborn so you have to show him both firmness and kindness and also think about obedience training for him.

He’s amicable and adjusts well to life in the city or the countryside.

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.

Temperament:

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 Sealyham Terrier is such a robust little dog with a distinctive look.

He can be stubborn but he loves his human family and is sociable and amicable with them, slotting in to their way of life. He can be a couch potato or an active outdoor dog – whatever is required of him and he makes and excellent, loving family pet and companion.

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.

This is a hardy dog breed and you don’t hear of many health problems associated with him. It seems as though you might have to watch out for an eye condition known as lens luxation. It's an eye condition with dogs where the lens slips out of position because of weakening of the fibers that hold it in place.

There is a lack of fluid in the eye causing optic nerve damage and this can lead to blindness.

Retinal Dysplasia is another eye problem . This is a developmental malformation of the retina that the dog is born with. Symptoms in dogs are a reluctance to jump off things such as the bed or he may even bump into things.

Atopic Dermatitis is something the Sealyham is more prone to. Its an allergic skin disease which drives a dog mad with its itchiness. Your pet will certainly need treatment from the vet to relieve it.

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 -

Patellar Luxation:

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.

Provide your Sealy with his own warm, dry bed.

Brush the long, weather-resistant coat at least twice a week. Hand-stripping of the coat will maintain the wiry, hard texture, but because this method can be quite a laborious process, many Sealy owners rather have their dog professionally clipped.

Check inside his mouth for bad teeth as well as inside the ears for signs of infection. His eyes should also be clear and free of discharge.

His nails will also need to be trimmed.

The Sealyham doesn’t require a lot of exercise but he must at least be given a walk every day.

Ensure the vaccines are up to date. They start when your pet is just a puppy. Remember to get your dog to the vet when you suspect that he is ill.

Feed your Sealyham with good food. Make sure you’re feeding your pet a high quality food as this promotes health and longevity. Provide your Santal Hound with top quality food to ensure his health.

Always choose the quality commercially manufactured foods on the market – those that have natural, good ingredients in them. Try to include some home-made food for him which can be simply mixed into the dry kibble twice a week.

There is no need to offer your dog a host of different foods. Dogs want simplicity and consistency. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots is super tasty and nutritious. If you can, also try and include a little bit of raw meat to his diet occasionally as this can go towards ensuring he doesn’t get skin diseases.

Make sure that a constant supply of fresh, cool water is available to your dog.

Grooming:

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.

Exercise:

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.

Diet:

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