Pharaoh Hound
Overview
The Pharaoh Hound is a medium dog from the Hound group — a fairly laid-back breed with modest exercise needs. In temperament it's intensely devoted and bonded to its family, responsive to training with steady guidance and it would rather not be left alone for long. With a typical lifespan of 11 to 14 years, the Pharaoh Hound is a medium-length commitment.
Is the Pharaoh Hound right for you?
A good match if — you're newer to dogs and want a forgiving breed; you live in an apartment or smaller home; you have children at home; you want a closely bonded companion; you want a sociable dog that greets everyone.
Think twice if — the dog would regularly be left alone for long stretches.
What a Pharaoh Hound needs from you
Day to day, the Pharaoh Hound needs a lot of daily time from you and substantial daily exercise. It does best with a moderate amount of space and a little dog know-how. It's a social breed that doesn't like being isolated for long.
Living with a Pharaoh Hound
At home, the Pharaoh Hound adapts to apartment life with daily walks. It's great with kids of all ages, friendly with most new people, fairly vocal, and a tidy, low-drool breed.
Key facts
- Size
- Medium
- Height
- 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet, 1 inch tall at the shoulder
- Weight
- 45 to 55 pounds
- Life span
- 11 to 14 years
- Group
- Hound Dogs
What it needs from you (at a glance)
| Space needed | |
| Experience needed | |
| Maintenance | no data yet |
| Time per day | |
| Need for company | |
| Handling / closeness | |
| Cost level |
Health & what to watch for
The start matters most: get a Pharaoh Hound from someone who health-tests their lines — ask to see the results — or from a reputable rescue, and register with a vet early. Ask the breeder which screenings they run for the breed, and keep it lean and well-exercised. Across every breed the single biggest lever you control is weight — a lean dog lives longer and has fewer problems. Food intolerances usually show as itchy skin, recurring ear trouble or an upset stomach; if that turns up, a vet-guided elimination diet beats guesswork. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice — your vet knows your individual dog.
Best toys
Good toys for a Pharaoh Hound: toys that burn real energy — a ball launcher, a flirt pole, fetch and tug. Rotate a few at a time rather than leaving everything out — novelty is half the value — and always supervise a new chew.
Growing up
The first months are the socialization window: calm, positive exposure to new people, sounds, surfaces and other animals now shapes the adult dog more than almost anything else.
What it costs
Scaled to this breed’s roughly 23 kg and a ~13-year life, keeping a Pharaoh Hound works out at about:
Rough cross-breed averages in USD — a planning guide, not a quote. Break it down by life phase in the Cost Calculator →
Temperament (at a glance)
| Affection | |
| Energy | |
| Vocalness | |
| Trainability | |
| Tolerates alone |
Its presence, grown
Raised with patience and consistency, the adult Pharaoh Hound settles into a calm, easy-going presence. It devotes itself utterly to its family — your shadow, your second self. It warms to most new people readily.
As your partner
Picture it as a grown partner at your side: a relaxed daily rhythm of gentle walks and easy downtime together. It would rather not be left alone for long. With children it is gentle and patient — a true family dog.
What makes it unique
What sets the Pharaoh Hound apart is a nose or an eye that locks onto a trail and a single-minded drive to follow it.