Stedra Kennel Romania - Pharaoh Hound

The Pharaoh Hound traces its lineage to 3000 BC in ancient Egypt and is thought by some to be the oldest domesticated dog. The dog bears an unmistakable likeness to the Egyptian jackal god Anubis, ruler of the underworld. Historians have learned through Egyptian paintings and hieroglyphics that the Pharaoh Hound was prized for its hunting ability and close relationships with its owners. Phoenician traders brought the Pharaoh Hound to the Mediterranean islands of Malta and Gozo, where purity of breeding ensured that the dog today resembles its ancestors from thousands of years ago. The image of the Pharaoh Hound has remained remarkably unchanged from dogs depicted in ancient Egyptian tombs, such as the tomb chapel of Mereruwka and of Senbi.
The Pharaoh Hound’s name in Maltese, Kelb-tal Fenek, means “rabbit hound,” and the Maltese have long used the Pharaoh Hound in tandem with falcons to hunt rabbit. The Pharaoh Hound's agility and hunting ability have made it a perennial favorite among Maltese farmers for thousands of years.