Pharaoh Hound Dog Names

Although the Pharaoh Hound can trace its roots back to the ancient Egyptians, it is the Maltese who nurtured and allowed the breed to become what it is today. Historians claim that it was the Phoenicians who brought the ancient Hounds to Malta, where they would find a permanent home. In Malta, they are called Kelb tal-Fenek, which means “Rabbit dog”. They earned a special place in Malta’s culture thanks to their hunting abilities. The Hounds are smart, and incredibly clever, which make them a necessary addition when hunting. They were so useful, that every farmer needed to have one; when they got one, they were able to put more rabbits in the pots to feed their families.

Maltese farmers are proud of their Hounds, and with good reason. It is these farmers who took the time to carefully breed these dogs. They would only breed the strongest and smartest dogs, this meant that the breed was kept pure. Pharaoh Hounds are known for their health and do not get sick easily, which means that the farmers did their jobs right. These genes were needed during the dark period of World War II. The Maltese people relied on allied ships to bring them food, but because of their location, this was not always possible. Slowly, their food supplies dwindled, and they did not have enough to feed themselves, or their beloved Hounds. The Pharaoh Hounds were resourceful however, and no-one is quite sure how they did it, but they survived. The Maltese people were able to supplement their rations with whatever the dogs caught that day. Technically, there were not enough rabbits on the island to sustain them, but the dogs found food somehow, and are now thriving all over the world.

Across the sea from Malta, in Britain, people had been trying to breed these special dogs. But it was only in the early 60’s when Pauline Block decided she needed a Pharaoh Hound, did the breeding find success in other parts of the world. Birling Zahara was the first award-winning Pharaoh Hound, and the breed took off from there. The combined efforts of many canine enthusiasts, including Pauline Block, created a buzz around the breed. So much interest was generated that the Maltese government named the Pharaoh Hound as their national animal in 1974. The Kelb tal-Fenek has come a long way from simply being a farm dog.