AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB

PHARAOH HOUND BREED STANDARD

(reprinted for educational purposes only)

General Appearance: Appearance is one of grace, power and speed. The Pharaoh Hound is medium sized, of noble bearing with hard clean-cut lines - graceful, well balanced, very fast with free easy movement and alert expression.

Head and Skull: Skull long, lean and chiseled. Foreface slightly longer than the skull. Only slight stop. Top of the skull parallel with the foreface representing a blunt wedge.

Nose: Flesh Colored, blending with the coat. No other color.

Mouth: Powerful jaws with strong teeth. Scissor bite.

Eyes: Amber colored blending with coat; oval, moderately deep set with keen intelligent expression.

Ears: Medium high set, carried erect when alert, but very mobile, broad at the base, fine and large.

Neck: Long, lean and muscular with a slight arch to carry the head on high. Clean throat line.

Body: Lithe with almost straight top line. Slight slope from croup to root of tail. Deep brisket almost down to point of elbow. Ribs well sprung, moderate tuck-up. Length of body from breast to haunch bone slightly longer than height of withers to ground.

Tail: Medium set - fairly thick at the base and tapering whip-like, reaching below the point of hock in repose. Well carried and curved when in action. The tail should not be tucked between the legs. A screw tail is a fault.

Forequarters: Shoulders long and sloping and well laid back. Strong without being loaded. Forelegs straight and parallel. Elbows well tucked in. Pasterns strong.

Hindquarters: Strong and muscular. Moderate sweep of stifle. Well developed second thigh. Limbs parallel.

Feet: Neither cat nor hare but strong, well knuckled and firm. Turning neither in nor out. Paws well padded. Dew claws may be removed.

Coat: Short and glossy, ranging from fine and close to slightly harsh with no feathering. Accident blemishes should not be considered as faults.

Color: Ranging from tan/ rich tan/ chestnut with white markings allowed as follows:

White tip on tail strongly desired.

White on chest (called "the star")

White on toes and slim white snip on center of face permissible.

Flecking or other white undesirable except for any solid white spot on the back of the neck, shoulder, or any part of the back or sides of the dog, which is a disqualification.

***(Editor's note: This is a picture of a mis-marked bitch. She has a spot on the back of her neck (not shown) but she also carries excessive white on the face/muzzle and chest. KD)

Gait: Free and flowing, the head should be held fairly high and the dog should cover the ground well without any apparent effort. The legs and feet should move in line with the body, any tendency to throw the feet sideways, or a high stepping "hackney" action is a definite fault.

Height: Dogs 23 inches - 25 inches. Bitches 21 inches - 24 inches. All over balanced must be maintained.

Temperament: Intelligent, friendly, affectionate and playful. Alert and active. Very fast with a marked keenness for hunting, both by sight and scent.

The foregoing description is that of the ideal Pharaoh Hound. Any deviation from the above described dog must be penalized to the extent of the deviation.

Disqualification: Any solid white spot on the back of the neck, shoulder or any part of the back or sides of the dog.

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