This is another inappropriately named breed.
In the English speaking countries, it is called “the Pharaoh Hound,” which is a reference to the fact that these dogs resemble dogs depicted on various artifacts from Ancient Egypt.
There is not a single bit of genetic evidence that connects these dogs to those from Ancient Egypt. In fact, the bulk of the evidence points to these dogs being only a couple of hundred years old. Just because dogs look like those from earlier time periods does not mean that the modern dogs are derived from the older dogs. Dog phenotypes are remarkably malleable, and it is relatively easy to breed for convergence in type using unrelated stock..
This breed actually developed on the Mediterranean island of Malta, where it has been used to hunt rabbits. Rabbits are not native to Malta. European rabbits originally were found only on the Iberian Peninsula and were likely introduced to Malta at later date than any of the Ancient Egyptian dynasties.
This dog is known as the Kelb tal-Fenek in the Maltese language, which translates as “rabbit hound.” It is also the national dog of Malta, and nowhere are there any hints of this dog being from Egypt or North Africa. Many places in the Mediterranean have developed very similar prick-eared hounds, and it is far more likely that these dogs are related to these animals– not any dogs from Ancient Egypt.
The closest relative of the Maltese hound is likely the Sicilian hound (“cirneco dell’etna”). This breed resembles the one on Malta, but it is quite a bit smaller.
Sicily and Malta share a common history. Sicily was ruled by Arabs during the Middle Ages, and the island of Malta was included in this Muslim kingdom. Although Sicily adopted and adapted their version of the Italian language and culture, Malta has retained an Arabic dialect as its official language. The Maltese language is actually derived from that Arabic dialect that was spoken in Sicily.
It is possible that the two islands developed very similar rabbit hounds because of their close connection during the Emirate of Sicily. But both Sicily and Malta have had close relations in the past, even though Sicily was eventually incorporated into Italy and Malta became part of the British Empire.
But whatever the similarities between the dogs on Sicily and Malta, neither dog is Egyptian. There is no connection between these dogs and those currently living in North Africa or those that derived from North African stock, like the basenji– which probably is derived from dogs that were with the Pharaohs.
Because the Maltese have named this breed their national dog, it is a bit insulting that we English-speakers insist on calling this breed “the Pharaoh hound.” Albeit romantic, the name is inaccurate.
We should be calling these dogs “Maltese hounds” and appreciate them for what they actually are: The dog that hunts rabbits on an island nation with a truly remarkable history.
And drop the nonsense.
This is Malta’s dog. It has nothing to do with Ancient Egypt. Such connections only exist in romantic delusions and vivid imaginations.
Thank you very much for this statement. As an owner of this wonderful breed living in Germany, I do completely agree that it is Malta’s dog and the name “Pharaoh Hound” is more than inaccurate, since it neither describes the true origin nor the purpose of the dog. According to the UK Pharaoh Hound Club, the Kennel Club had refused to register the breed by its original name when the first specimens were imported to Britain in the 1960ties because a foreign name just describing the use of the dog was unacceptable. I have always wondered why the Kennel Club on the other hand uses the name ‘Dachshund’, which in German language means ‘dog of the badger’, i.e. also a foreign name describing the purpose of the breed. And it is even more strange that the FCI accepted this name, after using a similar term (“Chien Pharaon” in French, “Pharaonenhund” in German) from 1963-1977 for a breed standard which could easily apply for all prick eared Mediterranean hounds such as Podenco Ibicenco (Ibizan Hound), Cirneco dell’Etna, Podenco Canario and Kelb tal-Fenek. However, it seems so that wrong or misleading breed names must not necessarily be chiseled in stone anymore, as the Kennel Club has decided to recognise the Turkish Kangal dog under its true name with effect from 1st April 2013 and to drop the imprecise name “Anatolian Shepherd Dog” (which seems to be as inaccurate as the old “Chien Pharaon” breed standard of the FCI as it could apply to various types of dogs from different parts of Turkey). So I wonder when they will do the same favour to the dog from Malta! In my opinion the breed should be called “Kelb tal-Fenek” worldwide – we need not to invent another new name, since breed names such as Vizsla, Hovawart, Whippet, Saluki, Kangal etc. are also used and understood all over the world, though maybe sounding a bit exotic to people who do not live in the countries of origin.