GENERAL APPEARANCE - The Pharaoh Hound is medium sized, of noble bearing with clean-cut lines.  Graceful yet powerful.   Very fast with free easy movement and alert expression. 

CHARACTERISTICS - An alert keen hunter, the Pharaoh Hound hunts by scent and sight using its large ears to a marked degree when working close. 

TEMPERAMENT - An intelligent, friendly affectionate, playful and alert breed. 

HEAD AND SKULL - Skull long, lean, and well chiseled.  Foreface slightly longer than the skull.  Only slight stop.  Top of skull parallel with the foreface, the whole head representing a blunt wedge when viewed in profile and from above.  Nose flesh coloured only, blending with the coat. 

EYES - Amber-coloured, blending with the 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. 

MOUTH - Powerful jaws with strong teeth.  Scissor bite. 

NECK - Long, lean, muscular and slightly arched.  Clean throat line. 

FOREQUARTERS - Shoulders: Strong, long and well laid back. 
Forelegs: Straight and parallel.  Elbows well tucked in. Pasterns strong. 

BODY - Lithe with almost straight top line.  Slight slope down from croup to root of tail.  Deep brisket extending down to point of elbow.  Ribs well sprung.  Moderate cut up.  Length of body from breast to haunch bone slightly longer than height at withers. 

HINDQUARTERS - Strong and muscular.  Moderate bend of stifle.  Well developed second thigh.  Limbs parallel when viewed from behind. 

FEET - Strong, well knuckled and firm, turning neither in nor out.  Paws well padded.  Dew claws may be removed. 

TAIL - Medium set - fairly thick at the base and tapering (whip-like), reaching just below the point of hock in repose.  Carried high and curved when the dog is in action.  The tail should not be tucked between the legs.  A screw tail is a fault. 

GAIT/MOVEMENT - 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. 

COAT - Short and glossy, ranging from  fine and close to slightly harsh; no feathering. 

COLOUR - Tan or rich tan with white markings allowed as follows: 
 
White tip on tail strongly desired. 
White on chest (called "The Star"). 
White on toes. 
Slim white blaze on center line of face permissible. 
Flecking or white other than above undesirable. 

SIZE - 
Weight -  Dogs Ideally 56-63.5 cm (22-25 ins) 
Bitches Ideally 53.5-61 cm (21-24 ins) 
Overall balance must be maintained. 

FAULTS - Any deviation from the foregoing is a fault, hunting blemishes excepted.

 NOTE - Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

Hound Group     A.N.K.C.  ©   January 1998