These ancient dogs are known for being both very independent but forming extremely strong bonds with their hoomans. They really love to be around people and also get along well with children as well. However, they are extremely high energy and so would therefore suit a family who already lead a fairly active lifestyle that that can easily slot into. For this reason, they aren't the best choice for a first time owner, and need someone who has experience with similar breeds and knows how to handle and train them. They are also very quick to get bored and so need lots of daily physical and mental stimulation in order to remain happy. However, for the right family they have the potential to make fantastic pets!

Pharaoh Hounds are thought to be one of the oldest and most ancient breeds in the world, with records dating back to Ancient Egyptian times! It's not a surprise that over time their history has become a little bit of a blur, although artefacts have been found across many Ancient Egyptian Tombs and also in hieroglyphs on walls depicting a very similar hound. In the 1950s remains of a similar dog were found in Queen Her-Neith's tomb in Saqqara. It's thought they were introduced to Malta by Phoenicians when they occupied the island in 1,000 BC! Although originally from Egypt, they were developed in Malta and have since become the national dog of Malta, remaining highly prized by many farmers on the Island because of their fantastic hunting abilities. It was in 1963 that a lady called Pauline Block, who lived on Malta, purchased a Pharaoh Hound and bought it back with her to England. After importing another hound, she became the first breeder of the dog in the UK. However, they still remain fairly rare in the UK, and anyone wanting to share their home with this ancient doggy would have to go onto a waiting list.