Honestly, size is not nearly as big of an issue as security of fencing. A Pharaoh can easily jump anything less than a four-foot fence. A motivated Pharaoh "on the hunt" can jump a five foot fence in a single bound. They have also been known to dig under un-buried fences and open easy-to-figure-out gates (they're very smart about that).

Other Dogs: Yes, Pharaoh Hounds play very well with other breeds of dogs. PH's are quite active and play enthusiastically, so similar size is helpful. However I've seen a number of Pharaohs playing nicely with dogs many times smaller than themselves. Watch carefully whenever new dogs get together for the first time. Help them to establish good basic interaction rules and you should have little trouble. Now having said that, there are times you should be more careful.

PH's are great with kids. They enjoy playing well into their senior years. One of the reasons I started in PH's many years ago was because my son was 6 and I didn't want to have to worry about his friends running around the house. Only once did we have a minor incident. We had several boys in the house and they were wrestling. My son was at the bottom of the pile and Pixie became nervous about that. She pushed her way into the melee and basically separated the kids.

Pharaoh Hounds are very smart and quite trainable. To have the best success (and the happiest friend), you should use the positive training techniques. Think about the PH's history. They have been used for thousands of years as hunters. They would go out, on their own, to find and take prey. This type of hunting has evolved them into a smart, independent thinker. This is a breed of problem solvers who think of themselves as your partner, rather than your property.

Pharaoh Hounds are clean, easy to live with dogs. They housetrain readily and, with consistent feedback, easily learn household manners. Mine are allowed on furniture but know they are not allowed upstairs. They stay out of the garbage and, mostly, don't try to steal food. They don't beg from my husband, because he's never fed them from the table. They do know I'm a sucker for a pretty face and will occasionally slip them a little bit of food! Pharaoh Hounds can be barkers.

No, but most Goldens are extremely friendly and want to meet everyone in the neighborhood. Rescued dogs may have come from a home where they were not well treated and therefore, may have a tendency to wander. You must take responsibility and no dog should be unattended when loose outside.

Pharaoh Hounds have a tremendous prey drive. Because of this, they can "forget" any obedience training if they see something they consider prey. If this happens to be a squirrel across a busy street . . . well, you can see the disaster waiting to happen. For this reason, you should never allow your Pharaoh Hound off-leash in an unsecured area. They don't roam and they aren't trying to run away from you - but they will obey their ages old instinct to course game.

It's not surprising that so many cat lovers also adore Pharaoh Hounds--they are very "catlike," in both their personality and elegant grace, after all. My short answer to this most frequently asked question is "Yes, BUT..." YES, Pharaohs and a housecats can live in harmony together, BUT caution must be taken at all times. There are countless owners who own both Pharaohs and cats and have never had a problem. It is important the Pharaoh and kitty be raised together.

Yes, the breed gets along very well with other dogs as a rule. They are not aggressive by any means. They can be snobs, however, preferring only to interact with their own breed or other sighthounds if given the choice. They play differently from the average dog, with lots of teeth, snapping, snarling, etc.

Pharaoh Hounds (well-bred Pharaohs with good temperaments - but that should go without saying), on the whole, are super with kids of all ages. It helps if they are introduced to kids when they are puppies, but I have seen many adult Pharaohs with no prior experience living with kids get integrated into a household with kids quite seamlessly. They are extremely playful, and tireless when it comes to games they enjoy, so they get along well with active younger kids.

Pharaohs do not have the greatest tolerance for cold weather. They are so short haired and have so little body fat on them that they cannot be out in the cold for very long. In colder climates, a warm and protective coat or jacket is a must when they're outside, and they shouldn't be made to stay out any longer than necessary.

This is an active breed. By active, I do not mean hyper, just that they have a lot of energy and they need to exercise and play hard to stay physically and mentally fit. They are extremely playful--everything is a potential game to them. They are also true entertainers by nature, and very interactive, both with eachother and with their people. If they are bored, they will create their own fun. I had one (Noble) who was the king of inventing games.

Pharaoh Hounds have very short, glossy coats which shed very little. Many times it has been reported that people who suffer from allergies to dog hair, do not react to the Pharaoh Hound.

Due to their short coats, the Pharaoh Hound requires very little grooming. An occasional bath, regular toenail trims, ear and teeth cleaning is about all that is required. A good brushing will help keep the coat shiny and healthy.

Anesthesia is always a risk in any breed, but the Pharaoh Hounds are not as prone to problems as many of their sighthound cousins. With the new generation of anesthesia commonly used in today's veterinary medicine, the risks are minimal. Ask your veterinarian what type of anesthesia they are administering and discuss the risk factors.

Though not all rescue groups ask this, it's an important question for you to ask yourself. Without a securely fenced yard, you must take your dog out at least four times a day to relieve him/herself, plus exercise walks. At the same time, even with a fenced yard, the dog will need exercise and attention from you every day (plus yard clean up).

A fenced yard or not is not really the issue with Sams - the issue is that they are not stay-at-home dogs and therefore must be safely confined somewhere while you are away. A fenced yard is absolutely no guarantee that your dog will be there when you come home after eight hours. Sams are excellent diggers, jumpers and climbers and they get easily bored when left alone.

While encouraged, it is not mandatory. A few minutes a day of playing, running, or even a long walk will be sufficient to keep your Greyhound happy; but your dog must always be on a leash when not in an enclosed area.

We rarely place an Airedale in a home without a fenced yard. If you believe your circumstances are extraordinary, contact your nearest Airedale rescue volunteer with the details. Having a fenced yard does not mean that you should stick your dog in the yard and expect him to take care of himself! Airedales need to be members of the family and need you to actively exercise them. Airedales left too long alone in a fenced yard become bored and get into trouble.

Greyhounds are basically like all other dogs, but because of their training and racing career, they have some unique characteristics. They are sighthounds (also called gazehounds), meaning that they hunt by sight rather than smell. As hunters, they work cooperatively with other hounds and develop strategies of pursuit spontaneously during the chase. This natural instinct is reinforced in Greyhounds by training to chase lures (usually mechanical but sometimes live).

we all know, a securely fenced yard is an absolute necessity if you want to be able to let your beagle run off leash. But what we consider "securely fenced" might only mean "mildly challenging" to a highly motivated beagle who wants to roam. Some beagles climb out, while others dig, but no matter the method, you need to prevent him or her from escaping.

Fortunately, the Pharaoh Hound is a hardy breed and is not prone to problems commonly seen in some breeds. Of course, an isolated case of just about anything can occur, but is the exception rather than the rule. Pharaoh Hound breeders have worked hard to maintain healthy animals.

Acceptable color for Pharaoh Hounds ranges from tan through chestnut only. A white tail tip is strongly desired, although not required. They are allowed some white on the chest and toes. A small, white snip on the foreface is also allowed. Any white on the back of the neck or on the body is a disqualification. To view the AKC breed standard at the AKC website or visit the PHCA's Illustrated Guide To The Standard.

Yes, even though they require a lot of exercise, they will accomplish this in a nice sized yard. If there is more than one dog, they will play chase. If not, they will chase birds or birds shadows, grasshoppers, snakes, or anything else that looks like it should be chased. They can also be kept in an apartment, they were bred to be apartment sized huskies, if the owner is sure to walk the dog at least three times a day.

A - A fenced yard is ideal, of course, mainly as a convenience for the owner who otherwise has to walk the dog on a leash 4 or more times a day. But it is not absolutely necessary if you are committed to dog walking and understand that Greyhounds can not, under any circumstances, be let off leash unless in a securely fenced area.

Although a fenced yard is not a requirement for owning an Airedale, it is a very big plus! Before bringing a dog in to your household, you should consider what you will do on days that you are sick, running late, or for some other reason unable to walk the dog. Many areas have some type of leash law and, for the health of the dog, you should never allow the dog to run freely, without some type of boundary.