If we investigate the history of ancient Egypt, we will immediately realize the close relationship between its inhabitants and dogs. Proof of this is the huge number of artistic representations (some of them over four thousand years old) still preserved to this day and where dogs of different shapes and sizes can be seen resting next to the pharaohs, accompanying the men. At hunting parties or guarding the graves of the dead. In addition, one of the deities of Egyptian mythology, Anubis, appears with the body of a man and the head of a jackal, a dog very close to dogs.
It is difficult to determine which dog breeds originated in Egypt because although many of them appeared to be directly descended from ancient Egyptian dogs, they were later developed in other countries that ended up being claimed as their own.
The International Canine Federation (FCI) does not currently recognize Egyptian ancestry in any of its breeds, although there is genetic and historical evidence that the ancestors of some of them inhabited this country. This fact is especially noticeable when we talk about certain breeds included in group 5 of the FCI, corresponding to spitz-type dogs and primitive dogs.
In this DOG57 post we present six dog breeds with origins closely related to ancient Egypt and tell you more about their appearance, temperament, and interest, do you know them? If not, discover the Egyptian dogs!
As soon as we hear the name of this breed, we can already imagine what the country of origin is and even get an idea of its appearance. Although its development as a modern breed took place mainly in Malta, the pharaoh's dog is undoubtedly the first thing that comes to mind if we think of Egyptian dogs, because they are the vivid image of the typical representations of dogs made in ancient Egypt: a Slender fast slender animal with large erect ears.
Its fur is short and reddish-brown, although some specimens may have some white spots on the tip of the tail, fingers, chest, or face.
The Pharaoh Hound is a very friendly and loyal animal to his guardians but is also quite independent. This dog is full of energy, has great physical resistance, and is an excellent hunter, so good social work is necessary if we want to live with cats or other small animals, as he tends to chase them.
This dog is always alert and can become a barker, but it is also very intelligent and easy to learn, so it is not difficult to train.
Concerning their health, the most common diseases of this breed are of the osteoarticular type, such as hip and elbow dysplasia or patellar luxation.
Basenji
The Basenji is a small/medium-sized dog breed with a weight of around 10 kilograms. Its origin is believed to go back to ancient Egypt, where the basenji were loyal companions of the pharaohs.
It is suspected to be the oldest breed of dog in the world. Over time, the breed spread south and its greatest development occurred in Central Africa, where these dogs were highly valued for their cunning and ability to hunt and exterminate rat pests that were threatening livestock.
One of the basenji's most distinctive physical traits is, without a doubt, its curly tail and wrinkled forehead, which makes this breed unmistakable.
Its body is short in proportion to the remarkable length of its limbs, and its ears are triangular and upright, giving a basenji a timeless appearance.
In addition to its physical appearance, the Basenji has a unique characteristic among all dog breeds which is that it cannot bark as other dogs do. This is because the larynx and vocal cords have a different structure and position that prevents them from making the sound of the bark, although they can howl and make other types of sounds.
The Basenji is an independent dog, reserved with strangers and very brave, so he needs good early socialization to learn to properly relate to other animals and people.
It is said that his behavior is in many ways similar to that of a cat, as his superior agility allows him to jump to great heights and even climb trees. He is an affectionate dog with his guardians who enjoys learning new skills and exercising in the great outdoors. The latter, physical exercise, is very important to avoid obesity, one of the main health problems affecting this breed.
Grayhound
A native of Southeast Asia, the Saluki has been used for thousands of years as a hunting dog thanks to its speed and accuracy when it comes to hunting down and capturing all kinds of prey.
Arab stipulated that the Saluki could not be bought or sold, but could only be given as a gift as a sign of honor, and many of them were given to Europeans, who introduced the breed to our continent, and in 1923 it was created . The first official standard for European grayhound.
The Greyhound is a sporty, well-proportioned dog. Its legs are long and slender, as is its nose, and it has short, soft fur that can be any color. There is a variety of grayhounds, the most common, which has a distinctive fringe on the ears, backs of the legs, and tail, while the short-haired variety does not.
As for his temperament, we find ourselves in front of a dog with an independent character, sensitive and cunning, somewhat distrustful of strangers, although it is rarely aggressive and, if properly socialized, is very kind and affectionate with loved ones. Of which.
The Saluki is a robust and resilient animal, with a little predisposition to serious diseases, although cases of eye problems have been documented occasionally in this breed, such as glaucoma or progressive retinal atrophy, so annual veterinary examinations are recommended.
Ibizan Hound
Among other dogs of Egyptian origin is the Ibizan hound, and images of these dogs can still be seen painted and carved even today in the tombs of the pharaohs who lived in 3000 BC.
Initial development In Egypt, these dogs were taken by the Phoenicians to the Balearic Islands, where they saw their main growth as a breed, and they acquired the official name "Hound Ibizan".
Specimens of this breed are slender, resistant, and energetic and need to do a lot of physical and mental exercise on a daily basis. The Ibizan dog is an affectionate, patient, social animal devoted to its guardians.
He enjoys long walks in the countryside and is usually very tolerant of children and other animals although, like other types of hounds, he tends to be somewhat squeamish and reserved with strangers, so special attention should be paid to their education and socialization.
There is a belief that the Ibizan Hound is immune to leishmaniasis, which is why many guardians decide not to protect it from this dangerous disease. In fact, this breed has some resistance to the effects of the bite of an infected sandfly mosquito and it has been noted that its immune response is faster and stronger than in the case of other breeds, which prevents the development of serious symptoms.
However, it is not true that it is completely immune and many individuals can suffer the consequences of this disease, so vaccination and parasite prevention is still essential.
Egyptian Shepherd Dog
The Egyptian Sheepdog is also called Armant in honor of the Egyptian city in which it is believed to have originated. This breed is not currently recognized by the International Film Federation (FCI), and although its history is not entirely clear, it is believed that it arose as a result of crossbreeding between domestic dogs and other breeds brought from Europe, such as the bearded collie . Currently, the Armant is used as a herding dog for livestock and also for guard work.
This dog is medium in size and weighs between 23 and 29 kilograms. It has a semi-long, coarse coat that can come in different colors, and the most common pattern is a combination of black and brown tones.
Most specimens have erect ears, although some individuals have drooping. His body is muscular, his limbs are very strong and he has fairly thick pads to be able to move easily over different terrains.
The Egyptian Shepherd has a strong, lively, bold, detached, and very brave personality. It is an ideal dog for active families, and with proper socialization, it is friendly and patient with children and other dogs.
He learns very quickly, he is a very intelligent and observant dog and will always be attentive to everything that happens around him.
It is important, in addition to adhering to the vaccination and deworming schedule, to take good care of his coat, as it can easily tangle and cause knots. The ideal method is to clean the arm three to four times a week.
Ballad dog
We finish the list of Egyptian dog breeds with Baladi. The term "Baladi" comes from the Arabic language and means "country", that is, it is used to indicate that something or someone is of national origin.
The Egyptian Baladi dog is not a breed per se, but rather the name used to name the street dogs in Egypt that emerged as a result of random cross-breeding that occurred over the years between other resident breeds, as can be. Pharaoh's dog.
The vast majority of Barbary dogs are slender, medium-sized animals with large, erect ears and semi-coiled tails. Their fur is short and usually sandy in color, in some cases accompanied by black or white markings.
Due to their status as semi-wild dogs, the Baladi is a reasonable and somewhat suspicious animal, but if he is as educated and socialized like any other dog, he can be a wonderful company.
Due to the expansion of these animals across the country, many people abuse or cruelly slaughter them to reduce their population. Fortunately, today many animal associations and groups are fighting to improve the quality of life for these stray dogs, promoting their spaying and finding homes that will be welcomed or adopted permanently, either within the country or in other parts of the world.
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