Are Pharaoh Hounds easy to groom?

The grooming reality for Pharaoh Hounds

What the coat needs

Pharaoh Hounds have a manageable coat that needs a quick brush once a week. It is a light routine that keeps the coat healthy and cuts down on hair around the home without any specialist work.

Time and cost

Most of the work is done at home with a decent brush and the occasional bath. Costs stay low: nail clippers, shampoo, and a brush suited to the coat are about all you need, with a salon trip only if you fancy a tidy-up.

The bits every dog needs

Whatever the coat, the basics are the same. Trim or file nails every few weeks so they do not click on the floor or splay the toes, check and gently clean ears to catch infections early, and brush the teeth several times a week to head off the dental disease that is common and costly in dogs. Start all of this in puppyhood so handling becomes routine rather than a battle.

Personality and cooperation on the grooming table

Malta's national dog, one of the world's oldest breeds. A graceful, rust-coated sighthound that uniquely blushes when excited, its nose and ears turning pink.

Intelligent dogs learn the grooming routine quickly, associating the brush or the clippers with a predictable, low-stress process once it has been repeated a handful of times. Friendly dogs generally accept an unfamiliar groomer with less anxiety than a wary breed, which tends to make professional appointments considerably more straightforward. An active dog finds it hard to stay still through an extended grooming session without some exercise first to take the edge off its energy.

Training and temperament during grooming

Building tolerance for handling

Pharaoh Hounds pick up tolerance for grooming with a reasonable amount of consistent practice, particularly when sessions start short and build up gradually.

Vocal protest during grooming

Pharaoh Hounds bark a moderate amount generally, and an occasional grumble during a fiddly part of grooming, such as nail trimming, is not unusual.

Family involvement and other pets

Pharaoh Hounds are generally good with children, and older kids can often be taught to help with simple brushing under supervision, which is a useful way to build the dog's comfort with being handled by different people. With a cat in the household, grooming sessions are best done somewhere the two animals are not competing for space or attention.

Grooming costs across a dog's lifetime

Pharaoh Hounds typically live 12 to 14 years, and grooming needs tend to change with age: older dogs often have thinner, more sensitive skin and less patience for long sessions, so shorter, gentler grooming suits a senior pharaoh hound better than the routine that worked at two years old. Insurance for a Pharaoh Hound in the UK typically runs about £28 to £60 a month, and skin problems from neglected coat care, matting, hot spots, and infected ears among them, are a common reason that cover gets used. Starting handling and brushing early with a Pharaoh Hound puppy, which typically costs around £1000 to £2500 in the UK, makes every grooming session for the rest of the dog's life considerably easier.