If we delve into the history of Ancient Egypt we will immediately realize the close relationship that its inhabitants had with the dogs. Proof of this is the enormous number of artistic representations (some of them more than four thousand years old) that are still preserved today and where dogs of different morphology and size can be seen resting next to the pharaohs, accompanying the men. in hunting parties or guarding the graves of the deceased. In addition, one of the gods of Egyptian mythology, Anubis, is shown with the body of a man and the head of a jackal, a canine very close to dogs.
It is difficult to define which dog breeds really originated in Egypt, because, although several of them seem to descend directly from ancient Egyptian dogs, they were later developed in other countries that ended up declaring them their own. In fact, the International Canine Federation (FCI) does not currently recognize an Egyptian origin in any of its breeds, although there is genetic and historical evidence that the ancestors of some of them did inhabit 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 publication on our site we present six dog breeds with origins closely linked to Ancient Egypt and tell you more about their appearance, temperament and care, ¿ did you know them? If not, discover the Egyptian dogs!
1. Pharaoh Hound
Just by hearing the name of this breed we can already imagine its country of origin and even get an idea of its appearance. Although its development as a modern breed has taken place mainly in M alta, the Pharaoh Hound is, without a doubt, the first that comes to mind if we think of Egyptian dogs, since it is the living image of thetypical representations of dogs made in Ancient Egypt : a thin, fast, slender animal with large upright ears. Its fur is short and uniform reddish brown, although some specimens may have some white spots on the tip of the tail, fingers, chest or face.
The pharaoh's dog is a friendly animal and very faithfulto his guardians, but also quite independent. This dog is full of energy, has admirable physical resistance and is an excellent hunter, so a good job of socialization is necessary if we want it to live with cats or other smaller animals, since it tends to chase them. This dog is always on alert and can become a barker, but it also stands out for its intelligence and ease of learning, so it is not difficult to train.
With regard to their he alth, the most frequent pathologies in this breed are osteoarticular, such as hip and elbow dysplasia or patella dislocation.
two. Saluki
The saluki is a greyhound native to the lands of the Middle East, where it was used for thousands of years as a hunting dog thanks to its its speed and precision when it comes to chasing and capturing all kinds of prey. Arab tradition dictated that salukis 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 European standard for the Saluki breed.
The saluki is a athletic and well-proportioned dog Its legs are thin and long, as is its snout, and it has a soft, short coat that can be virtually any color. There is a variety of saluki, the most common, which has characteristic fringes on the ears, the back of the legs and the tail, while the short-haired variety does not.
As for its temperament, we find ourselves in front of a dog with character independent, sensitive, cunning and somewhat distrustful with strangers, although he is very rarely aggressive and, if he is properly socialized, he is very sweet and affectionate with his loved ones.
The saluki is a robust and resistant animal, with little predisposition to suffer serious pathologies, although cases of eye problems have occasionally been documented in this breed, such as glaucoma or progressive retinal atrophy, for what is recommended to carry out annual veterinary check-ups.
3. Basenji
The basenji is a small/medium sized breed of dog weighing around 10 kilograms. It is believed that its origin dates back to Ancient Egypt, where the basenji were the faithful companions of the pharaohs. In fact, it is suspected that it is the oldest dog breed in the world. Over time, the breed spread south and its greatest development took place in Central Africa, where these dogs were highly valued for their cunning and their ability to hunt and exterminate rat pests that threatened livestock.
The most characteristic physical features of the basenji are, without a doubt, its curled tail and wrinkled forehead, which make this breed unmistakable. Its body is short in proportion to the remarkable length of its limbs, and its ears are triangular and stand erect, giving the basenji an ever-attentive appearance.
In addition to its physical appearance, the basenji stands out for having a unique peculiarity among all dog breeds and that is that it cannot bark like other dogs doThis is because his larynx and vocal cords have a different structure and position that prevents him from making the sound of a bark, although he can howl and make other kinds of sounds.
The Basenji is an independent dog, reserved with strangers and very brave, so he needs good early socialization to learn to interact correctly with other animals and people. It is said of him that in many ways his behavior resembles that of cats, as his great agility allows him to jump great heights and even climb trees. With his guardians he is an affectionate dog who enjoys learning new skills and playing sports outdoors. The latter, physical exercise, is very important to avoid obesity, one of the main he alth problems affecting this breed.
4. Ibizan Hound
Another of the dogs of Egyptian origin is the Ibizan Hound, and the images of these dogs can still be seen painted and carved today in the tombs of the pharaohs who lived around 3,000 BC. It is believed that, after their initial development in Egypt, these dogs were transported by the Phoenicians to the Balearic Islands, where they experienced their main growth as a breed, acquiring this official name of "Hound Ibizan".
The specimens of this breed are slender, resistant and energetic and need plenty of physical and mental exercise on a daily basis. The Ibizan Hound is a affectionate, patient, sociable animal and devoted to its guardians, enjoys long walks in the countryside and is usually very tolerant with children and other animals, although, like other types of podencos, it tends to be very sensitive and somewhat reserved with strangers, so special attention should be paid to its 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 against this dangerous disease. The truth is that this breed has some resistance to the effects of the bite of an infected sandfly mosquito and it has been observed that its immune response is faster and more powerful than in the case of other breeds, preventing 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 protection against the parasite are still necessary.
5. Egyptian Sheepdog
The Egyptian Sheepdog is also called the Armant in honor of the Egyptian city where it is believed to have originated. This breed is not currently recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) and, although its history is not entirely clear, it is thought that it arose as a result of crossbreeding between local 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-sized and weighs between 23 and 29 kilograms. It has a semi-long and rough coat that can come in various colors, the most frequent pattern being the combination of black and brown tones. Most specimens have their ears erect, although some individuals have them drooping. Its body is muscular, its extremities very strong and it has considerably thick pads to be able to move easily on different terrains.
The Egyptian shepherd has a strong character, he is energetic, intrepid, outgoing and very braveIt 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, as he is an intelligent and very observant dog who will always be aware of everything that happens around him.
It is important, in addition to complying with the vaccination and deworming schedule, to take good care of his coat, as it can easily become tangled and give rise to knots. Ideally, the armant should be brushed three to four times a week.
6. Bally Dog
We end the list of Egyptian dog breeds with the baladí. The term baladí comes from Arabic and means "of the country", that is, it is used to indicate that something or someone is of national origin. The Egyptian Barbary Dog is not a breed as such, but is the name used to designate the street dogs of Egypt that arose as a result of random crossbreeding that occurred over the years between other resident breeds, such as the Ibizan Hound or the Pharaoh's Hound.
The vast majority of stray dogs are slender, medium-sized animals with large, upright ears and a semi-coiled tail. Their fur is short and is usually sand-colored, combined in some cases with black or white markings. Due to its status as a semi-wild dog, the baladí is a cautious and somewhat distrustful animal, but if it is educated and socialized like any other dog it can be a companion wonderful.
Due to the expansion of these animals throughout the country, many people abuse them, mistreat them or cruelly slaughter them to reduce their population. Fortunately, today several associations and animal groups are fighting to improve the quality of life of these stray dogs, promoting their sterilization and looking for homes where they are welcomed or adopted permanently, either within the country or in other parts of the world.
