Pharaoh Hound Puppy Checklist

Before Puppy Comes Home

Pharaoh Hound Prep: Fence First, Vet Brief Second

Two things to handle before your Pharaoh Hound puppy arrives: verify your fencing is adequate, and contact your vet to flag sighthound anesthesia sensitivity before the first appointment. Both of these are breed-specific priorities that matter more than any equipment purchase.

Fence Security Check

• Minimum 6-foot fence — a motivated Pharaoh Hound will scale shorter fences when prey instinct fires
• Check all gates for secure latches
• No invisible/electronic fencing — it will not stop a prey-driven sighthound
• Check for dig-under vulnerabilities at fence base

Brief Your Vet on Sighthound Anesthesia

Before the first vet visit, contact your clinic and let them know you are bringing a sighthound (Pharaoh Hound). Ask that sighthound anesthesia sensitivity be noted in the record. Standard barbiturate-based anesthesia protocols used for other breeds are inappropriate for sighthounds. An informed vet uses appropriate protocols routinely — your job is to make sure they know your dog is a sighthound before any procedure happens.

Essential Gear Checklist

• Crate (appropriately sized for adult — medium/large)
• Dog bed away from drafts
• Dog coat for cold weather (buy before cold arrives)
• Stainless steel food and water bowls
• Flat collar + ID tag
• Well-fitted harness for walks
• 4–6 ft leash
• Rubber grooming mitt
• Dog-safe shampoo for short, fine coats
• Ear cleaning solution and cotton balls
• High-value training treats
• Toys — both prey-simulation toys for instinct and puzzle toys for mental enrichment
• Enzymatic cleaner

First Week

First Week: Vet Visit and Establishing Routine

First Vet Visit (Within 48–72 Hours)

• Full physical exam
• Vaccine schedule continuation
• Parasite prevention
• Confirm sighthound anesthesia sensitivity is noted in the record
• Microchip if not done by breeder
• Get pet insurance before or immediately after — before any conditions are documented

Socialization: Start Immediately

The socialization window is 8–16 weeks. Pharaoh Hounds are generally friendly, but exposure to varied people, sounds, and environments during this window shapes adult confidence. Priorities:

• Different types of people — varied in appearance, children, strangers in different contexts
• Outdoor environments with varied surfaces, sounds, and stimuli
• Other friendly, vaccinated dogs in positive controlled settings (puppy class)
• Do not skip socialization due to incomplete vaccines — carry the puppy in areas of disease risk

Prey Drive Awareness From Day One

Even as a puppy, the Pharaoh Hound has sighthound prey instinct. On-leash habits established from the first walk prevent the pattern of pulling toward stimulus from becoming entrenched. Never allow off-leash time in unfenced areas, ever — from day one. The habit of always being on leash or in a fenced area is established in puppyhood.

Training

Training Priorities for a Sighthound

Positive Reinforcement Only

Pharaoh Hounds are sensitive and respond poorly to harsh corrections or raised voices. Positive reinforcement with food rewards is the effective approach. They learn quickly in training sessions and apply commands reliably in low-distraction contexts. Competing with environmental stimuli — especially moving animals or prey — is a different challenge that training alone does not fully resolve.

• Sit, down, stay, come — build these commands from the start
• Loose-leash walking from the first walk
• Name recognition and recall — reliable in controlled settings
• Door manners — sit before going outside

Realistic Expectations

Off-leash reliability in open environments is not an achievable goal for a Pharaoh Hound. This is not a training failure — it is a sighthound trait. A Pharaoh Hound that hears 'come' and ignores it when chasing a squirrel is not being disobedient; the prey instinct is simply stronger than the trained behavior at that moment. Accept this and manage for it rather than fighting it.

Exercise: Manage Growth Plate Load

Puppies under 18 months should not be doing forced running, high-impact jumping, or extended high-intensity activity. Growth plates close at roughly 18 months in a medium breed. Leash walks and free play on grass are appropriate; jogging and lure coursing are not until physical maturity.