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Some of the sometime dog breed can be traced back to ancient Egypt , and many Egyptian weenie breeds are very democratic today . It ’s often suggested that it was the ancient Egyptians that domesticated dogs . A grave date back to 3500 B.C. read a picture of a man walking a Canis familiaris on a troika . These dogs closely resemble the ancient civilization ’s hieroglyph and tomb drawings of Egypt ’s iconic dogs .

Some of these ancient frump have grow into the native Egyptian dog breeds that we know today , including the basenji , saluki , pharaoh hound , and Ibizan hound . Other neighbor Middle Eastern , Mediterranean , and African countries have made these original breeds their own .

Basenji standing in front of a blurred forest background

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Here are six breeds to view if you ’re concerned in having one of the earth ’s ancient breed .

Breed Characteristics

breed that are believed to date back to ancient Egypt let in :

The cad originating from Egypt make out in the first place from ahot , dry desertor North African Mediterranean mood . Their body match well with those climates — not well suited for Arctic climate or humid tropics .

These intelligent , mellow - energy dog-iron were also bred for an dynamic , working lifestyle ashunters , shepherds , orguard dogs . Today , these breeds abide by in the pawprints of their ancient ancestor , requiring plenty ofexercise , genial foreplay , and a good sense of purpose .

saluki dog

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When choosing a dog to come to be part of your kinsfolk , where you live and the climate can impact a dog ’s happiness . Big dogs with thick double pelage have some difficultness acclimatise to hot or tropic climates , while domestic dog with unretentive , ok fuzz find harsh or snow-white winters too much for their not - so - isolate bodies .

Saluki

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The elegant and athletic gazelle hound think " noble " in Arabic and is one of the oldest dog breeds . Their story goes back at least 5,000 years . Ancient Egyptian tombstone and sculptures feature dogs resemble the modern - day saluki .

The pharaohs esteem these dog for their regal tone and athletic search artistry — as did other prominent leader throughout history , like Alexander the Great . The strain spread across the Middle East , Egypt , and Asia over the years , brought by mobile tribes .

Basenji standing in grass with dried leaves

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Like many sighthounds , the gazelle hound is incredibly fast and normally has a high prey drive — not suit to rest home life with other pocket-size furred ducky . If they get stack of exercise , Saluki are fuck for being docile and enjoy curling up at home .

They have an self-governing , unregenerate streak , are sensitive , and requiregentle , positively charged reinforcementfor training results . Not acknowledge as a cuddly breed , Saluki will still make strong attachment with their family and are prostrate toseparation anxietyif leave alone for too long .

Breed Overview

Group : Hound ( AKC )

Height:23 to 28 inches

Weight:40 to 60 pounds

Ibizan Hound jumping through a meadow

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Personality / Temperament : Quiet , levelheaded , sensitive

Energy Level : High

Coat and Color : Feathered or smooth coat ; softly square spike ; white or cream , fawn , black and tan or grizzle and tan , and golden coat colour

Pharaoh Hound standing in snow in a forest

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Life Span:10 to 17 years

Basenji

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The basenji ( in African nomenclature , the name translates to mean " dog of the bush , village , or unfounded " ) is another erstwhile stock . These dog-iron stand a striking resemblance to dogs draw on Egyptian pharaoh headstone .

Over the twelvemonth , tribes in Central Africa valued this dog ’s excellent hunt skills . The strain has rest relatively unmoved by selective breeding . The basenji you see today tight resembles its ancestor from thousands of years ago .

Baladi Street Dog

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Basenjis are fast , soft , and alert , but can be obstinate and postulate extra patience during training . They tend to be reserved and even upstage with new people but constitute hard bonds with their mob .

Do n’t expect a lapdog with a basenji , though . They will search attention on their terms , compared often to big cat . This breed is anattractive choice for mass who survive in apartmentssince this dog does n’t bark . Still , they require moderate exercise to prevent trouble behavior from surfacing as a result of boredom .

Height:16 to 17 column inch

Armant

Credit:National Purebred Dog Day

Weight:20 to 25 pound sterling

Personality / Temperament : healthy , quiet , stubborn

Coat and colouration : Smooth , forgetful pelage in chestnut tree red , black , brindle , or tricolour ( black and flushed ) ; all have white foot , chest , and buns confidential information ; may have white leg , blaze away , and collar

Life Span:13 to 14 age

Ibizan Hound

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Strictly utter , the Ibizan cad is look at aboriginal to the Balearic Islands , off Spain ’s seacoast . These refined sighthounds are another breed that can easy trace their original lineage back to Egypt that made its way to Spain by ancient Phoenician ocean traders .

Looks alone tell the story of this stock that appears strikingly like dogs seen on various tombstones and historical artifacts in Egypt . Food could be scarce on the Mediterranean islands , and these agile , leaping , high - speed dogs were make up one’s mind hunters that navigated the rugged terrain to bring back lapin for their citizenry .

High - energy , inviolable fair game drive , with child stamina dog , Ibizan hound are best suited to living in active homes with no small animals . With plenty of workout , they are serene , gentle , and relatively quiet around the home .

Height:22 to 28 inch

Weight:45 to50 pounds

Personality / Temperament : Even - temper , alive , tender

Coat and colour : Coarse hair can be smooth or wiry ; derive in whole red , substantial lily-white , or white-hot and red formula

life story Span:12 to 14 years

Pharaoh Hound

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Like the Ibizan hound , the pharaoh hound dog is another ancient stock that can describe its descent back to the land of the Nile ; the name is a nod to ancient Egyptian inheritance . This heel made their manner to Europe from Phoenician traders and developed further on the Mediterranean island of Malta .

The dog share like traits with the Ibizan hound in term of looks and disposition . They were also primarily used for hunting coney ; in Maltese , this energetic stock is holler " kelb tal - fenek , " meaning " rabbit heel . "

They ’re less reserved than the Ibizan hound with a well-disposed , playful nature , bring in them good comrade for venerating kid . Born to run and hunt , this dog is best suited for an active menage — one that does n’t have small , furred animals .

Height:21 to 25 inches

Weight:45 to 55 pounds

Personality / Temperament : Playful , loyal , intelligent

Coat and Color : myopic , smooth , glossy coating ; shades of tan

Baladi Street Dog

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WhileBaladi dogsare not a pure breed , this dog is the most vernacular in Egypt . They settle from a mixture of salukis , pharaoh bounder , and Israeli Canaan andiron . These native stray dogs are prolific on the streets and across the rural countryside of the country .

They share similar characteristic with some of their purebred congeneric , including enceinte pricked ears and a slim physique . They front less refined but are full of character and make good companion dogs .

Over the years , these frank have grown in identification number , becoming a pain in the neck . Many local anesthetic grew to revile and even abuse them , although an international outcry shined a sparkle on this issue . Several successful spay and neuter movement have helped curb overpopulation , and Baladi dogs are being rescued abroad and within Egypt through local espousal programs .

Height:14 to 23 inch

Weight:23 to 50 pound

Personality / Temperament : Adaptable , sound , playful

Coat and colour : Short ; brown , beige , black , and white

Armant (Egyptian Sheepdog)

National Purebred Dog Day

The Armant is afarmandherding breedthat may have originally descended from the French   Briard herd dog . It is cogitate to have been   bring to Egypt by   Napoleon ’s armies .

This breed was break by mixing with local bounder .   The dog ’s name originates from the   township of Armant   in Egypt , their supposed place of origin in the other 1900s .

The breed is not known much outside of Egypt but is used extensively within Egypt as a herding dog and a   livestock sentry go dog . This strain is highly loyal , bonds intimately with kinsperson , and acclimatize well to life with children in the base .

grouping : Not in a recognized group

Height:21 to 23 inches

Weight:50 to 65 British pound sterling

Personality / Temperament : patriotic , playful , affectionate

Coat and colour : Medium - length , coarse , rough , shaggy coat ; comes in black , tan , gray , and yellow

Life Span:14 to 15 age

Breeds to Avoid

Egyptian breeds proliferated over time and more than 1,000 naut mi for their energetic drive and skill as Orion , herders , and protection . If you esteem these breed ' high vigour , intelligence , and determination to get a chore done , then some frump that might let down are dogs eff for their lounging , lapdog disposition . These lower - energy dogs also look nothing like Egyptian breed :