Pharaoh hound 
HISTORY OF PHARAOH HOUND
The Pharaoh Hound is the oldest domesticated dog in recorded history. Two hounds aredepicted hunting Gazelle on a circular disc which is thought to have been part of a game. The date, around 4000B.C.,was certainly before the first dynasty. The origin of this hound in prehistoric times has been the subject of research by many Egyptologists.
They conclude that if this race of dogs could have resulted from a mixture of many kinds of wild canidae, it is quite natural that from time to time, one of these elegant individuals would crop up with the elegant silhouette of Canis Doerdelini, the beautiful limbs of the Canis Lupaster
Canis Lupaster
& the long nose, erect ears & gentle nature of the Pariah or Wandering Dog of Egypt. They were seen as representatives of the Ancient Gods by the original Egyptians. The dogs were favored as the hunters and faithful, loyal companions in the daily life of the kings and nobles of all periods in Ancient Egypt & were frequently depicted in carvings. In 1935, a burial tomb of a dog was found in the great cemetery west of the Pyramid of Cheops at Giza with the following inscription recording the ritual burial ceremony, "The dog which was the guard of His Majesty, Abuwtiyuw is his name."
Head of God Anubis
This was a "Pharaoh Hound" type dog. His Majesty did this for him in order that he (the dog) might be honored before the great God Anubis. It is thought that the Phoenicians took these hounds with them when they settled on Malta and Gozo (islands off the coast of Italy), & the preservation of the these hounds who have changed so little in 5,000 years can be credited to the islands inhabitants. They are now the National Dog of Malta, where they are bred for rabbit hunting, guardians of the homesteads and known as "Kelb-tal-Fenek" (Rabbit Dog). The Pharaoh Hound was first imported into England in the early 1930's, then again in 1963 from Malta and Gozo. They were first introduced into the U.S. about 1967 by Mrs. Harper & the Pharaoh Hound Club of America (PHCA) was founded in 1970. Pharaohs received American Kennel Club (AKC) recognition in 1984 & were added to the Hound Group. This glorious breed can now be found in most countries in the world.
