Best 7 Egyptian Dog Breeds

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Some of the oldest dog breeds in the world come from Egypt. Ancient Egypt is considered the cradle of civilization, and some historians believe it was the Egyptians that initially domesticated dogs. Egyptian dog breeds are lean, muscular, and adapted for warm climates. These dogs are not well-suited for cold climates because they don’t have thick coats to protect them. If you love the Egyptian culture, you will love these Egyptian dog breeds.

Internationally recognized Egyptian dog breeds;

1. Pharaoh Hound

The Pharaoh Hound is an agile, muscular, fairly large breed that originated in Egypt. Its current form was shaped on the Mediterranean island of Malta, where it was primarily used for hunting. The Pharaoh Hound is a part of the sighthound family, and it used its vision and speed for hunting small mammals. We decided to include this breed on the Nr. 1 spot because of its “Egyptian” look and name.

The Pharaoh Hound is an Egyptian dog breed that is relatively rare. These dogs actually make pretty good pets. Unlike other Hounds, this one is fairly friendly and playful. They will make great playing partners for children, as long as they treat the dog right. However, this is not a dog you want to get if you have small pets like gerbils, rabbits, or cats. Their hunting instincts are pretty strong, and mixing them with other pets is a great recipe for disasters.

2. Ibizan Hound

The Ibizan Hound was named after the famous Spanish party island, but the truth is, these dogs originated in Egypt. Strictly speaking, official Ibizan Hound records place these dog’s origin on the Ibizan island. However, simply analyzing their looks and DNA traced their origin to ancient Egypt. These Hounds made their way to Ibiza by traveling with Phoenician merchants.

Ibiza has a warm climate, so agriculture and food were scarce. Luckily, these agile hunters helped the natives hunt small animals. Ibizan Hounds specialize in hunting the rugged Ibizan terrain, where they excel at rabbit hunting. These dogs are reserved and are not the ideal pet. However, owners that know how to deal with and raise Hounds will get the best possible dog.

3. Basenji

The Basenji is another hunting Egyptian dog breed whose origins place them thousands of years in the past. These small agile dogs were perfect Subsaharan hunters. They excelled in the bush and could move quickly and silently while hunting. Archeologists found depictions of Basenji-like dogs on the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs. The interesting thing about these dogs is that they remain pretty unchanged, and modern-day Basenjis look a lot like the Basenjis of the old.

These adorable dogs gained popularity around the world. They make wonderful pets because they are extremely neat. They have almost cat-like grooming habits, and they love being clean and groomed. Another interesting thing is that Basenjis don’t bark. They produce a yodeling sound, and they will gladly tell you if they feel they are mistreated.

4. Saluki

Saluki is an ancient Egyptian dog breed, and some historians believe these dogs are older than 9.000 years. Ancient carvings show dogs that look like modern-day Salukis, and their DNA was traced to ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Persia. These sighthounds are incredibly fast, but their most attractive quality is their elegance. They have a noble and reserved disposition, which is why many owners like them.

Salukis are somewhat rare, and if you ever had a chance of seeing one, you will surely notice their impressive presence. These large dogs were used for hunting, and to this day, their hunting instincts remain strong. They are not the cuddliest breed in the world, but they are loyal and will enjoy a lazy day at home. However, they will require plenty of exercise.

Unrecognized Egyptian dog breeds;

6. Armant (Egyptian Sheepdog)

Like many other countries in the world, Egypt has some internationally unrecognized breeds. The Armant is the Egyptian version of the European Briard. This is a working breed Egyptian farmers employed for various farming tasks. Briards came to Egypt during Napoleon’s conquests, where they mixed with local dogs and created this Egyptian Sheepdog.

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This is considered an extremely rare breed. They are medium-sized and have yet to gain recognition from large cynology associations. Nevertheless, these dogs performed their tasks well, and Egyptian farmers still consider them very useful and precious.

7. Baladi Street Dog

The Baladi Street Dog is not u pureblooded Egyptian dog breed, but their numbers are so large, they cannot be ignored. These dogs roam the Egyptian streets and countryside, which earned them an unflattering label of pests. They came to life as a mixture of many breeds. The most dominant parts are the Ibizan Hounds, Israeli Canaan Dogs, and Pharaoh Hounds.

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Egyptian locals grew tired of these semi-wild dogs wreaking havoc, so at one moment, they started killing and abusing them. Luckily, there was a significant outcry from the international animal welfare organizations. The Egyptian government and other organizations began the spay-and-neuter actions that significantly lowered the Baladi Street Dog’s numbers.

World Dog Finder team