Pharaoh Hound Club

The Pharaoh Hound Club Championship Show

Saturday 23rd May 2026

Critique

 I would like to thank The Pharaoh Hound Club for inviting me to judge their Championship show. This is my first time awarding Challenge certificates in this breed and although the days of large entries of this breed appear to be gone, I was pleased with the quality of the dogs I had entered. I know better than most the challenges of keeping a primitive hound breed and that in the days of smaller houses and people wanting an easy run of things, they are not the breed for everyone; however, it would be wonderful to see this beautiful breed gain a bit more popularity again.

I know this is a breed that has changed and I had a few different styles of Pharaoh hound entered under me, reflecting their breeding and country of origin, however overall, all had good breed type, with some super heads. Fronts were a mixed bag with several being ever so slightly short in upper arm, giving a more picking up action, rather than the free reaching action required. Hindquarters too were mixed with some having a touch more angulation than I’d like or slightly lacking in second thigh. Temperaments were excellent with no dogs backing off and despite it being a bit warm for some of the bitches, most appeared to be enjoying themselves in the ring, with all dogs shown in good condition. I felt my CC winners were both superb examples of the breed and was delighted to hear that my Dog CC was made up on the day. The Bitch CC is coming into her own and I’m sure won’t take long to title either. Thank you to all who entered, I had a super day and appreciated the beautiful hamper given to me as a judge’s gift. Finally, thanks to my excellent stewards to keeping the ring running smoothly.

Junior Dog (1 entry)

1st. Stark’s Bazinga Prime Time V Star K. Quality 13 month old male with super wedge head, parallel planes and lovely expression. Good underjaw and ears of good size and set which he uses well. Strong arched neck with well laid shoulders, good return of upper arm and correct bone. Excellent feet and good pasterns. Nice cut up and a good topline when not overstretching himself. Well angulated hindquarters with good second thigh and correct set tail, with white tip. Still a bit erratic on the move and not completely mature in body, but overall sound and still a young male showing plenty of promise.

Open Dog (4 entries, 2 absent)

1st. Parker, Stevens, Williams and Carota’s Am Ch Hallam Desert Pheonix Bakhu’s Max One in a Million (Imp USA). Top Quality six year old male with the best of heads, noble expression and chiselled features. Super balance of skull to muzzle with strong underjaw, parallel planes and beautiful eye shape and colour. Super firm mobile ears. Lovely strong arched neck without exaggeration going into an excellent front with well laid shoulders, balanced return of upper arm and excellent strait bone. Superb feet being strong and well knuckled with strong pasterns. Lovely cut up and topline with slightly sloping croup and moderately angulated hindquarters and strong well developed second thigh. Excellent spring of rib with a strong loin, although perhaps a touch longer in body than I’d like if I was being picky. Tail set correctly of good length and a few white hairs at the tip. Excellent free flowing movement, easily covering the ground and presented in super coat and condition. Delighted to award him the Dog CC and Best in Show in today’s entry, his third thus making him a UK Champion to add to his American title.

2nd. Pieponen’s Bazinga One For All and All for Me. Another quality male with a beautiful masculine head with strong underjaw, slight stop and parallel head planes. Lovely eye and expression and super ears. Strong arched neck with well laid shoulders although just a touch shorter in upper arm. Excellent bone and feet with good depth and spring of rib and nice cut up. Excellent topline with strong loin and correct set tail. Well angulated rear with a bit more angulation than I like and not the second thigh of the winner. Still a young male who has more to come and more together on the move than the Junior winner. Happy to award the RCC today.

Veteran Bitch (3 entries, 2 absent)

1st. Ashby, Cappelaere and Samways’ Kurriera Krystal Amethyst VW. An old favourite of mine who I have judged a couple of times before in her career. Super breed type with lovely wedge-shaped head, Parallel head planes and slight stop with noble expression and excellent ears. Strong well arched neck going into well laid shoulders with balanced return of upper arm and excellent bone and feet. Nice cut up with a good topline when she stands properly, slightly dipping when she’s relaxed, however can forgive this given her age. Well sprung ribs with good cut up. Excellent moderate hindquarters with first and second thigh and correct set tail. Moved OK, not coping so well in the heat, and perhaps a touch bigger than I’d like for a bitch; however, in today’s entry I could not deny her the RCC for her excellent breed specific qualities, and also Best Veteran in show. I understand this beautiful hound now has two CCs and four RCCS, I do hope someone gives her another so she can gain her much deserved title as she is really a lovely Pharaoh Hound.

Post Graduate Bitch ( 2 entries, 1 absent)

1st. Falzon’s Doucai’s Principessa Xini. Feminine bitch of lovely size with a pretty head and nice eye shape. Ears a touch wider and would like a stronger under jaw. Well laid shoulders, although another slightly short in upper arm. Very good feet and pasterns and overall body proportions with well sprung ribs. Moderate angulation in hindquarters. Moved OK, a bit erratic coming at you in front, although looked better in profile. Presented in lovely coat and condition.

Limit Bitch (2 entries)

Two very different bitches, both with positive qualities and things I’d like to change. Could easily swap places.

1st. Hartill’s Rubasu Berenice Baara at Jechemo. Six year old bitch with super chiselled head proportions and strong underjaw. Parallel head planes, slight stop and excellent ears. Strong neck going into well laid shoulders with good return of upper arm. OK feet and pasterns, could be tighter. Nice cut up with strong loin and good topline. Perhaps a touch more angulation at the rear than I like. Moved OK, not happy in the heat today.

2nd. Ashby’s Regina Alessandra. Feminine bitch with good head, although would like a touch more underjaw. Parallel head planes and nice eye shape. Excellent arched neck going into a good shoulder with balanced return of upper arm. Good feet and well sprung ribs. Moderate hindquarters which she didn’t really use on the move, lacking in reach and drive. I do think she was suffering in the heat however, not her day today.

Open Bitch (3 entries, 2 absent)

1st. Peiponen’s Bazinga No Brain No Pain Int/ Nordic/ DK/ Nor JCh. Quality bitch who is feminine with a beautiful head and expression. Lovely amber eye with super wedge-shaped head, parallel head planes and excellent ears which she used well/ Strong arched neck going into well shoulders and balanced return of upper arm. Super bone and excellent feet and pasterns. Lovely cut up with excellent topline and correct set tail with slight drop at the croup. Love her proportions being slightly longer than high. Well angulated rear with a decent second thigh and presented in super condition. She does have a little bit more rear angulation that I prefer however she is balanced and her movement was sound and free, covering the ground well and out moving the other bitches entered today. Delighted to award her the Bitch CC and Reserve Best in Show.

David Knights (Lelaps)