The Pharaoh Dog or hound - one of the oldest dogs in recorded history - is a very intelligent dog. It's been said that their intelligence can even be seen in their eyes. They are capable of blushing when embarrassed or feeling pleased. Many have been trained by their owners to smile on command just so they can see the blush on their faces.
They are very perceptive to their owner's moods and feelings, a characteristic that only an intelligent dog can possess. They know without their owner saying a word when they should come to their owner or when they are in trouble or should just keep their distance. Many owners claim that raising the Pharaoh is as close to raising a child as it can possibly be. They are also not a dog that can be fooled by a stranger. They only have to meet a stranger for a few seconds to know if the person can be trusted or not, or if they want to trust them. They judge the person by considering whether the person is worthy of their trust. Once they get to know the person, they will slowly warm up to them, but only when they are ready.
The Pharaoh is very easy to train because of their intelligence. Although stubborn, they know what you want them to do in their training. They like to play their owners so see if they can take charge of the situation. In addition, if given the opportunity, they will take charge. They do best at things that they can do on their own because they like thinking for themselves. They perform well in obedience competitions, but do best when they are performing on their own, doing what they want. They often know what their owner wants them to do without being told.
They seem to know also what is the proper way to do certain things and will not do something that they feel is "beneath" them or incorrect. They will try very hard to outsmart you if they can. As with many dogs that are just misbehaving, this is not the case with the Pharaoh. They really seem to know what they are doing and why they are doing it. When you hear that they seem to want to have a say in everything they do, it makes them sound like they are just stubborn. However, it is merely that they are that intelligent and seem to feel they have the right to make decisions on what they do. With the right kind of positive training and patience, they can be taught to do anything. Once they are taught something, they don't ever forget it and seldom need to be reminded.
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