DNA Testing a Pharaoh Hound — Does It Work?

Pharaoh Hounds sit in a genuinely tricky spot for DNA testing — they're one of the oldest and most genetically distinct breeds in the world, and most consumer databases simply don't have enough reference samples to identify them confidently. You'll often see results come back as a vague mix of ancient or primitive breeds, or occasionally misidentified entirely. DNA tests for dogs have gotten impressively good for common breeds, and they do offer useful health markers and trait data — but for rare Mediterranean breeds like yours, breed composition accuracy is the weak link, not the technology itself. So — is your main goal to confirm the breed composition, or are you more interested in the health screening side of things? And is your dog a confirmed purebred Pharaoh Hound, or is there some uncertainty about the background?

That's really helpful to know. For a confirmed purebred from Malta, breed composition results will almost certainly disappoint you — the test won't come back saying 'Pharaoh Hound' with any confidence, because even the best databases have very limited Pharaoh Hound reference samples. Where a test would still give you genuine value is on the health and trait side. At eight years old, a health panel screening for genetic risk markers — things like MDR1 drug sensitivity, degenerative myelopathy, and various inherited conditions — can be useful information to have alongside your vet records, even for a purebred. Can I ask: has she had any health testing through her breeder, or is this more of a 'curious what we might find' situation?

That's exactly the right way to think about it — and honestly, for your situation, I'd steer you toward Embark. It has the largest health marker panel of any consumer dog DNA test, screening for over 250 genetic health conditions and 35+ physical traits. For an eight-year-old dog, that health data is genuinely the useful part. Yes, the breed results will likely be unsatisfying — Embark may recognise her as a distinct ancient-lineage dog without naming the breed precisely, which you can essentially ignore. But the health screening is robust and vet-referenced, so anything flagged is worth a conversation with your vet. It also includes an age-estimated biological age feature which is a nice addition for an older dog. The Embark Breed + Health Kit is available on Amazon UK for around £119–£129 depending on when you look.

Pharaoh Hounds are generally a healthy breed with a long lifespan, but there are a few things worth knowing. They can have sensitivities to anaesthesia and certain drugs — the MDR1 gene variant is worth checking, as it affects how dogs metabolise some common medications and anaesthetics. Degenerative myelopathy is worth screening for in any older dog regardless of breed. And Embark will flag any reproductive or metabolic markers that are relevant. None of these are Pharaoh-Hound-specific emergencies, but having the data on file is useful as she ages. Just share the results PDF with your vet — they'll know which flags are worth acting on versus which are low-risk variants.

Good choice for her situation. To set expectations: when the results come in, skip straight to the health and traits sections — that's where the real value is. The breed breakdown may list her as 'Supermutt' or 'ancient breeds' which sounds odd for a registered purebred, but it's just a database limitation, not a reflection of her actual heritage. The health panel is the part you can take seriously. Hope she gets a clean bill of genetic health at eight — Pharaoh Hounds tend to age really well.