The spotlight shines on Giza, who is the sole representative of her breed – the Pharaoh Hound – in League. Not only is Giza a rarer breed of sighthound, she did not start her agility career until she was 6 years old. Now 12, she is still competing and having fun in the sport as a veteran! Her owner, Mindy Mangelson, tells us more about this ancient breed.
Call Name: Giza
Breed: Pharaoh Hound
Age: 12 years
Registered Name: AIN’s Giza’s Eternal Summer Enchantment SC BCAT OA AXJ NF
Owner/Handler Name: Mindy Mangelson
City/State: Centerville, Utah
League Team Name & division: The Racing Rebels, Regulation Senior
How did you discover the Pharaoh Hound & what about the breed appeals to you?
I have always been interested in the ancient Egyptian artifacts and their history and when I found that the Pharaoh Hound was still around, I studied the breed and what their characteristics were to see if I could be a match to their personality. I decided that a Pharaoh Hound and I could be a wonderful match and so I started looking into different breeders. Back then, you could find many online through internet searches. I contacted a couple of breeders who did not respond until one day Naha Pharaohs contacted me. We spoke often and after four years, she offered a spot for a puppy from a female she was breeding her male to. I was so excited! I brought her home in February 2012. I couldn’t believe that I had this beautiful red Pharaoh Hound by my side!
What led you to start training Giza in agility? Has she competed in other sports?
I had a retired Shetland Sheepdog at the time who I had had in agility and thought it would be cool to see if my Pharaoh Hound would do well in the sport. I already had her in lure coursing, which she absolutely went “gaga” for! Giza jumped so well and far that even though I knew I was going to start training her in agility, I thought I would see if she would do dock diving. So, I had a friend that let me borrow her pool. She was doing awesome! She would run and jump to get into the water with me. Then one day, she just decided that pools were no longer for her. So, I stopped that.
I always knew I wanted to get her into agility. I would train her on different equipment. She knew her stuff, but I kept putting it off. I finally, said, “You know, Mindy. She’s already 6 years old. Get your butt in gear!” So, I contacted a wonderful trainer and friend who I met back when I was in a sheltie club and started training Giza.
We did start at a later stage in life. However, if it is moving and going and doing, Giza is all about that. Giza likes training that keeps her moving and dislikes anything that has to do with sitting. So, learning to shake, roll over, etc. was too far beneath her. She is such a smart girl and has always been a people pleaser.
What is her favorite reward?
Giza is and always has been very food oriented. I tried several times to train her both with treats and with toys. She took the toy twice and said that was it. No more will she work for toys. She only works for treats!
What are Pharoah Hounds like to train, compete and live with?
We went through training and moved up in the classes. She even got put into classes for very “special dogs” – the loud mouths. One of my trainers told me, as I was moving up, that we would go to a class where there were other dogs just as loud as mine. Haha! (If you ever go to a lure coursing event and all of a sudden, there is noise galore and frantic behavior……you know the Pharaoh Hounds are almost up to run).
Pharaoh Hounds are very vocal when they are excited. So, training or having fun in the backyard meant the whole neighborhood was alerted that play time is happening!
Giza barks through the whole course! She barks after every jump, at the end of all contacts, and all the way through the weave poles. This is Pharaoh Hound excited talk! She and her fellow Pharaohs have to bark and bark and bark before their turn to chase the “bunny.” Sometimes it’s her being bossy because I messed up, but most of the time it’s just pure excitement as we are running together!
She has been such a wonderful companion. She is so much fun! She is totally different than my previous dogs. I knew that going to a sighthound from my previous schnauzer and sheltie, whom I loved very much, would be a different experience. For one thing, she does not like her head being petted (unless you pet her back first), and second, she can’t be off-leash unless in a totally fenced-in area. If off-leash, her only thought is that there is a bunny behind every bush or tree that she needs to flush out and chase down. There are times that she is off leash that she is pretty mindful, especially if there is going to be a treat or food involved. I know some sighthounds are pretty aloof, but she is not very aloof. She does have some moments, but not many.
What is her favorite past-time?
Giza gives me so much love, and she absolutely loves cuddling and being under blankets. She puts her full trust in me and I see that in her eyes. I love her dearly.
Future goals for Giza?
She had her 12th birthday on the 14th of December. I retired her this year in lure coursing. For agility, I will be entering her into Preferred where she will be jumping 20 inches next year. We will continue to be together and have a blast! I hope to introduce her to a new little sister this coming year. Yes! Another Pharaoh Hound! I am sure she will be happy to have another of her breed that like to bop each others’ foreheads with their paws.