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insight
The
battle to save the 'Kelb tal-fenek'
Restoring
Malta's intelligent but affectionate hunting dog with its rightful
name would be the first step to securing its future, according to
two campaigners
A Maltese and a German have launched a campaign over the internet
to warn that Malta's national dog, the 'Kelb tal-fenek', could be
in danger of dying out.
There are approximately 3,000 to 4000 specimens worldwide of the
traditional Maltese dog.
The two men, Peter Gatt and Jan Scotland, argue that the dogs deserve
protection and preservation for future generations and insist that
the name Pharoah hound is incorrect and misleading.
They write that to ensure the 'Kelb tal-fenek' has a future, it
is necessary to preserve the hound's genuine character as a Maltese
indigenous breed.
They add that a correction of the erroneously chosen term 'Pharaoh
Hound' back to the genuine name 'Kelb tal-fenek' would be the first
step in the right direction.
They refer to the link to the Egyptian legend as wrong.
The ‘Kelb tal-fenek' is an intelligent, affectionate, yet independent
hunting dog, which is specific to the Maltese Islands. In Malta
and Gozo it used for rabbit hunting together with the use of a ferret
and a net.
Over the years it has become a much-desired dog, indeed ‘Kelb
tal-fenek' owners include Princess Antoinette of Monaco and Prince
Henrik of Denmark.
The misleading name 'Pharaoh Hound' was created by British fanciers.
According to Gatt and Scotland, the name ‘Pharaoh Hound' was
born in the early years of the 20th century when hunters and canine
experts from Switzerland and Germany showed an interest in the prick-eared,
hound-like hunting dogs from the Balearics and Canary Islands.
German speaking Cynologists created the term 'Pharaonenhund', to
be translated as Pharaoh Dog or - Pharaoh Hound.
In the early 1960s, some British residing in Malta 'discovered'
the ‘Kelb tal-fenek' and started to import single hounds to
Britain.
The British fanciers lobbied to get official recognition of the
breed by the British Kennel Club.
They had originally applied to register the name Maltese ‘Kelb
tal-fenek' but this was refused on the grounds that a foreign name
translating to 'rabbit dog' was unacceptable.
Mr Gatt and Mr Sullivan say that they cannot understand why the
British Kennel Club has refused to register the ‘Kelb tal-fenek'
with its original name on the grounds that a foreign name translating
to 'Rabbit Dog' was unacceptable. They also query why the club accepts
the term 'Otter Hound' or 'Fox Hound' or even 'Dachshund' (which
translated from the German language means 'Dog of the Badger').
Unfortunately, Malta has failed to extend claims as the country
of origin within international standards at that time.
Malta has kept a strict quarantine law against pet importation from
mainland Europe.
Maltese canine enthusiasts cannot participate in canine activities
in the continent - consequently, the Malta Kennel Club has kept
its reciprocal agreement with the British club since independence
and this gives Malta neither voice nor vote.
Appearance:
Long, sleek and graceful, with lean, pronounced muscles
Large pointed ears – erect when alert and flat to the head
when in pursuit
Short hair varying from yellow to rusty to dark red
White markings on tip of tail, chest and toes
Long whip-like tail used as a balance when chasing prey – held
high when alert
Amber eyes and flesh coloured nose
Remarkably fast with high endurance, extremely nimble and a good
jumper
Due to its keen hearing and loud bark, it is adept as a guard dog
Hunting grounds and prey
Well suited to the rocky, terraced Maltese terrain
As its names implies, its main prey is the wild rabbit
Also used by hunters for flushing out quail and woodcock
Main hunting grounds: the rural south and west of Malta and the
less-populated Gozo
Predominantly a sight hound with extremely developed senses of smell
and hearing
Hunts effectively both solo and in a pack
Its prey is killed by biting it on the neck or back and shaking
until dead
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