Hehe, I guess I'm the sighthound person
My name is Sophie and I own/am enslaved by a Greyhound and a Pekingese.
Have you visited any shows lately? Rotties are very different from most sighthounds. As you probably know, they're the rough and tumble kind who could stand gruff handling. I'll let you know right now that most sighthounds are extremely sensitive. Most also do not thrive on human contact, and my Grey gets scared if you give a firm, loud NO. Read: They're independant and sensitive- both emotionally and physically. Almost all sighthounds have thinner skin than usual. My Grey always comes back from the dog park with little nicks on the inside of her thigh. If she sunbathes on the decks, she sometimes develops sores on her stomach and elbows. They require 110% positive reinforcement. I'm not sure how your family raised Rotties, but I know some people choose to use pinch/prong collars on their dogs. With a Rottie's tough neck, this is no problem at all. But I wouldn't even think of using a prong collar on my Grey's neck. For one thing, sighthounds are generally easy to train once you find their motivation. A simple martingale and a clicker and treats should take you a loooooong way.
Exercise: Whooboy, this is a fun topic (I'm serious
!). One thing I'm very greytful for is lure coursing. Although it is a strenuous sport with A LOT (I repeat: A LOT) of risks, it's fun and invigorating. As soon as the dog develops the muscles and stamina fit for lure coursing, you can take your AKC reg'd Pharaoh hound and let it loose on the field. However, it does need to be box trained and you need to learn how to hand slip. On top of that, the dog needs to be gradually introduced to the field. Sighthounds have been bred to run and not stop and think about it. Thus, your dog will keep running even if it tears a muscle or shatters its hock. Some food for thought
As for feeding, I always recommend a high quality kibble or a raw diet. High quality kibbles include California Natural, Canidae, Innova, Karma, Azmira, Wysong, Wellness, Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul, Pinnacle, Fromm, Solid Gold. I know I'm forgetting a whole bunch of brands, so forgive me. I posted in reply to your other topic regarding breeders. Five words: Pharaoh Hound Club of America. Hope this helps and keep us updated!