Although traditional Islam frowns upon having dogs in the house , there is a spreading trend to own dogs among young Egyptians. “Residents in new urban communities such as the chic Fifth Settlement, or in Sheikh Zayed and 6th of October cities, prefer having a guard dog instead of a human security guard. Dogs can take on any thief,” Ibrahim said

Abdulrahman Ibrahim, a dog-breeding expert at the Professional Dog Trainers Academy , told Al-Monitor, “Today's young people are interested in owning dogs, in having a loyal and faithful companion. Having a dog teaches young people responsibility. They must fulfil the tasks of feeding, walking and training their dog. They learn how to treat their dog with mercy and tenderness. This positively shapes their behavior and their relations with others.”

A group of young Egyptians, including Ahmed Afroutou and six of his friends, decided to open their own online market instead of having to rent a stand at the Friday market. The group's name, Dog Market Friday Market, references the Friday market. The site offers potential clients the opportunity to exchange information, experiences and tips for training dogs.

Facebook groups such as Dog Market Friday Market with around 126,000 members, Dog Market with 93,000 members, Dogs for Sale in Egypt with 74,000 members and other pages have been gaining increasing popularity. These online sites provide an alternative to the overcrowded weekly Friday market held in Sayeda Aisha in Cairo, which long has been a popular place for dog buyers and sellers who come from all parts of Egypt.

CAIRO — In recent years, dozens of Facebook pages and groups have become vehicles for selling and buying dogs and puppies in Egypt.

He said many parents want their children to grow up with a pet. “They believe this teaches their children how to deal with animals and encourages them to overcome their fears,” he said.

He said the administrators of these Facebook groups are young and motivated. “They saw the growing demand on dogs in the market and seized the opportunity to open their own e-market. They also identified the most popular dogs and offer vaccination certificates. They turned their hobby into a trade.”

Ibrahim noted that the best-selling dogs are German shepherds, sold at a price starting from 1,000 Egyptian pounds ($56) for a puppy; Rottweilers, starting from 2,000 pounds and pit bulls, starting at 3,000 pounds. “Prices increase depending on the purity of the breed, whether local or imported and the physical characteristics of the dog,” Ibrahim said.

Abanoub Masoud, 26, a civil engineer, has been a dog breeder for 16 years. He has turned his hobby into an additional source of income through Facebook. He sells the most popular dogs on the market and can identify the right breed that suits the buyer’s lifestyle.

“Dogs have different temperaments and different levels of aggressiveness. The seller should give good advice to the buyer,” he told Al-Monitor. “Buying a dog as a family pet is not the same as buying a protection dog. Dogs trained to detect bombs, explosives and narcotics are bought at special dog training farms.”

He said he makes good money since he can identify healthy dogs and dogs with distinctive qualities. “This is thanks to the experience I gained in the Friday market and from learning from my mistakes,” he said.

Masoud continued, “I prefer selling dogs that are at a young age or are puppies, so that their owners can train them better," saying such dogs "obey the owner's orders out of love, not fear.”

Ahmed Hassan, 20, is a student at the faculty of commerce who lives in Al-Basateen neighborhood in Cairo. A year ago, he decided to rent his rooftop as a shelter for his friends’ dogs. They were constantly complaining about their parents not letting them keep their dogs at home.

He now has eight dogs and sometimes gets to sell some of their newly born puppies. Hassan said he learned from his friends how to raise dogs and give them orders. The extra money he earns helped him pay for some of his university courses.

He told Al-Monitor, “The German shepherd dogs are the most popular breed in Egypt because of their strength, intelligence, trainability and obedience. These puppies are sold at a good price. German shepherds have a typical litter of eight to 12 puppies and are sold between 1,500 and 6,000 pounds [$85-$340] per puppy.”

Omar Mahmoud, 24, a faculty of sciences graduate, said, “The fragile security situation in Egypt in recent years and fear of thieves have encouraged the dog trade. Demand for dogs is the highest in the affluent Maadi district of Cairo. The inhabitants of modern villas and new apartments prefer protection dogs.”

He said, “Against all expectations, my hobby turned out to be a good thing.” When his friends or neighbors come to him for advice before buying a dog, he first asks them why they want a dog in their home before recommending a specific breed.

Adel Amara, the head of the security department at the Cairo Chamber of Commerce, told Al-Monitor in a telephone conversation that there has been a recent surge in breeding and trafficking of protection and security dogs outside dog farms.

Amara said, “The state, specifically the parliament, must set controls and enact legislation governing this practice. Dogs have become a new commodity for society. A consumer has the right to buy dogs from a qualified seller and to see [the dog’s] veterinary inspection and vaccination certificates.”