The
Afghan Hound is a sighthound with an aristocratic
bearing. Tall and slender with a long, narrow,
refined head, silky topknot and powerful
jaws. The occiput is quite prominent. The
muzzle is slightly convex ("Roman nose")
with a black nose. There is little or no
stop. The teeth should meet in a level or
scissors bite. The dark eyes are almond
shaped. The ears lie flat to the head. The
neck is long and strong. The height at the
withers should be almost level and the abdomen
well tucked up. The hipbones are quite prominent.
The front legs are strong and straight and
the feet are large and covered with long
hair. The tail has a curl or ring at the
tip, but is not carried over the back. The
long, rich, silky coat is most often the
color of sand with a darker face and ear
fringes, though all colors are permitted.
White markings, however, are discouraged.
Temperament
Dignified,
somewhat aloof, but very sweet, loyal, affectionate
and sensitive, with a low dominance level.
They must be trained kindly. The Afghan
has been described as "a king of dogs."
Majestic, elegant, noble and courageous,
suspicious of, but not hostile to, strangers.
Although tough, they will pine if they are
deprived of attention. They will do best
with older, considerate children. At one
time, the breed had a reputation for being
untrustworthy, but has now been replaced
by a character that, while still spirited,
is said to be more amenable to training
and discipline, as they can be disobedient
if it is poorly trained. This breed can
be difficult to housebreak. Some are timid
and high strung.
Height,
Weight
Height:
Dogs 27 to 29 inches (68.58-73.66cm) slightly
less for bitches.
Weight: 58-64lb (26-34kg.)
Health
Problems
Generally
healthy, the Afghan has a low pain tolerance,
thereby suffering even with minor injuries.
Living
Conditions
The
Afghan Hound is not recommended for apartment
life. They are relatively inactive indoors
and do best with acreage. This breed can
live in or outdoors, although it would be
happier sleeping indoors.
Exercise
Afghan
Hounds love open spaces and must be allowed
to run free in a safe area as well as having
long daily walks. It needs a minimum of
30 minutes of free galloping per day.
Life
Expectancy
About
14 years
Litter
Size
1
- 15 puppies - Average 8
Grooming
The
long, thick coat demands a great deal of
attention. When showing there is a
must to bath once a week. Do not brush in-between
baths in order to keep coat long and shiny.
Brushing a dry coat will damage the coat
and even make it more easily matted.
Weekly baths are not as important if your
Afghan is a pet and will not be shown, but
doing so will make the coat less matted
and will save you time in the end.
Many wear snoods indoors to protect
their ears from food bowls. A special air-cushioned
brush or pinbrush is useful for grooming.
This breed is an average shedder.
Origin
This
is a very ancient dog, native to Sinai,
and mentioned several times in Egyptian
papyruses as well as pictured in the caves
of northern Afghanistan more than 4000 years
ago. The breed was kept pure for centuries,
and its exportation was always prohibited.
It therefore only reached Europe as contraband
early in this century. This elegant
sighthound was used as a shepherd and hunter
of many types of game including deer, wild
goats, and even wolves and snow leopards.
They were also used by shepherds as herders
and watchdogs. An extremely fast and agile
runner, the Afghan Hound pursues game by
sight. His thick coat protects against temperature
extremes. In Europe and America he has become
a luxurious pet because of his aristocratic
beauty. Some of the Afghan's talents are
hunting, sighting, tracking, herding, watchdogging,
racing, and lure coursing.
