Afghans come from the hound group, or to be more exact are from the sighthound family, of which all extremely fast, greyhound-like coursing dogs are a part. This loyalty can make it difficult for an adult Afghan to adjust to a new home. The Afghan Hound is elegance personified. It is a breed very popular across the world for its fashion model build. Tall and slender with a long, narrow, refined head, silky topknot and powerful jaws, the back part of the head and skull are quite prominent. As they grow up, theymature and become stubborn and willful. Read all Afghan Hound FAQs and decide whether it is an ideal breed for you or not. Short walks do not provide enough exercise for this athletic breed, and some owners take their leashed Afghans on long runs once they reach maturity. The head is of good length, showing much refinement, the skull evenly balanced with the foreface. In 1940, the Afghan Hound Club of America was admitted to AKC membership and held its first specialty show. The Afghan Hound averages at around 2 feet tall with the ability to be at least 29 inches. In the Western World, the Afghan Hound has traditionally been used as a show animal or companion, not as a hunter. Although it was forbidden to export a dog, the breed was removed from Afghanistan to England before the twentieth century. Their days hunting snow leopards left them with a strong prey drive, but these gorgeous sight hounds are much more than just hunters. It was then that English officers returning from the British Empire’s farthest corners introduced the breed to Europe. It belonged to the Middle Eastern sighthounds, and its ancestors date back to the time of the Egyptian pharaohs. Faults-Neck too short or too thick; a ewe neck; a goose neck; a neck lacking in substance. The Afghan Hounds were bred by the nomads of present-day Afghanistan, Northern India, and Pakistan. If you are looking for a dog which can form a strong bond with you, then Afghans are not the right breed for you. Among the most important dogs of those early years in America were a breeding pair imported from England by Zeppo Marx, the youngest of the wacky Marx Brothers. Answer a few simple questions and find the right dog for you, Compare up to 5 different breeds side by side, Browse the AKC Marketplace to find the right puppy for you, Browse our extensive library of dog names for inspiration, Find out the best and worst foods for your dog and which to avoid, Dignified, Profoundly Loyal, Aristocratic. The Afghan Hound should do well on a high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared with your veterinarian’s supervision and approval. He has a straight front, proudly carried head, eyes gazing into the distance as if in memory of ages past. This needs to be stopped immediately. If you have young children, I do not recommend an Afghan Hound. The AKC has grouped all of the breeds that it registers into seven categories, or groups, roughly based on function and heritage. Forelegs are straight and strong with great length between elbow and pastern; elbows well held in; forefeet large in both length and width; toes well arched; feet covered with long thick hair; fine in texture; pasterns long and straight; pads of feet unusually large and well down on the ground. In Afghan's Islamic culture, depicting animals in art is forbidden which means pictorial records of the Afghan Hound do not exist. Afghan Hounds. The most important step in caring for an Afghan Hound's coat is to get them a snood or hood.. Snoods for dogs are sold in specialist pet shops, but you can make one yourself from a piece of cloth and a pair of elastic straps. The Afghan hound is an old breed of dog that originates in Afghanistan. An ancient and unique breed of dog, the Afghan Hound has an extremely unique appearance. When an Afghan Hound walks in th… Today, this medium-size sighthound, weighing 50 to 60 pounds, still has a strong instinct to run and chase. Like other deep-chested types of dogs, Afghan Hounds can experience bloat, a sudden and life-threatening swelling of the abdomen, and owners should educate themselves about its symptoms and what to do should bloat occur. Ideally, an Afghan should have the opportunity to run full out several times a week in a large, enclosed area. The earliest hand drawn etching of a hound dates back to 1813 and it was done by a native soldier. All Afghan Hound questions answered regarding their health, grooming, shedding, characteristics, availability in India, lifespan, maintenance, training and more. Afghan Hound temperament, personality, training, behavior, pros and cons, advice, and information, by Michele Welton, Dog Trainer, Behavioral Consultant, Author of 15 Dog Books, The AKC Standard calls him "an aristocrat, his whole appearance one of dignity and aloofness.... eyes gazing into the distance as if in memory of ages past.". Ears-The ears are long, set approximately on level with outer corners of the eyes, the leather of the ear reaching nearly to the end of the dog’s nose, and covered with long silky hair. His high hipbones make him one of the most agile of all breeds and one of the best jumpers. AKC Marketplace is the only site to exclusively list 100% AKC puppies from AKC-Registered litters and the breeders who have cared for and raised these puppies are required to follow rules and regulations established by the AKC. The Afghan hound expresses such an amazing hunting prowess and has been a handy and most loved breed from its home country of Afghanistan and now the darling of anyone in search for added security. Faults-Roach back, swayback, goose rump, slack loin; lack of prominence of hipbones; too much width of brisket, causing interference with elbows. https://www.akc.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php, https://www.akc.org/subscription/thank-you. One of the oldest dog breeds and certainly one of the more “aristocratic” breeds, the Afghan Hound has become known as a sort of “king of dogs” for its appearance, general demeanor, and general nobility as a breed. As is to be expected, the long, silky coat of an adolescent or adult Afghan requires regular grooming. All rights reserved. With its ring-like tail and one-of-a-kind silky coat, the Afgan hound is one of the smartest dogs ever. They are oneof the most ancient breeds of sight hounds and their breed purity ismostly down to their isolation in these mountains. The Afghan Hound is a unique blend of substance, elegance, and function. The breed first appeared in the UK early in the 1900s with an Afghan Hound named Zardin winning the dog show at Crystal Palace in 1907. Despite such illustrious roots, most of the Afghan Hound’s development is the result of their use by nomadic tribes as coursing hounds … The Afghan Hound is a medium-sized sighthound whose appearance gives the impression of strength and activity, combining speed with power and agility - in short, an efficient hunting dog, albeit a glamorous one. Hindquarters, flanks, ribs, forequarters, and legs well covered with thick, silky hair, very fine in texture; ears and all four feet well feathered; from in front of the shoulders; and also backwards from the shoulders along the saddle from the flanks and the ribs upwards, the hair is short and close, forming a smooth back in mature dogs – this is a traditional characteristic of the Afghan Hound. Afghan puppies have short, fuzzy coats (including adorable facial hair called “monkey whiskers”) that require little maintenance. In the U.S., they are just Afghan Hounds, but in other parts of the world, they can be called Tazi, Tazhi Spay, Da Kochyano Spay, Ogar Afgan, Sage Balochi, Persian Greyhound and Eastern Greyhound. Faults-Front or back feet thrown outward or inward; pads of feet not thick enough; or feet too small; or any other evidence of weakness in feet; weak or broken down pasterns; too straight in stifle; too long in hock. Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. The Afghan Hound is a large, noble long-haired dog that requires regular, labor-intensive care. Early Afghan hounds were used for hunting and herding dogs as well as watch dogs. A breed expert writes, “It’s not the breed for all would-be dog owners, but where the dog and owner combination is right, no animal can equal the Afghan Hound as a pet.”. Your Afghan can literally go from zero to 40, achieving maximum running speeds of 40 mph. To see an Afghan Hound running at full tilt is an impressive sight. Once taught a command, they see no purpose in repetition. In the U.S., they are just Afghan Hounds, but in other parts of the world, they can be called Tazi, Tazhi Spay, Da Kochyano Spay, Ogar Afgan, Sage Balochi, Persian Greyhound and Eastern Greyhound. Afghans are tall, lean, and strong, which makes them excellent jumpers, so their exercise area must have a high, secure fence. A scissors bite is even more punishing and can be more easily bred into a dog than a level mouth, and a dog having a scissors bite, where the lower teeth slip inside and rest against the teeth of the upper jaw, should not be penalized. Neck: The neck is of good length, strong and arched, running in a curve to the shoulders which are long and sloping and well laid back. The muzzle is slightly convex and the nose is black. Extra grooming is advised to keep on top of this. The Afghan persona ranges from loving to downright standoffish, and these dogs can be quite wary of strangers. Bichon Frise. Don't let this breed off-leash, for he is blazing fast and can gallop out of sight in seconds. An Overview of The Afghan Hound Dog. Zeppo Marx of the Marx Brothers was one of the first to bring Afghan Hounds to America. Personality: The Afghan Hound is an aloof and dignified aristocrat of sublime beauty.Despite his regal appearance, he is known for his profound loyalty, sensitive nature and absolute love for … The Afghan Hound is an athlete capable of immense speed and requires a large fenced in yard and exercise daily. Afghan Hounds are actually very clever. Afghan Hound FAQs answered by Tailsbuddy pet experts. It has a narrow head, high hipbones, lean body, and a long, curly tail. They have a distinctive appearance, characterized by beautiful, flowing fur, long thin muzzles, and almond-shaped eyes. The Afghan Hound is a very ancient bred dating back to Egypt and Afghanistan. An Afghan Hound may not be right for you. As sight hounds, Afghan Hounds have naturally svelte physiques, and their protruding hipbones are a unique breed characteristic, not a sign of being underweight. By the early 1900s, the Afghan was a preferred breed of the British gentry. This stance of strength attributes to the history of being utilized for hunting. It belonged to the Middle Eastern sighthounds and its ancestors date back to the time of the Egyptian pharaohs. Afghan Hound are large aloof dogs with its own streak of independence. They wereprohibited from being e… The Afghan Hound reach the apex of its popularity in the 1970s but still well known throughout the world. He seems inaccessible, but in fact, he is very sensitive and needs close contact with the owner. They started breeding their current version in … In this article, we’ll take a look at the Afghan Hound in greater detail. 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