Country Of Origin: Afghanistan
Dog Group Kennel Club: Hound
General Appearance:
Afghans are part of the hound group and are known for their elegant, sleek oriental looks. Their coat is long and flowing a very fine texture to it on the ribs, the legs, and hindquarters. There are many requirements for the coat, one being that it should never be trimmed, and should remain natural. The hair on the ears and feet are feathered and, in general, Afghans have a majestic and proud appearance. Their features are generally fine and functional but don't be fooled, Afghans are also powerful dogs.
Colours:
All colours are acceptable
Size:
Bitch 63-69cms
Dog 68-74cms
Weight :
Min Max
Bitch 25kg (55lbs) 28kg (62lbs)
Dog 23kg (51lbs) 25kg (55lbs)
Temperament:
Afghans can be aloof and dignified but are happy when playing and are also good with children. The Afghan is an intelligent, confident dog, however they are not known for their obedience or ease to train. Their sensitive nature means that they need to be involved with family and socialisation, specially between the ages of 7 and 16 months as this is when their personality develops.
Movement:
Afghans have a springy and smooth movement with long, powerful strides.
Care and training:
An Afgan should be groomed weekly as this prevents the coat from getting matted. Brushing the coat can make it more easily matted and can cause problems. Special grooming tools are required for this breed. Baths are needed once a week to keep the coat from matting.
This breed must be trained gently, yet consistently, patience is of the utmost importance due to there sensitive nature as they can become irritable, spooky or shy. Obedience classes are recommended.
Overall Exercise > 2 hours per day.
Afgans Should have monitored exercise when they are puppies until they grow older, then the exercise can be increased. Once exercised, they will quite happily curl up and sleep.
Feeding Requirements:
Afghans can easily become fussy eaters and a strict eating regime should be enforced when they are puppies.
Exercise: High
Grooming: High
Noise: Low-med
Personal Protection: Low
Suitability As Guard Dog: Low
Level of Aggression: Low
Compatibility With Other Animals: High
Suitablity for Children: High
Often Docked? No
Average Litter Size: 8
Life Expectancy (yrs): 11.5
Health issues: This is generally a healthy and robust breed. There is potential for juvenile cataracts and possible hip dysplasia. They may also have a sensitivity to drugs, flea powders and tickicides. There have been rare cases of progressive paralysis. Cryptorchidism, monorchidism and heart problems may also pertain to this breed.
History: One of the oldest breeds, the Afghan Hound dates back thousands of years. Some even believe this is the type of dog that accompanied Noah on his Ark! The Afghan Hound is a member of the Greyhound family. Their ancestors were originally from Persia moving to Afghanistan where they worked protecting sheep and cattle. Afghans were once a harsh hunter in their native land where they used to hunt leopard, wolves and jackals. They have now been breed to be an obedient, gentle dog. The Afghan Hound was introduced into Western civilization late in the nineteenth century. Much credit to the breed is given to Major Amps and his wife Mary who, while living in Ghazni, Afghanistan, established their kennel "Ghazni". Mary also did much research and writing on the breed. Their hounds are found in most American Afghan Hound pedigrees. In the 20th century the breed was brought to England by the British Captain Banff. He brought a hound named "Zardin", and from there the breed spread into England. He was exhibited in the Crystal Palace Show in 1907 and began a strong interest in the breed. Today the breed is not an extremely popular pet due to the intense grooming needs, but they do very well in dog shows.
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