Description

The Afghan Hound is striking and dignified. They have a proud stance, reflected from their refined heads to the tip of their curved tails. The Afghan has floppy ears, with a slightly Roman nose that is long and slim. The eyes are almond shaped and dark; the nose is also dark.  The long neck leads down to long, sloped shoulders and a powerful body. The Afghan Hound’s tail has a slight curve at the end, without being completely curved over. The legs are long and strong, and the feet are neither turned in nor turned out, but are in line with the body. The pads are thick and tough, and covered with thick pads.

Origin: Afghanistan

Look

An observer might say that the Afghan Hound is the canine equivalent of Cousin It from “The Addams Family”; this isn’t an unfair observation, as the Afghan Hound is covered in sleek, silky fur. The dog’s quarters, sides, and legs are covered in long hair. Even the feet and ears are feathered. A silky top-knot completes the look. The fur is shorter along the shoulders and back, forming a smoother “saddle” in mature dogs.

In shows, the Afghan Hounds is presented in its full furry glory. The long coat needs to be maintained, which involves daily brushing and frequent baths.  It may be worth taking your dog to a professional groomer to help keep all that silky fur in tip-top condition. If maintaining a show coat is too much work for you, you can opt to have your dog clipped. This will reduce the amount of brushing your Afghan needs.

Health

The Afghan Hound is generally a healthy breed; however they are prone to a few health conditions:

• Allergies
• Hip dysplasia
• Hypothyroidism
• Juvenile cataracts
• Cancer
• Sensitivity to anaesthesia
• Propensity for Chylothorax

At Newdoggy.com, we recommend that you buy your dog from reputable breeders, who use genetic testing and good breeding practices to remove genetic conditions from their breeding lines.

Learning

The Afghan Hound is an independent thinker, which can make him/her difficult to train. They are clever, but they aren’t always willing to listen to you! They aren’t always food motivated, nor do they particularly wish to please humans. They are loyal and affectionate, and they will try very hard for the people they care for, which will help in training. Avoid rough handling at all costs, as this will ruin your Afghan’s temperament.

Keep in mind that even the best trained Afghan Hound will probably not be able to resist dashing off in pursuit of a squirrel!

Temperament

The Afghan can be very dignified, but is just as often clownish and silly. Once they have bonded with their human or family, they are very loyal and affectionate. Although they can aloof with strangers and have a reputation for being stubborn, most of these issues can be solved with proper socialisation and training. It’s better to start socialising your Afghan puppy from an early age, as poorly socialised Afghan Hounds can be suspicious or shy with strangers.

Living with

For a large dog, the Afghan Hound does surprisingly well in apartments. Be sure to exercise you Afghan frequently, as they are very energetic and will become bored sitting at home all day. They are also playful, and will appreciate a game of catch or fetch as part of their exercise routine. The Afghan Hound can tolerate both hot and cold weather, but they do not like to be alone and are sensitive to changes to their routine.

This breed is a good family dog. They are very friendly with children, and also get on well with other dogs. Nevertheless, they have a strong instinct to hunt and wander, so it may be best not to let your small children hold the leash on walks, as an Afghan Hound can easily pull away from them if something catches the dog’s interest.