The Afghan hound is a very old sighthound dog breed. Its local name is Tāzī. The country of origin is Afghanistan. Their history is uncertain. It is belived that they were used for hunting with tribal chiefs on horse back. Because these tribes were isolated, the breed was kept very pure and was unknown to outsiders until the nineteenth century.It was first brought to England by British officers in the early twentieth century and arrived in the U.S.by the 1920’s.
They are distingushed by its thick, fine, silky coat and its tail with a ring curl at the end. the breed acquired its unique features in the cold mountains of Afghanistan, where it was originally used to hunt wolves, foxes, and gazelles. He has a straight front, proudly carried head, and the skull is evenly balanced with the forehead, eyes gazing into the distance as if in memory of ages past.
The coat may be any colour, but white markings, particularly on the head, are discouraged; many individuals have a black facial mask. Some specimens have facial hair that looks like a Manchu moustache that are called “mandarins.” Some Afghan hounds are almost white, but particolour hounds (white with islands of red or black) are not acceptable and may indicate impure breeding.
The typical Afghan hound can be aloof and dignified, but happy and clownish when playing. The breed has a reputation among dog trainers of having a relatively low “obedience intelligence” as defined by author Stanley Coren. The Afghan hound has many cat-like tendencies and is not slavish in its obedience as are some other breeds. The Afghan hound has a leaning towards independence. Owners should not be surprised if their Afghan hounds sometimes choose to ignore commands. Although seldom used today for hunting in Europe and America where they are popular, Afghan hounds are frequent participants in lure coursing events and are also popular as show dogs. They have a very high activity level and are good watch dogs. They are not very good guard dogs
In a 2004 UK Kennel Club survey, the most common causes of death were cancer (31%), old age (20%), cardiac (10.5%), and urologic (5%). Major health issues are allergies, and cancer. Sensitivity to anesthesia is an issue the Afghan hound shares with the rest of the sighthound group, as sighthounds have relatively low levels of body fat.
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. 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.
The coat requires considerable care and grooming. The long topknot and the shorter-haired saddle on the back in the mature dog are distinctive features of the Afghan houndcoat. The high hipbones and unique small ring on the end of the tail are also characteristics of the breed.
Their weight is about 20 to 27 kg (45 to 60 pounds) and the height is about 61 to 73 cm (24 to 29 inches). Afghan hounds in UK surveys had a median lifespan of about 12 years, which is similar to other breeds of their size. They usually have a litter size of 6 to 8 puppies.
Country of Origin:
Classification and breed standards:
FCI: Group 10 Section 1 #228 Stds
AKC: Hound Stds
ANKC: Group 4 – (Hounds) Stds
CKC: Group 2 – (Hounds) Stds
KC (UK): Hound Stds
NZKC: Hounds Stds
UKC: Sighthounds and Pariah Dogs Stds
FCI = Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI is not a registry and does not issue any pedigree)
AKC = American Kennel Club
UKC = United Kennel Club
KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain
CKC = Canadian Kennel Club
ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club
NKC = National Kennel Club
NZKC = New Zealand Kennel Club
CKC = Continental Kennel Club
APRI = American Pet Registry Inc.
ACR = American Canine Registry
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