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AFGHAN HOUND

Also Know as:

Persian Greyhound/Eastern Greyhound, Sage Balochi, Baluchi Hound, Tazi, Ogar Afgan

Origin: Afghanistan

Type: Pure Breed

Height: 27 to 29 inches

Weight: 50 to 64 pounds

Life Expectancy: 12 to 14 years

AFGHAN HOUND TEMPERAMENT

The Afghan hound is well known for its aloof and dignified temperament. But don’t be fooled, they also have a clownish side which they show when playing. Naturally a happy dog, they are not the most intelligent of dog breeds, having said that, they are neither fools. This impression of the afghan dog is due to its cat-like nature. That is to say, the afghan hound likes his or her independence very much and would give you some attitude if they feel disrespected.

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AFGHAN HOUND PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Physically, they are high-stationed dogs. Standing from 27 to 29 inches in height and weighing from 50 to 64 pounds. They come in a variant of coat colors, from blue, black, red, cream, white to silver colors, they also have mixed colors like the “blue and cream”, “black and silver”, and the “black and silver” colors. A unique physical attribute in all afghan hounds is the white blaze on their chest. Their long and fine-textured coat needs a lot of care and grooming.

For the matured ones, their long topknot and short hair saddle on their back is a very unique feature in them. They also have high hipbones and a very distinctive small ring at the end of their tails

AFGHAN HOUND CHARACTERISTICS

AFGHAN HOUND CARE

Afghan hounds are at their best when feed with high protein food of premium standard. Feeding an adult afghan dog twice a day should suffice, they should eat not less than one cup of dry food (1.25 cups per meal to be exact) per meal. Of course, this can be replaced with wet dog food laden with high protein as mentioned above. Afghan hounds that are overweight would require more exercise and less food to be well balanced. For the seniors, especially those that have some illness or are currently experiencing an injury, these have special nutritional needs so for them it is important to discuss and get clear directives from your vet doctor before feeding them.
Proper brushing is essential when dealing with an afghan hound. Because their coats are long and silky, especially around the ear region, regular brushing of their hair is of utmost importance, this helps to prevent mats and tangles as well as to remove any debris hiding in them. Aside from this, every other part of grooming for the Afghan hound is basic, which includes bathing them once in a while, trimming their nails, and having a regular dental checkup. Lastly, there is a need to be attentive when brushing their ear region as the long hair in that area makes them prone to ear infection and can also hold on to debris of food when eating which can lead to bacterial infections.
Due to their natural temperament of appearing aloof, dignified, and somewhat independent, they seem to come off as being stubborn when training them. So unless you want to train them for sports or maybe shows, it would be advisable to keep the training to the basics of obedience training. It is worth mentioning that their drive to hunt is high, therefore if you find yourself in a situation whereby something presents itself as a worthwhile prey, do not be surprised if your afghan hound takes off to enjoy the chase instead of listening to your commands.
Daily exercise is important for Afghan hounds, going for walks daily is good for them but incorporating runs into their exercise routine would even leave them happier and grateful to you. The runs are necessary as it helps them to address their hunting drive which comes naturally to them. It is advisable to keep these runs in a controlled environment so as to help you control major aspects of what they do. At the end of the exercise, you will find the Afghan hound happy to just laze about at home and relax with you.
As with every purebred dog, Afghan hounds have specific health issues that trouble them. Now, this is not to say that all Afghan hounds must experience these ailments. But just as humans can have some health conditions that affect their lineage, the same thing occurs in dogs. A professional and ethical breeder would be able to provide you with a list of ailments that have affected their breed's lineage with proper documentation to back up the claim. The common health problems Afghan hounds face are Hip Dysplasia, Juvenile Cataracts, Demodectic Mange, some allergies, Autoimmune Thyroiditis, and Hypothyroidism.

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AFGHAN HOUND HISTORY

There are claims that the Afghan hound is the oldest purebred dog to ever exist. In fact, legends have it that the Afghan hound was one of the breeds that were harbored in Noah’s ark during the great flood. There are also mentions of these breeds in the Egyptian papyruses. Although there is no real evidence to back up these claims. What the three claims above points out is that the Afghan hound predates any recorded history we know.

Evidence abounds that the Afghan hound originated from the region we now call Afghanistan, the oldest bone records of this breed were found here. There are also records of this breed being a hunting companion and status symbol for royalty, tribal chiefs, and aristocrats all around Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan region.

The Afghan hound came to be known in the west towards the ending of the eighteenth century, they were already well known in the east, but were brought to the west by Officers of the British empire usually coming back from their conquests. By the beginning of the nineteenth century, the afghan hound had gained acceptability in the west.

It wasn’t until 1927 that this breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club as an authentic dog breed. In 1940 the Afghan hound club was admitted membership to the American Kennel Club. Their popularity increased in America in the 1970s when Zeppo Marx, one of the Marx brothers brought his Hounds to America and increased in more popularity in the 1980s when the Afghan hound was introduced as Barbie’s pet dog, instantly skyrocketing its popularity and appeal.