History of the Afghan Hound breed

The official birthplace of the breed is Afghanistan, from where it came first to England and then to the rest of Europe. However, initially, the habitat of animals was not so limited, therefore, greyhounds lived quite happily in the territories of other Asian states, in particular, in Iran, India and Pakistan.

It is not entirely clear how the ancestors of the Afghan hounds entered Central Asia, but experts tend to believe that the animals were brought here by nomads. As an argument, the researchers refer to the ancient name of the breed Tāžī Spay, consonant with the word “hazy”, which was once called the Kazakh (Turkmen) greyhounds. At one time, this dog clan travelled extensively in Central and South Asia, so it could well spread its genes among the Afghans. Afghan hounds are also attributed to the Saluki, one of the oldest breeds that settled in the lands of the Middle East for several millennia BC. There is an opinion that it is the Salukis that are “to blame” for dividing the greyhounds into two main types: the steppe – with relatively short hair, and the more shaggy – mountain.

In the UK, Afghan hounds lit up at the end of the 19th century, arriving there along with the military who returned from service in India. At first, animals were imported as exotic curiosities, with which it was possible to attract attention at various exhibitions and competitions. So, for example, in 1907, an Afghan dog named Zardin bypassed the applicants and pulled out a victory at the British Crystal Palace Show. However, the number of dogs grew, and the breeders’ interest in them became more professional. As a result: already at the beginning of the 20th century, the Afghan Hound breed had the first standard, the standard for which was the notorious Zardin.

In the 1920s, two elite Afghan hound kennels opened in England: Major Bell-Murray’s and the Ghazni kennel, owned by the wife of one of the British military, Mary Emps. In the first, animals brought from Pakistan lived and bred, while in the second, exclusively “long-haired” Kabul greyhounds were bred. As is often the case, the institutions competed with each other, but soon the shaggy people from Ghazni began to be in greater demand than Bell-Murray’s wards. By the way, later it was the greyhounds from the Mary Emps nursery that were chosen by American breeders for further breeding of the breed in the USA.

As for the modern appearance of the “Afghans”, they acquired it only by the middle of the 20th century, after the tribal lines of Bell-Murray and Mrs. Emps were crossed. This led to the fact that in 1948 the Afghan Hound breed standard was radically revised and approved in the form in which we know it today.

Video: Afghan Hound

Airedale Terrier

The appearance of the Afghan Hound

The Afghan Hound is a long-legged aristocrat dressed in a soft “cloak” made of light satin wool and stylish “flared trousers”. Add sophistication to the appearance of the animal and a proud landing of the head, coupled with a regal posture, creating the feeling that in front of you is not just a dog, but a sophisticated person of royal blood. But, of course, the Afghan Hound looks especially impressive in running: its thick, shiny coat flutters under the gusts of wind, like a mantle, emphasizing the amazing grace of the dog’s silhouette.

Head

The Afghan hounds are characterized by an elongated, wedge-shaped skull with a slight stop and a prominent occiput. The muzzle of the dog is emphasized elongated, dryish.

Jaws and bite

The jaws of the Afghan Hound are distinguished by a good grip and sufficient strength for a hunting dog. The ideal type of bite for representatives of this breed is full “scissors”, but a pincer-shaped variant is also considered acceptable.

Nose

The preferred color of the lobe is black, although light-coated individuals with a liver-brown nose are also not rejected.

Eyes

Almost triangular, set slightly obliquely. Ideally, if the iris of the Afghan Hound is colored in dark shades, golden color is also possible, but less preferable.

Ears

This breed has low-set, pressed to the head ears, located at a fairly remote distance from the front of the skull. The hair on the outer side of the ear cloth is long and hangs down in strands.

Neck

The neck of the Afghan hound is strong, moderately long.

Frame

The body of the dog is harmonious, slightly elongated, with a straight back, a short, wide loin and a sloping croup in the lower part.

limbs

The legs of the Afghan Hound are strong, without curvature or obvious markup. The shoulder blades are elongated, laid back. The elbows are tightly pressed to the body, pasterns are strong, of good length. The hind legs of the dog are more powerful, widely spaced, with normally bent joints. The paws are long and wide (hind legs noticeably narrower than the front ones), with arched toes covered with long strands of hair.

Tail

The tail of the “Afghan” looks somewhat outrageous due to the low landing and insufficient overgrowth (the awn is rare, hanging down). In addition, the tip of the tail is twisted into a ring.

Wool

The coat of the Afghan Hound is an awn that covers the muzzle, shoulders, as well as back area, and undercoat. The guard on the muzzle is rather short, but, starting from the forehead, gradually lengthens and forms a top-knot (bun of hair) on the dog’s head. The rest of the animal’s body is covered with long, soft hair, which, is nothing more than an abundant undercoat.

Color

Any type of color is regarded as having the right to exist. The most common types of Afghan Hound colors are golden, silver, red, white fawn, blue, and brindle. The presence of a contrasting mask on the head is also welcome (exceptions are individuals of white, black black and tan colors).

Disqualifying defects of the breed

• Albinism.
• White spots on the fur in the region of the skull.
• Too tall: for males – more than 74 cm; for bitches – above 69 cm.
• The lower jaw is skewed.
• Cryptorchidism.
• Depigmented eyelids, lips.
• Malocclusion.

The nature of the Afghan hound

A puppy Afghan Hound and an adult dog are two completely different personalities. If a baby is ready for games, hugs and jumping at any time of the day or night, then a mature individual is not capable of such feats. Yes, she also needs a portion of attention and the owner’s affection, but only when the dog wants it, and not when it comes into the head of the owner.

In general, the character of the “Afghans” is similar to that of a cat: they are sweet, charming, sociable, but they will not allow anyone to manage their own lives. However, each Afghan hound is a bright individual, and it is extremely difficult to fit all animals under the same characteristics. For example, among the representatives of this dog family there are a lot of both shy quiet and wayward whims, so buying an Afghan puppy is always a guessing game. Moreover, not a single psychic can predict what type of temperament and mindset a pet will have since even babies from the same litter can have completely dissimilar characters.

Afghan is touchy. No not like this. The Afghan is oh-oh-very touchy, and if you dare to punish him unfairly, expect universal discontent from the shaggy touchy. But there are also cases when the dog does not show that he is upset with something, although his soul is seething with indignation. It’s quite normal. Afghan hounds, like typical Orientals, can mask their own emotions, misleading even the most experienced owners. So if you dream of a dog with a mysterious Asian soul, this breed is definitely for you.

Afghan hounds are not inclined to leadership and will never compete with the owner for the “throne and crown”. They already know their worth, and therefore do not see the point in proving something to someone. In communication with strangers, animals are reserved, but not at all aggressive. But ill-mannered children may well bring a dog to a nervous breakdown: to endure violence and annoying pranks of a baby for Afghan hounds is akin to a disaster. In addition, they do not tolerate pain well, so a tail or paw inadvertently pinched by a child’s foot can become a significant reason for dog hostility.

Education and training

Among breed lovers, its representatives have a reputation for being stubborn, and there is some truth in this. Afghan hounds are not at all stupid and learn new material for one or two, while it is very difficult to get them to execute the command. However, it is wrong to blame only the animals themselves for this. The Afghan Hound is a breed that was created not to follow orders, but to drive games. Accordingly, no one obliged the ancestors of today’s dogs to ask the owner’s permission before attacking the beast.

And yet, it is necessary to train the Afghan hound, if only for the sake of her safety. Usually, cynologists recommend going with an OKD animal, the basic complex of commands of which is enough for the eyes of a city dog. At the training stations “Afghans” have recently been infrequent guests: caring for a dog’s coat is not so cheap as to sacrifice its cleanliness on the hunt with a light heart. However, it is always interesting and quite realistic to train in learning (walking on a leash in a group of other greyhounds) with a representative of this breed.

If you have a show-class Afghan hound, you will also have to comprehend the intricacies of her training in the exhibition stance, which should go at a slow pace with the alternate use of the “Stand!” command. and praise “Good!”. While the desired position is being formed, the animal needs to be encouraged and stimulated more often. Keep in mind that the young dog must like the way you control his body, otherwise, he will interrupt classes and go about his business.

The principles of raising a puppy with an Afghan hound remain the same as for other breeds. Do not put off the process of training and socializing your dog for a long time, starting to instil in her the norms of behaviour immediately after moving into a new home. Introduce the baby to the personal territory (the place where the couch is), cover the floor with newspapers and diapers in the place where the animal prefers to go to the toilet. In general, do everything that you would do for any other puppy.

Afghan Hound Rescue Organizations

Maintenance and care

The issue of ideal housing for Afghan hounds is still unresolved, so while one-half of the breeders criticize the conditions of housing, the other calmly places the “Afghans” in typical “twos” and “threes”. However, it is worth saying that the comfort of a pet living in an apartment largely depends on its temperament. Some greyhounds are fine with the lack of free space, provided that they are well walked. Others, on the contrary, need suburban apartments with a vast backyard area, where you can freely chase rodents or neighbours’ cats.

Hygiene

Once upon a time, the Afghan Hound was an unpretentious hunting dog that almost did not require care. However, after the breeders brought out its decorative variety with a hypertrophied undercoat, the owners had more work to do. Remember, Afghan Hounds do not shed on their own, they need help combing out dead hairs with a comb and plucking out the undercoat. In addition, dog hair, devoid of natural fatty lubrication, tends to get tangled. Therefore, if you do not bother with systematic combing, the animal quickly turns into an untidy “boot”.

The hair of the Afghan hound is combed in layers, starting from the bottom and after pre-moistening, since dry hair is extremely fragile and highly electrified. Be sure to work the tufts of wool between the paws, which often fall off. By the way, “Afghans” are kind to their feet and do not like to be touched, so the sooner you start scratching the puppy’s paws, the easier it is for you. The tail of the Afghan hound also needs styling: comb it so that the hair hangs strictly vertically, forming a straight parting in the upper part of the tail.

Up to a year, the puppies’ coat grows intensively and practically does not fall out, so the usual combing with a natural bristle brush about once every 1-2 days is enough for babies. 12-month-old individuals can boast of a fully formed coat: a parting appears on the head, the awn on the back becomes stiffer and shorter, and the undercoat on the paws and sides is longer. During this period, a trimming knife is added to the already existing arsenal of combs and combs for processing the back and sagging areas on the sides of the neck. According to the breed standard, the classic haircut for Afghan hounds is contraindicated, but if you shorten the hair under the tail and armpits, where 90% of mats form, it will be easier to care for the dog, and it will look neater (not suitable for show animals).

Too frequent bathing for Afghan hounds is not good, so one bath day in several months is enough for an ordinary pet. Animals are washed with diluted veterinary shampoo, after which a conditioner is applied to the coat, wiped with a towel and dried with a hairdryer. The ears are washed separately, alternately lowering them into a bowl of warm soapy water so that moisture does not get into the ear canal.

An important nuance: do not let the Afghan hound lie down immediately after the bath, otherwise the wet coat will crumple and lose airiness. First, completely dry the dog, and only then let him do what he wants.

The preparation of the Afghan hound for the exhibition differs from the standard care mainly in the set of cosmetics that give the pet’s coat a special gloss. Usually, the animal is washed on the eve of the event, after which the dried dog is dressed in protective overalls so that the hair stays clean longer. It is better to protect the strands on the ears with a mesh, and put protective dog shoe covers on the paws, as the skin on them is sensitive and can change color from contact with room dust.

Walking and exercise

Like any hunting breed, Afghan hounds need daily emotional and physical relaxation, that is, a good run. And it’s better if it’s not easy jogging in the squares, but a full-fledged two-hour workout with playing catch-up, doing exercises and communicating with other representatives of the dog tribe. If possible, sign up your pet for coursing: it is pleasant for him to amuse his instincts, and it is easier for you. In addition, classes will help the animal to give all the best and no longer bother you in the apartment with claims for attention.

When taking your Afghan Hound outside and off the leash, be vigilant. These oriental beauties love to chase cars and small animals and losing sight of them is a matter of minutes. If there is neither time nor energy for total control, walk your pet in quiet wastelands or fenced areas where he cannot escape. By the way, Afghan hounds are quite jumpy, so make sure that the fence behind which the dog is training is of a suitable height – it will jump over low fences in no time. Consider the physiological characteristics of the breed: Afghan hounds normally tolerate dank autumn weather, but suffer in the heat. Accordingly, in the summer heat, it is better to move walks to early morning and late evening.

The end of summer and the beginning of autumn is a difficult period for owners of show specimens, as this is the season for the maturation of burdock seeds, succession and other thorns. All this “splendor” is excellently collected by the soft, airy undercoat of the “Afghan” for a walk and rushes into the house. If you don’t want to spend your free time extracting garbage from the dog’s “mantle”, it’s better to refuse excursions to autumn meadows and forests, or, as an option, take your pet on a leash and lay a safe route on your own.

Feeding

Even though Afghan hounds are selective in food and have an ascetic body type, a standard hunting dog diet consisting of 20% animal protein is suitable for them. The main types of meat present on the dog’s menu are beef, lamb and chicken, and this can be unclaimed waste and trimmings. Offal such as the heart and liver are absorbed by Afghan hounds no less actively, but since they contain almost no fat, it is not recommended to completely switch to them. The “Afghans” will not refuse chicken broth with wild rice, boiled fish fillet, low-fat cottage cheese and hard-boiled eggs, so periodically indulge them with such delicacies.

To maintain the health and beauty of the coat, Afghan hounds need fats. Pork meat here, of course, will not work, but a piece of fresh lard will be very useful. Brain bones are usually not given to show individuals, since holding a treat with a paw and nibbling it, the dog stains and pulls out the hair on the so-called “slippers”. But so that the animal does not feel deprived, the bone can be replaced with a raw carrot, which at the same time will satisfy the body’s need for fiber. Mineral supplements for greyhounds eating natural food are also necessary. Usually, “Afghans” are mixed with kelp, fish oil, and during the period of active growth – dicalcium phosphate and pharmacy vitamin complexes.

If desired, the Afghan Hound can be transferred to a high-quality and balanced “drying” – premium and super-premium. But canned food for dogs is not recommended. The dog will still not be able to eat them, because all wet food is more than half water and, in fact, low-calorie, but at the same time they cost the same as normal “drying”.

Health and disease of Afghan hounds

Afghan hounds, of course, are not healthy, but they are not frail sissies, whose well-being can be shaken by the slightest draft. Diseases most commonly seen in this breed are volvulus, myelopathy, hypothyroidism, and chylothorax. Various kinds of eczema and dermatitis diagnosed in greyhounds are mainly due to poor grooming, so be careful with your pet. The “Afghans” also have relatively weak eyes, so there are relatively many individuals with diagnoses of “cataract” and “retinal degeneration”.

How to choose a puppy

• Get ready for a surprise: Afghan hound puppies are much inferior in external indicators to adults, moreover, the breed is completely invisible in them. Going to the nursery for a four-legged friend, take a club specialist with you, or at least take an interest in the reviews of other buyers about this institution.
• Take a closer look at curious, frisky kids who, having seen a new person, will try to get to know him by sniffing shoes.
• If possible, inspect the entire litter. Usually, there are always one or two puppies in it, inferior in size and fatness to their counterparts. This, of course, is not a marriage, but to grow worthy Afghan hounds from weak peanuts, you will have to spend many times more time and effort.
• If you are afraid of the manifestation of genetic diseases in a puppy, carefully study the pedigrees of both parents. Usually, the risk of hereditary ailments occurs in individuals whose owner practices inbreeding.
• It is better to buy puppies with whom it is planned to visit exhibitions in adolescence when the main breed signs are more clearly visible. If the baby is bought exclusively for home maintenance, then he is ready to move to the new owner’s house as early as 2-3 months.

Afghan hound pictures

Afghan hound price

The highest price tag is set for club puppies from a pair of greyhounds with inter champion diplomas: an average of 40,000 – 50,000 rubles. Afghan hound babies from more modest litters (for example, parents are Russian champions), as well as those without the right to breed (pet class) cost from 20,000 to 30,000 rubles