The Afghan Hound is a very old sighthound
dog breed. Distinguished 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.
Appearance
The Afghan Hound is high-stationed,
standing 24 to 28 inches (61-71 cm) in height and weighing
45 to 60 pounds (23-28 kg). The coat may be any colour,
but white markings, particularly on the head, are discouraged;
many individuals have a black facial mask. However all
Afghan Hounds have a white "blaze" on the
chest. Some are almost white, but particolor hounds
(white with islands of red or black) are not acceptable
and may indicate impure breeding. The long, fine-textured
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
Hound coat. The high hipbones and unique small ring
on the end of the tail are also characteristics of the
breed.
Temperament
The temperament of the Afghan Hound
is aloof and dignified, but happy and clownish when
playing. The breed has the reputation of being the least
intelligent dog breed, though this is not necessarily
true. 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 chooses to ignore commands. Although seldom
used today for hunting in Europe and America where they
are popular, Afghans are frequent participants in lure
coursing events and are popular as show dogs
Health
The breed can be expected to live about
14-15 years. It is one of the healthiest breeds, with
no known genetic health problems.Health
Afghans are a relatively healthy breed;
major health issues are allergies, and cancer. Sensitivity
to anaesthesia is an issue the Afghan hound shares with
the rest of the sighthound group, as sighthounds have
relatively low levels of body fat.
Afghan hounds as a whole are a fairly
long-lived breed, often living 13-14 years.
