Afghan HoundCharacteristics, history, training and care

Long-haired sighthounds had lived in Afghanistan for a long time, hunting hares, gazelles and other fast animals. Wikipedia says the first famous Afghan in Europe was Zardin, brought from India in 1907 by Captain John Barff. Zardin served as the model for the first breed standard, written in 1912.

Today's breed comes from two groups of dogs brought to Great Britain. In 1920, Major Bell-Murray brought desert dogs with a thinner coat from Baluchistan. In 1925, Mary Amps brought mountain dogs with a rich coat from Kabul, known as the Ghazni line.

Their beauty quickly made them show dogs. Wikipedia says that Sirdar, of the Ghazni line, won Best in Show at Crufts in 1928 and 1930. The FCI recognised the breed definitively on 12 December 1961.

How the breed developed

• 1907 – Zardin arrives in Great Britain.
• 1912 – The first breed standard is written.
• 1920 and 1925 – The Bell-Murray and Ghazni lines arrive.
• 12 December 1961 – Definitive FCI recognition.
• 3 August 2005 – Snuppy, an Afghan Hound, becomes the first cloned dog.

Indicative rating: 5 stars means the highest level. The rating is based on the breed's AKC profile (trainability 1 out of 5, grooming 4 out of 5, energy 4 out of 5) and on the FCI standard.

The FCI standard describes it as a sighthound that gives an impression of strength and dignity, combining speed with power. The head is carried high, with a proud air. The back is level and strong, and the tail ends in a ring.

General appearance

The coat is long and very fine on the body, but short and glossy along the back in adults, and on the face. On the head it has a long, silky topknot. The forefeet are large and covered with thick hair, which protects them on stony ground.

The FCI standard accepts all colours except merle (a coat with irregular, “marbled” patches).

The Afghan Hound is an intelligent but very independent dog. Stanley Coren ranked it last of 138 breeds for obeying commands. Of the 199 trainers he surveyed, 121 placed it among the bottom 10 breeds.

Sighthounds were bred to hunt on their own, far from people, so they often make their own decisions. They respond better to short lessons with rewards than to harshness. The recall is hard to teach: a sighthound that sees an animal running will set off after it.

Tips for effective training

• Keep lessons short. It gets bored quickly.
• Use rewards. Harshness makes it shut down.
• Let it off the lead only in an enclosed area. Its hunting instinct is very strong.
• Get it used to brushing early. The coat needs a lot of care.

It is a runner bred for hunting, so it needs long walks every day and, from time to time, a free run in a well-fenced place. The AKC profile gives it 4 stars out of 5 for energy. At home it can be calm if it has had enough exercise.

Tips for a balanced life

• Suits patient owners.
• A yard with a high fence.
• Time for brushing and bathing.

Coat and skin care

The long coat should be brushed several times a week, right down to the skin, so that it does not tangle. The AKC profile gives it 4 stars out of 5 for grooming. Regular baths keep the hair clean and easy to comb. The breed sheds little.

Common health problems

A UK study found a life expectancy of 11.1 years, compared with an average of 12.7 years for purebred dogs. Wikipedia names allergies, cancer and hip dysplasia as the main problems. As with other sighthounds, its low body fat makes it sensitive to anaesthesia.

Other care

• Tell the vet it is a sighthound before any anaesthetic.
• Check its long ears.
• Go for yearly check-ups.

A lean, active sighthound needs good-quality food with enough protein, suited to its age and activity.

Tips for a healthy diet

The table gives a starting estimate, calculated with the formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual. The first two calorie columns show the calories per day for a healthy adult dog. The last column shows what this means in dry food with 3,500–4,000 kcal per kilogram.

• Split the food into two meals a day.
• Healthy sighthounds have a lithe body: the last ribs and the hip bones are easy to see.
• Do not let it run right after a meal.

Foods to avoid

Some human foods are dangerous for dogs: chocolate, coffee, grapes and raisins, onions, garlic, xylitol (a sweetener used in chewing gum), macadamia nuts and alcohol.

Physical and emotional maturity

In dogs, sexual maturity usually comes between 6 and 12 months, but in large breeds it can be delayed until about two years. The body also reaches its adult form later than in small breeds.

Mating and pregnancy

Pregnancy lasts about 63 days, counted from ovulation. Mating a female on her first heat is not recommended. The FCI standard requires that only healthy dogs of typical breed appearance are used for breeding.

Caring for the puppies

In large breeds, a litter has around 7 puppies on average. Socialisation starts in the first weeks: gentle handling, everyday noises and new people.

• The first cloned dog. Snuppy, an Afghan Hound, was cloned in South Korea in 2005.
• Mountaineer's feet. Its large, hairy feet help it on mountain ground.
• Last for obedience. Stanley Coren ranked it 138th out of 138.
• On the cover of Life magazine. On 26 November 1945.
• A ringed tail. The tip of the tail curls into a circle.

Picasso's sculpture in Chicago

Wikipedia says Pablo Picasso stated that his 1967 sculpture in Chicago's Daley Plaza represents the head of an Afghan Hound named Kabul.

In films and cartoons

Afghan Hounds appear in “Balto” (Sylvie), in “Bluey” (Indy) and in the “101 Dalmatians” films.

Why is it hard to train?

It is very independent and decides for itself whether to obey; it needs patience and rewards.

Does it shed a lot?

Little, but the long coat must be brushed several times a week.

How big does it get?

Males measure 68–74 cm at the withers and females 63–69 cm.

Does it get on with cats?

Only if it has grown up with them; otherwise it may chase them as prey.