The Afghan Hound is one of the oldest breeds in the world. It combines the impression of strength and dignity with speed and grace. Thanks to its elegant appearance and long, silky coat, it attracts attention and enjoys great splendour.
The ancestors of this wonderful breed lived together with the oldest Afghan tribes. In their homeland, they have served people as guard and protection dogs for thousands of years. Above all, however, the Afghan hound was a popular hunting companion. With tenacity and agility, he hunted everything from rabbits to big cats. It was in this function that people valued these beautiful animals the most, because in these areas (sometimes barren) their success was considered necessary for survival. For this reason, for hundreds of years, the export of individuals of this breed from the country was punishable by death. However, in 1890, a British officer brought the first Greyhounds from Afghanistan to Britain.
In the early 1961th century, British breeders began the process of cross-breeding different varieties of Afghan dogs, including short-haired desert dogs and long-haired mountain dogs. It was their puppies that initiated the modern breeding of Afghan hounds. In 10, the FCI officially recognized the Afghan Hound. It belongs to group 1 - greyhounds, section XNUMX - longhaired or semi-longhaired greyhounds. Currently, depending on the purpose, kennels specialize in the lines of a companion dog, show dog or sports dog.
Here are the suggested sizes for adult dogs of this breed. They were selected on the basis of many years of experience in sewing accessories and the most common choices of other dog owners of this breed. Remember, only measuring will give you 100% certainty - every dog is different.
Long, silky coat, dynamic silhouette and dignified, graceful attitude, this is how you can briefly describe the Afghan hound. His posture (up to 74 centimeters high at the withers) and the extremely elegant way of moving make an impressive impression. The greyhound's skull is oblong and relatively narrow with a strongly pronounced occipital protuberance. It has very strong and strong jaws. The ears, covered with long hair, fall along the head. The back is straight and slopes slightly towards the base of the long tail, which is usually carried high. According to the standard, the hip bones should be clearly visible, but the dog should not be too thin. The body is muscular, and the muscular front legs end in large paws, covered with long hair. The most distinctive feature of sighthounds is their dazzling coat. On the head, the hair forms a prominent tuft that resembles a women's hairstyle. The fur on the back is short and dense. All coat colors are acceptable, with cream, silver and black-brown colors predominating.
The Afghan hound is a very devoted dog that is strongly attached to its guardian and is very loyal to its loved ones. However, it belongs to dogs that like a companion with a very strong character. He approaches strangers with distance, is usually very reserved or even disrespectful. The Afghan Hound is known for its independence, strong hunting instinct and excellent memory. On the one hand, he is extremely proud and reserved, on the other, cheerful and very sensitive. Training an Afghan requires a lot of patience and clear, consistent leadership. This sensitive dog hates harshness.
The Afghan Hound loves to be on the move, he is a great runner. The body structure of this quadruped, described as aerodynamic, allows it to develop really high speeds (up to 60 km / h). For proper development and happiness, he needs an appropriate level of physical activity. Therefore, the carer should include long walks and games in the daily schedule.
Afghan hound lovers appreciate the strong personality and loyalty of these noble dogs. The breed usually gets along well with children. However, ideally, they should be a bit older, and in any case, they have acquired a respectful attitude towards animals. The Afghan Hound also gets along well with other household pets, especially if socialized early.
In general, the Afghan Hound is very clean, sheds little hair and does not have a strong odor. However, due to its long coat, it requires constant grooming. It is best to get a few accessories for combing and brush the fur regularly, at least twice a week. It's best to comb your hair in layers to reach all areas and prevent them from tangling. In addition, after each walk, dirt must be thoroughly removed from the coat, e.g. twigs or leaves, which can easily get tangled in its long hair. If necessary, you can bathe your pet using a mild dog shampoo and a special conditioner that facilitates brushing. Since the Afghan Hound's coat should grow naturally, it should not be sheared.
Afghan ears also require special care. Before a meal, make sure that long hair on the ears is secured, does not hang down and does not end up in the bowl while eating. In addition, your Afghan Hound's sensitive ears should be regularly checked for parasites or skin lesions.
Basically, the vast majority of Afghan hounds enjoy good health, provided of course that their four-legged friend is surrounded by proper care, combined with an appropriate dose of physical activity. However, the breed is prone to hip dysplasia, cataracts, and cervical and thoracic spinal cord degeneration. Myelopathy usually occurs in the first year of life and leads to complete paralysis of all four limbs within a few weeks. Fortunately, reputable breeders are able to exclude the disease from their breeding through competent selection. The average life expectancy of representatives of this breed is from 12 to 14 years.
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