The Afghan Hound

The Afghan Hound is Elegant and Independent

The Afghan Hound was originally bred thousands of years ago in the mountains of Afghanistan, as a hunting dog for gazelles, foxes and wolves. The local name for this breed is Tazi showing an interesting link with the Russian breed Tasy, which is obviously closely related to the Afghan Hound. The geographical proximity of southern Russia and Afghanistan is the obvious reason for this.

The Afghan Hound was originally used in the cold mountains and developed a thick, silky coat. The color of the coat can vary from black, to brindle, to almost white and because it is both long and thick, it requires frequent and skilled grooming. The tail has a distinctive ring curl on the end. The Afghan is a tall dog, standing between 24 and 29 inches. Being built for speed, it is comparatively light for such a tall dog, only weighing between forty five and sixty pounds.

The Afghan is a very active dog and is a quick learner but has an independent streak, so it may not always choose to obey the owner. The owner must place great importance on being the alpha dog with this breed. They are excellent watchdogs but do not rate highly as guard dogs. 

Because of their elegant appearance and movement, Afghan Hounds are very popular show dogs and often seem to feature as a "fashion accessory".  Initially, Afghan people refused to let their national dog leave the country. The breed was not seen in Europe and America until after the turn of the 20th century. In North America, the breed was a very late arrival, as the AKC and CKC did not recognize the Afghan Hound until the 1930s.

Afghans live on average about twelve years, similar to other breeds of about the same size. They seem particularly prone to develop cancer, which is the largest single cause of death. A survey conducted by the UK Kennel Club in 2004, showed that cancer was the cause of death in over 30% of cases. In common with most breeds in the sighthound group, Afghan Hounds have a low level of body fat, which puts them at high risk if there is a  need for them to be  anaesthetised.

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Here are The Breed Standards for The American Kennel Club

Here are The Breed Standards for The UK Kennel Club