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Dog Breeds

Afghan Hound Dog Breed Info.

Afghan Hound training, care, history, temperament, and characteristics

Group: Hounds

Weight: male: 60 lbs, female: 50 lbs

Height: male: 27, female: 25 inches

Life expectancy: 12-14 years

Size of litters: 1-15 puppies

DBT highly recommends the How To Choose The Best Dog For Your Family ebook when choosing a new dog or puppy.

History

The Afghan hound is an ancient breed and dates back thousands of years. The original name for this dog is Tazi and it's believed to have come from Afghanistan, yet it also has connections to Russia. They were not seen in Europe and America until the early twentieth century, as the people of Afghanistan refused to sell this breed to outsiders. Hunting and shepherding were the Afghan's main responsibilities and the game they hunted ranged from snow leopard and wolves to hares and deer. The first dog to be cloned in 2005 by a doctor called Hwang Woo-Suk was in an Afghan hound called Snuppy.

Characteristics

The Afghan hound has a black nose with dark almond shaped eyes. They're tall and lean with an elongated and slender head which their ear lay flat upon. The special characteristics of this breed are their high hip-bones and the small ring at the end of their tall. Their coat is lengthy and very fine in texture. Many of them have black facial masks and come in a range of colours, but white markings are discouraged and show poor breeding.

Temperament

They're very affectionate, graceful, and loyal. Yet they're sensitive and need to be treated kindly and gently. Even though Afghan's are not hostile they would do best around older and more thoughtful children. They'll be fine around other animals, particularly if they've been brought up with them. They need attention and affection even if they are tough.

Care

The brilliant coat of the Afghan needs a lot of attention and work. To prevent matting they need to be bathed once a week, but brushing the coat between baths can cause matting so special grooming equipment is needed. They're average shedders which may cause problem with allergy suffers. Trimming their coats every couple of months will keep them tidy and also check their ear canals to keep them clear. They don't suffer any known problems but have a low pain threshold which can be a problem in its self. Long Daily walks are needed and at least half an hour of running in safe open spaces and they do need a garden or yard. For more detailed info, take a look at the Afghan Hound grooming page.

Training

As this breed is rather sensitive, kind and gentle training is required. They can be stubborn and difficult to housetrain so owners should have some previous experience. Obedience classes are suggested as they can be disobedient.