Afghan Hound
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General
Height: 63 - 74cm
Weight: 22 - 27kg
Coat: Long, fine coat - usually allowed to develop naturally
Hound group
Temperament
The Afghan Hound has been described as "a king of dogs" and is more active than many people might think. The breed is very dignified, but is also very capable of playing around foolishly. The Afghan Hound is a powerful, fast breed and just loves to run outdoors. They are elegant and noble but are not the most affectionate. In fact,they tend to attach themselves to only one set of people and have a favourite within that group. Afghan Hounds are gentle, and not overly excitable when greeting people. Because these dogs are so fast, they will require a secure garden with a high fence to run and explore. The Afghan Hound often ‘pretends’ not to hear their owner when called. Many people have described its disposition as catlike. In general they make fantastic family pets, they are a perfect companion for owners seeking a breed that has presence but is not too boisterous.
Exercise
They are herders and hunters by nature, and require a good deal of exercise. Around 30 – 40 minutes of fast running is required daily for this energetic breed.
Health
Generally the Afghan hound is a healthy breed with a long life expectancy. They seem to suffer more with any injury received; this is due to their low pain threshold. Afghan hounds are also among the most likely breeds to develop chylothorax. This rare condition causes the thoracic ducts to leak and can be fatal.
Life Expectancy
12 - 14 years
History
The Afghan is an ancient breed that originated in Afghanistan. Writings and sculptures of this breed date back to 3500 B.C. They were first imported to the UK in the early 1890’s but failed to get recognised until 1907. They were imported in to American during the early 1920’s. Afghans were once used to hunt gazelle, deer and even leopards. The Afghan Hound's coat has evolved to adapt to most climates. This is beacause Afghanistan has extremely hot summers and very cold winters. The Afghan Hound is one of the breeds most closely related to the ancestral wolf. (Others are the Shar-Pei,Lhasa Apso, Basenji, Samoyed, Siberian Husky, Pekinese, Alaskan Malamute, Shih Tzu, Akita and Chow Chow)