The Afghan Hound is a tall, silky-coated sighthound from Afghanistan, recognised in Britain in 1926. It is independent, fast and inclined to chase.
Its coat needs hours of grooming every week, and it requires secure space to run.
The Afghan Hound is a tall, long-coated sighthound from the mountains of Afghanistan, bred to hunt by speed and sight over rough ground. It is one of the most striking of all breeds and one of the most demanding to keep.
Origin
Hounds of this type were kept for centuries by the peoples of Afghanistan and the surrounding region to course hares, gazelle and other game. The first to make an impression in Britain was a dog exhibited in London in 1907, and breeding stock was imported by returning army officers in the 1920s. The Kennel Club recognised the breed in 1926.
Appearance
Dogs stand about 68 to 74 cm at the shoulder and bitches a little less, with a lean, athletic frame under the coat. The head is long and refined, carried high, with a topknot of long hair; the tail ends in a ring. The coat is long, fine and silky on the body, legs and ears, and short along the back and on the face. All colours occur. The hip bones are prominent and the feet are large, an adaptation to mountain terrain.
Temperament and exercise
Afghans are dignified, independent and reserved with strangers, affectionate with their own people and sometimes clownish at home. Like other sighthounds they chase anything that runs, and few can be trusted off the lead in open country. They need a daily opportunity to gallop in a securely fenced area as well as walks, and they respond to patient, reward-based training, not to pressure.
Care and health
The coat is the main commitment. It mats quickly and needs thorough brushing several times a week, each session taking an hour or more, with regular bathing. Many pet owners keep it clipped.
The breed is generally sound and commonly lives for eleven to thirteen years. Sighthounds carry little body fat and react differently to some anaesthetic drugs, which vets take into account. Bloat, cataracts and a condition in which fluid collects in the chest are recorded in the breed.
In Britain
The Afghan Hound belongs to the Kennel Club's Hound group. It was fashionable in the 1970s and is now uncommon, with registrations a small fraction of their peak.
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