Afghan Hound is surely a royal breed of dogs as confirmed by their appearance and the money spent on purchasing and raising them. They are appreciated by all for their magnificent coat and extreme elegance but are not in the budget of many people. They are one of the costliest and most expensive breeds that can be found in India and the price for an Afghan Hound puppy can go as high as ₹1.5 lakhs. And, that is why they are not that common in the Indian households. They are mostly bought by the wealthy section of the society or some passionate dog lovers. Although, they are a good breed to thrive in a country like India as they have a very good tolerance to both hot and cold weather conditions, but because of the extravagant expenditure, their demand is below average and thus they are not seen as frequently as some affordable breeds like Labrador Retrievers or the Golden Retrievers on the roads of India.
The Afghan Hound is one of the most elegant and graceful dog breeds out there and is surely a thing of beauty. They carry their whole body with extreme pride and dignity. It is definitely a breed that cannot go unnoticed and is rightfully considered a royalty or an aristocrat. Official standards for the Afghan Hound are as follows:
Afghan Hounds are large dogs and are decent in terms of both height and weight. The average weight hovers around 22-34 kg for an Afghan Hound and their average height is somewhere between 25-29 inches. There is no significant difference in the body dimensions of a male and female Afghan Hound.
|
WEIGHT |
HEIGHT |
|
|
MALE |
22-34 kg |
25-29 inch |
|
FEMALE |
22-34 kg |
22-29 inch |
They have thick, silky, fine-textured coat which is very long in length. Regions like fore and hindquarters, ribs, legs, ears are all covered with a good number of long strands of hair. The coat is the most talked about and unique feature of this majestic breed. The hair on the head is mostly tied in a topknot to avoid irritation to the eyes. Their coat is available in different colors like Black, red, cream et cetera.
They have a well-built and long body with a strong and arched neck that runs into the shoulders which are well-laid back and sloping. They possess a well-developed chest and back region, and a curly tail which is set not too high on the body. Their forelegs and hind legs are straight, strong and covered in large amounts of hair.
They have an evenly balanced and refined head which is decent in length. Ears are covered with long silky hair and are quite long, and the eyes are mostly dark in color and are shaped like an almond. They also have a good-sized nose which is usually black in color.
They have long and powerful jaw area with the underjaw specifically showing great strength. They have a scissors bite with the teeth in the upper and lower jaw evenly matched.
Afghan Hounds are very confident and happy dogs. They carry themselves with a certain dignity and sophistication which is not seen in many other breeds. They are normally, affectionate and friendly with their family members but it is a well-known fact about the Afghan Hounds that they can be a bit aloof sometimes and may not be in the mood to socialize with new people or other canines. They are also quite independent and sometimes can be a bit hard to train. They require the assistance of an experienced trainer and hence they are not highly recommended to the first-time dog owners. Various temperamental traits of the Afghan Hound are listed below:
As suggested by their name, the Afghan Hound originated in Afghanistan where is it was known as Tazi Spay. Apart from being one of the most attractive dog breeds in the world, they are also considered to be one of the oldest and their history dates back to the pre-Christian era.
In today's time, they are mostly fancied and afforded by the affluent section of the society. Apart from the high price of bringing them home, an owner also had to take care of their beautiful coat and for that, the assistance of a skilled groomer is required which only add-ons to the existing expenditure. Demand for them among the common folks is relatively low because of the high premium which is required.
But there are many positive aspects about them that are appreciated by all the dog fanatics like their adaptability to any kind of environment, their ability to tolerate being alone, their confident personality and many more. For someone experienced in the art of dog ownership and who is well-off, the Afghan Hound might prove to be a decent option as a pet.
The Afghan Hound has been divided into different types on the basis of the colors that it is available in. The various possible colors for the Afghan Hound are listed below:
|
Adaptability |
***** |
Sensitivity Level |
***** |
|
Affection Level |
*** |
Potential for mouthiness |
*** |
|
Apartment-Friendly |
***** |
Drooling Potential |
* |
|
Barking Tendencies |
* |
Energy Level |
**** |
|
Friendly towards dogs |
*** |
Health Issues |
*** |
|
Friendly towards other animals |
** |
Intelligence |
*** |
|
Child Friendly |
*** |
Playfulness |
*** |
|
Exercise Needs |
**** |
Shedding Level |
** |
|
Grooming Needs |
***** |
Social Needs |
*** |
|
Good for novice owners |
** |
Stranger Friendly |
** |
|
Trainability |
* |
Watchdog Ability |
* |
|
Tolerates Heat |
**** |
Tolerates Cold |
***** |
The Afghan Hound requires a decent amount of nutritious food to fulfill its feeding needs. They are lean in shape but still a large breed that needs a good calorie count to maintain their health. Type of food can be selected as per the advice of the veterinarian.
They have a natural instinct to chase a prey as they were used as sighthounds, hence, it is not recommended to take them outside without a leash. They do require a good amount of exercise and long runs in an open but isolated area with their owners prove to be beneficial for them. Daily exercise is necessary for the Afghan Hound as it is both good for their physical as well as mental health.
The trainability of an Afghan Hound depends upon the bond and relationship that it shares with its owner. If the bond is strong and well-developed, then it might not be that hard to train the Afghan hound. But if the friendship and trust between the owner and the dog are weak, then they can be one of the most difficult breeds to train. They are quite independent and aloof in nature and are also fairly easily distracted which causes hindrance in getting them trained. Hence, it is very important for the owner to first develop the trust between him and the Afghan Hound. After that, they can be very loyal, obedient and eager to please.
As a puppy, the Afghan Hound requires very little grooming but things take a sharp turn once it starts growing up and the coat on its body starts to increase in length. As a full-grown dog, heavy grooming is needed that includes daily brushing of the coat for at least an hour, regular bathing, and occasional trimming of nails, to keep them looking crisp and neat. The good thing regarding their coat is that they are not heavy shedders and only shed in limited amounts infrequently.
As with any other breed, the Afghan Hounds also suffer from various diseases and the owners should always be looking for the potential signs and symptoms of any health-related issue that could harm their pooches. Common health problems found in the Afghan Hound are:
Unlike their need for a groomer, they do not require the frequent assistance of a veterinarian.
There are many theories and speculations about the ancientness of the Afghan Hound. Some say they date back to the pre-Christian era while others believe that the Afghan Hound was one of the animals that were rescued in Noah’s ark.
All theories aside, and going by the records and facts, an officer stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan was responsible for transporting Afghan Hounds to England in the year 1925. One year later, they were recognized as an official breed by the kennel club when they moved to the United States.
Around 1970, their popularity was off the charts when the Afghan Hound was introduced as a pet of the very popular kids toy doll named Barbie. They were desired by almost every kid especially the small girls in the United States. They also did well in various dog beauty competitions. And, thus gradually they found their way into the hearts of people from other countries also.
