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Afghan Hound
The Afghan Hound a very old sight hound dog breed. Distinguished by its thick, fine, silky coat and its tail with a ring curl at the end, the breed acquired its unique features in the cold mountains of Afghanistan, where it was originally used to hunt wolves, foxes, and gazelles. Provided that you can give it the conditions and care that it needs, there are few more rewarding dogs to own than the exotic and highly individualistic Afghan Hound.
The Afghan Hound is truly a king among dogs. A true aristocrat, the stylish Afghan is an elegant, strong, dignified dog combining great speed and power.
The Afghan Hound is a member of the sighthound family, along with the other extremely fast coursing dogs, such as the Greyhound, Saluki and Whippet.  The Afghan Hound originates from Afghanistan, Pakistan and northern India where it was used to
course game across mountainous terrain. Owned by both royalty and tribesmen it was used to hunt to provide food or simply to provide sport for the nobility. During the 19th century British soldiers took the first specimens back with them to England
The Afghan Hound requires considerable exercise in order to
maintain good physical condition, as well as a space in which to play. An extremely agile dog, it can gallop at speeds of at least 60 kms per hour, take a broad jump of 6 meters and can leap 3 metres high from a standing position.
Its second important need is regular grooming and a glance at the long thick, silky coat will tell you that this is indeed a time-consuming job. The Afghan Hound comes in a kaleidoscope of solid colours, including white, blonde, red, black, black and tan, blue, and brindle. White markings are not favoured.
The aloof demeanour and independent spirit, which is so typical of this spectacular breed can mean that it may be a little more difficult to train than some other dogs. However. kindness and patient handling will quickly make the Afghan Hound a loyal and loving companion.
Colors of the Afghan Hound
Afghan Hound Breed Outline
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Country of Origin: | Afghanistan |
| FCI Classification: |
Group 10: Sighthounds; Section 1: Long-haired or fringed Sighthounds. |
| Utilization: | Sighthound |
| AKC Classification: |
Hound Group |
| Personality: | Intelligent, confident, sometimes stubborn. In general, Afghans can be very stand-offish and are sometimes wary of strangers. |
| Size: | Large |
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Height: | 25-29 inches at shoulders |
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Colors: |
All colors are acceptable |
| Other Names: | |
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Average Litter Size: | 8 |
| Life Span: | 9-15 years |
| Grooming Requirements: |
High. Afghans require weekly baths and brush-outs to prevent
coat from becoming a mess. |
| Shedding: | Heavy. |
| Social skills: |
The Afghan Hound gets along well with other dogs and lives in harmony with other pets. |
| Suitability for Children: | Gets along with children very well. |
| Exercise Needs: | Two hours a day. |
| Train Ability: | Very sensitive to harsh corrections, patience and consistence are the best ways to use. Afghans will pursue and dispatch anything that runs from them and should never be allowed to run at large. |
| Health & Behavioral Issues: |
Responsible breeders will screen their dogs for:
Cataracts (CERF certification)
Corneal Dystrophy
Demodicosis
Hip Dysplasia
Hypothyroidism
High sensitivity to anesthesia |
COMMENTS
Afghans are not for everyone but those lucky few who get them are really...
"Afghans are not for everyone but those lucky few who get them are really in for a treat. Their coat requires regular care to look good. Sporadic care will mean matting in the coat and out come the scissors BUT very few breeds are as special as the Afghan. "
Posted by ignatz on Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Finicky Eaters
Some afghans can be particularly finicky eaters and will not eat the food you're offering, no matter how beneficial its properties. They simply are not interetsed and will merely sniff at their food before walking away. This can be so frustrating, especially if it happens to a dog that you need to keep at an ideal weight for showing.
In theory, the recommended procedure is to take the food away and wait until the next day before offering it again, repeating the act until the dog is so hungry it is forced to eat. But this doesn't happen in practice and, while you're awaiting the progress of the accepted "cure", the dog will be getting thinner and thinner.
Poor appetite can be attributed to health problems or a worm infestation, so it is worth visitng the vet for a check-up to eliminate other possibilities. While a painfully thin Afghan is not necessarily unhealthy, it will not be showable, and if showing is your goal you must do everything in your power to get the weight on. Contradictory as it may seem, try not to show the dog that you are overly concerned: the more you fuss, the less inclined it wll be to eat normal diet, preferring the gourmet foods he knows it will be offerred.
It is quite possible that your dog just doesn't like the dog food, whether it be canned or dry, and would rather starve than eat something that it doesn't like. If you do not want to stand by and watch your dog lose condition, you will have to experiment with fresh food.
Posted by cristal_wane498 on Tuesday, April 08, 2008
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