Afghan Hound Dog Information

If you are looking for an aristocratic sight hound with long, glamorous coat, then Afghan hound is the best option available.  It is counted among the oldest sight hounds in the world and distinguished by its fine, thick, silky coat. This article comprises all useful information that you need to know about this beautiful canine.

1.General Information

2.Star Rating:

Characteristics	Stars (based on 5)	Characteristic	Stars (based on 5)
Adaptability	(5)	Health Issues	(3)
Affection Level	(3)	Intelligence	(3)
Apartment Friendly	(5)	Playfulness	(3)
Barking Tendencies	(1)	Shedding Level	(3)
Cat Friendly	(2)	Social Needs	(3)
Child Friendly	(3)	Stranger Friendly	(2)
Dog Friendly	(3)	Territorial	(1)
Exercise Needs	(4)	Trainability	(2)
Grooming	(5)	Watchdog Ability	(1)

 Do you know?

• This breed was brought by British military officers to the West after being posted to the India-Afghanistan border
• The coat of Afghan hounds can be any color or combination of colors, including tan and black.
• An early fan of the Afghan includes the renowned comedic actor Zeppo Marx, who was imported two Afghan hounds from the Britain in 1931.
• This dog breed is different from other breeds due to his distant gaze; long, silky topknot; beautiful coat; large feet; prominent hipbones; and ring tail.
• These dogs won Best in Show at Westminster in 1957 and 1983.

Is Afghan hound dog breed suitable for me?

More information about Afghan Hound:

• History

This enticing dog is native to Sinai. More than 4000 years ago, this breed is pictured in the caves of northern Afghanistan as well as mentioned several times in Egyptian papyruses. It was kept pure for centuries. The exportation of this dog breed was strictly prohibited. Therefore, it only reached Europe as contraband early in the 1900s.

The Afghan is a sight hound that means it hunts by sight. This extremely fast and agile dog was used as a shepherd and as a hunter of wild goats, deer, snow leopards and wolves. Shepherds also used these dogs as herders and watchdogs.

Due to their thick coat, they are able to survive in extreme temperature condition. Owing to their aristocratic beauty, these dogs have become a luxurious pet and show dog in Europe and America. Some talents of the Afghan’s are sighting, hunting, tracking, watchdog, herding, racing and lure coursing.

• Description

Afghans are considered an aristocratic sight hounds. They are tall and slender with a narrow, long, head; and silky topknot with powerful jaws. The head and skull back part are quite prominent. Their muzzle is slightly convex and nose is black.

The teeth of Afghan dog breed meet in a level or scissors bite. Their dark eyes are almond shaped and ears lie flat to the head. The neck of this dog is long and strong. The abdomen of this breed is well tucked up and hipbones are quite prominent.

Afghan hound’s front legs are straight and strong, and feet are big and covered with the elongated hair. The tail of this dog breed has a ring or curl at the tip, but is not carried over the back. The long, silky coat of this dog is often the color of sand with a darker face, though all colors are permitted.

• Personality

Afghan hounds are known for their dignified, courageous, spirited, sweet, affectionate, loyal, and sensitive temperament. With low dominance level, these dogs can be somewhat aloof. These dogs must be trained kindly, calm yet in a firm manner.

These dogs tend to be suspicious of those people they don’t know, but not hostile. If they are deprived of proper gentle leadership, they will also pine. These dogs will do best with the older, considerate children who know how to be a gentle pack leader.

Amenable to discipline and training, these dogs can be defiant if their owners don’t give clear guidelines. This breed of dogs can also be high-strung and timid if it doesn’t receive enough physical and mental exercise.

• Health problems with Afghan Hound

Almost all dogs have the potential to develop some genetic health problems. It is recommended to buy your puppy from certified dog breeders. You should also see proper health certificate of the parents of dog so as to ensure proper health of parents to avoid any inherited disease at later stage. A reputed breeder will be honest and open about all the health problems in the dog breed and the incidence with which they occur in lines. Following are some health concerns seen in Afghan hound dog breed:

• What to feed

You should keep your Afghan hound in good shape by measuring his food and feeding him twice daily rather than leaving food out all the time. Recommended daily amount for you Afghan dog breed is 2 to 2.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. You should note that how much your dog eats depends on his age, build, size, activity level and metabolism. Some recommended commercial foods for this breed are as follows:

• Pedigree Chicken And Vegetable Adult Dog Food
• Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Dry Hepatic Dog Food
• Fidele Premium Performance Adult Dog Food
• Drools Ultium Performance Adult Dog Food
• Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Dry Hypoallergenic Dog Food

• Grooming and care

Afghan hounds are known for their long, thick coat that demands a great deal of attention and grooming. You should bathe your dog when necessary. Don’t brush your dog in between baths to keep his coat shiny and long. Brushing a dry coat is not recommended as it will damage the coat and even make it more easily matted.

Weekly baths will make the coat less matted and will save you time in the end. You should use a special air-cushioned brush called a pin brush for brushing the hair of this breed. This breed of dogs is an average shedder. You should trim the nails at least monthly. Try to keep the long, hanging ears dry and clean in order to prevent ear infections.

At the mealtime, you will probably want to put the ears up in a snood so as to keep them from dragging in the food dish. For good dental hygiene and fresh breath, try to brush the teeth frequently. Some important grooming products for Afghan hound are as follows:

• All4Pets Pin Brush
• Petkin Waterless Shampoo Vanilla Coconut
• Beaphar Anti Itch Shampoo For Dogs
• Dog Winter Tshirt
• Pets World Nail Cutter for Dogs