These large sized dogs are impressively beautiful, affectionate family dogs. Speedy and with an excellent sense of sight, they have a keen instinct to chase small animals.
| Recommended for | Families wanting an independent dog |
| Breed Classification | Hound group |
| Other names | Afghan, Affie |
| Lifespan | 12 -18 years |
| Size | Large |
| Temperament | Loyal, affectionate, aloof |
| Intelligence | Average |
| Tendency to bark | Low |
| Maintenance Level | Medium |
| Health Risk | This breed has an around average probability of having health issues in its lifetime, hence it is one of the more affordable breeds to insure. |
Breed history of Afghan Hounds
Some authorities maintain that the Afghan Hound is the oldest breed of purebred dogs. Pre-dating written history by a few thousand years, and developed in some of the world’s most remote locations, its time and place of origin within the vast area that is now Afghanistan, India and Pakistan remains a mystery.
For centuries Afghan Hounds were rugged, fleet-footed hunting companions and status symbols of royals, tribal chieftains, and aristocrats in Asia’s mountain kingdoms. However, because Afghanistan’s Islamic culture forbids the depiction of animals in art, there is no pictorial record of the breed. The only known early drawing is an etching from around 1813 that depicts a native soldier with a dog which remarkably resembles young Afghans of today.
The Afghan didn’t make its entrance on the stage of Western history until the late 1800’s when British military officers returning from the Empire’s far-flung corners introduced the breed to Europe. By the early 1900’s, the Afghan was a preferred breed of the British gentry. The forebears of today’s Afghan Hounds were imported directly from Afghanistan. The breed still exists in Afghanistan, although only in very small numbers.
Physical description of Afghan Hounds
Afghan Hounds belong to the subcategory of hound breeds known as sighthounds, dogs who rely on their panoramic vision and explosive speed to spot and pursue their prey.
Among the most eye-catching of all dog breeds, the Afghan Hound is famous for its elegant, regal beauty. Large, long-legged and powerfully built to endure a long day’s hunt, they are also very fast and agile runners who can reach speeds of 45km per hour. Their huge paw-pads acted as shock absorbers on their homeland’s punishing terrain.
The thick, silky, flowing coat that the breed is famous for isn’t ‘just for show’; it served as protection from the harsh climate in mountainous regions where Afghans originated. Long and very fine on the legs, ribs, flanks and back from the forehead, it can be short and much coarser along the dog’s back. A long silky topknot is also a breed characteristic, and a hood of long hair may form from the top of the neck and flow into the shoulders and withers.
| Weight range | 26 to 34 kg |
| Height range | Males 68 to 74 cm; females 60 to 69 cm |
| Colours | Gold, silver, black, white, cream, blue, all shades of brindle, black & tan, black & gold, black & silver, black & brindle, and domino |
| Coat length | Long on ribs, fore- and hindquarters & flanks and flowing back from the forehead |