Breed Profile

DESCRIPTION

The Afghan Hound is an ancient, aristocratic, beautiful dog. It has been described as "a king of dogs". This breed was kept clean for centuries, and its exportation was prohibited. In Europe and the States it has become a luxurious pet. The Afghan Hound is a tall and slender dog with a long, narrow head, silky topknot and powerful jaws. It has a straight front, and proudly carried head. The whole appearance of the Afghan Hound is one of great style and beauty. This breed is a member of the Greyhound family. This dog was once a harsh hunter in its native land; it was used to hunt leopard, wolves, and jackals. It has now been breed to be a gentle and obedient dog.

TEMPERAMENT

This breed is very sweet and affectionate. It has a low dominance level. The Afghan Hound is suspicious of strangers, but never hostile. It makes a wonderful companion to older, considerate children. This dog is reserved, lively and active. This breed is gentle, friendly and makes an excellent family dog.

GROOMING

This breed is an averages shedder. The long, thick coat demands a great deal of grooming. When showing, weekly bath is a must. In order to keep the coat shiny and long never brush in-between baths. Brushing a dry coat will damage the coat and make it more easily matted. Even if your Afghan won’t be shown, weekly baths will make the coat less matted. Use a special air-cushioned brush or pin brush for grooming.

HEALTH

This is a healthy, long-lived breed. It has a low tolerance of pain, thereby suffering even with minor injuries.

EXERCISE

It needs plenty of opportunity to run, preferably off the leash, and a lot of regular exercise. It is an extremely fast and agile runner. This breed is an excellent sighthound. It was used as a hunter of deer, wild goats, wolves, and even snow leopards. This breed was also used as a watchdog and herder.This breed is not recommended for apartment life. It loves to be outdoors.

TRAINING

Firm but gentle obedience training is required. It can be difficult to housebreak.