Afghan heel are patrician and loving dogs who can run up to 40 mph and require a serious grooming routine . Learn more about like for an Afghan heel and if she ’s the right dog for your family .
There ’s no getting around this one : The Afghan hound is known for her fuzz . That luxurious coat can come in in just about any color and is usually kept long and silky . It ’ll require some degree of even grooming , but the honorable news is that Afghan houndsshed so infrequently , they ’re categorized as"hypoallergenic " dogs . As average - large pups , clocking in around 50–60 pounds , they ’re not circuit dogs but can be a good fit for an flat indweller if taken out on a regular basis .
Just keep in mind that an Afghani hound , while intelligent , is also very independent — they’re not comfortable to train , and their temperament is often compare to that of a computerized axial tomography ’s . If you’retrainingan Afghan , commend touse positive reinforcement , feel out what motivates your dog ( whether that ’s dainty , toys , or congratulations ) , and be quick with lots of time and forbearance . That being said , the right Afghan hound with the right possessor can be a match made in heaven .
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Appearance
Talk about glamorous ; an Afghan hound absolutely fits that verbal description . With her flowing silky tomentum , tenacious human face and solemn regard , it ’s no wonder that this stock has been a symbolization of condition and grandeur for thousands of class . The stock standardis specially poetic : " He has a straight front , proudly impart headland , middle gazing into the space as if in memory of ages preceding . "
Afghanistani hounds are tall frump , measuring 25–27 column inch at the berm , but they ’re not stocky . They in general weigh just 50–60 Ezra Loomis Pound , making them a medium - with child stock . Their prospicient face has a prominent nose , give them a slightly Romanist appearance ; their ears are long ; and their eyes are dark and almond - shaped . Finishing it all off is a long , thin tail that scroll upward into a gang .
Their most defining gadget characteristic is , of course , that coat . Long , silky , and flowing , it could almost belong on the head of a ' 70s pa prima donna . The hair is curt on the face and saddle , and the dog will have a " top Calidris canutus " of longer hairsbreadth on her head . The Afghan hound can come in any color , but square colors are most common . lily-white markings are discouraged by breed purists , peculiarly on the head .
All these traits come with a pragmatic intention . That coat ? It kept Afghan hounds warm in the high mountains where they werebred as hunters . Their especially large hand pads were designed to protect them from rocky terrain , and their highly flexible hips enable them to turn quickly in low areas .
Temperament
The Afghan hound dog temperament is a unique one : Afghan hound are known to be earmark and aristocratic beast , though their owners know they have a playful side . " They are identify in their standard as aloof , yet gay , " saysAnna Stromberg , an Afghan breederwith over 40 years of experience with the strain . " That signify that they have a comic side to them . Andthey do postulate an dynamic ownerthat want to expend clip with their hot dog , but not the intense companionship that you ’d get from a retriever or a turn frankfurter . "
Afghan hounds are not the type of dog who will leap all over you when you come home , Stromberg says . But while they ’re not the face - licking type , they do become attach to their owners , and can be quite tender . " Cat lovers run to love the Afghanistani hound , " she says .
That allege , Afghan hound dog can be a bit offish and untrusting around unfamiliar citizenry , saysBradley Phifer , executive theater director of theCertification Council for Professional Dog Trainers . " [ They ’re ] just not as affectionate , not as comfortable with intimate handling , like hugging and so forth , " he state . socialise your Afghani hound puppyearly is vital for making her grow well-fixed around new people .
One myth that Afghanistani hound dog lovers would like to dispel : This breed is stupid . " I think sometimes we relate alacrity to trainability , " Phifer says . But that ’s not the case , he say .
Stromberg agrees . It ’s not that the Afghani heel is dense , she say , but she ’s independent . " The Afghani hound is not your mean wienerwurst . [ She ] is a detached - spirited , thinking , extremely level-headed animal , " she says .
Living Needs
As a sighthound , the Afghan hound does ask space to draw several time a week . Because they ’re powerful jumpers , any space in which you let them work off - leashshould be securely argue . And it ’s important tokeep them on - leashwhen expire on walks andhikesto keep them safe — because oftheir unassailable quarry drive , Stromberg says , sighting a squirrel can be enough to make them bolt off after it .
However , Stromberg says Afghan heel can make wonderfulapartment frank , as long as yougive them enough exercise . " You have to be an active someone to own an Afghan dog , " she says . " You take them for a walking , you square up , you hike , you do all of those matter . "
Afghanistani hound dog do n’t bark much , shed infrequently , and drool very little , making them easy indoor companion . They can betaught to get along with catsand other animals ( though small-scale running play animals can excite their prey drive ) , and can begood with childrenif properly socialise from the sentence they are puppies . And they can tolerate being go away alone , though of course , as with any dog , unconstipated physical and mental stimulation is significant .
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Care
The Afghan hound ’s groom needs are fairly specific , allot to theAfghan Hound Club of America ( AHCA ) , but the more you do it , the less arduous it becomes . The first and most important step isregular brush : Once your Afghan is an adult , ensure you brush her daily , or at least for several hours a calendar week , to dispatch lustrelessness , tangle , and debris . The longer you check , the worse the matting will be by and by , so sweep her on the regular .
Bathe her regularly , too , around once a week — some Afghan hound owners also like to condition the coat after shampooing . The honorable news is that they moult minimally liken to other breed , which think of that they ’re often categorized as a " hypoallergenic " strain . ( And while there ’s no such thing asa truly hypoallergenic hot dog , Afghani cad can be a good paroxysm for some people with allergies . )
If you desire to minimize haircloth care , you could also take your wiener to the groomer for a " puppy cutting off , " or a short haircut that ’s just a couple inch long . " There ’s no Afghan hound in this existence that will have his feelings injure if you cut their hair shortsighted ! " Stromberg say .
take an Afghan hound might be the bigger challenge : " A luck of people are getting Afghan hounds for the wrong reasons , " Stromberg discourage . " They want the beautiful , flowing , Farrah Fawcett - seem dream detent … and do n’t realize that they ’re getting a conniving , modest petty thief on their hands , " she joke . Stromberg describes the dispute between an Afghan bounder and other dog this way : If your dog is used to get dinner at 6 p.m. but you pass to be late one solar day , aborder colliemight have a nuclear meltdown . The Afghan hound , on the other hand , will open up the fridge , assist herself to some dinner , and shut the door behind her .
The first mode to get a jump-start on training is to find an Afghani hound from a reputable breeder who begins socializing the puppies from a very young historic period . Phifer says that clip and solitaire are key whentraining an Afghanistani hound . " And finding the proper motivation , " he says . " You ’ve start out to discover something that they enjoy and then be patient with the cognitive process . "
It ’s also authoritative to recall that they can be quite sensible , so always stick to overconfident reenforcement when training . " You ca n’t be severe on an Afghan , " Phifer says . " They get their tone ache kind of easily . They get overwhelmed well . "
Because training an Afghan hound can be so demanding , they ’re not generally advocate for first - time dog owners . However , if you ’re afirst - fourth dimension dog ownerand want to make the commitment , do your research and reach out to local Afghanistani blackguard groups for advice and supporting . The last thing an Afghani hound advocator require to see is a dog turn over up because the owner just was n’t a good convulsion .
Health
Afghan houndshave a relatively foresighted animation spanfor such a large breed ( about 12–15 long time ) and aregenerally healthy . But , according to the AHCA , there are some health conditions pup parent require to observe for .
As with all bombastic and deeply - chested dogs , it ’s of import for proprietor to recognizethe symptoms of bloat , a status in which the stomach fill with gas and disregard off circulation to other organs . When this happen , it ’s important to get your dog to the vet — fast — because bloat can chop-chop become life - threatening .
Afghan hounds can also be prostrate tohip dysplasiaandelbow dysplasia , a condition in which the hip or elbow joints in which the joint socket is deformed and eventually causes incapacitating lameness . Be sure that your Afghan heel stock breeder has screened your puppy ’s parents for this and all other health conditions recommended by theCanine Health Information Center .
History
The Afghan hound start in ( you guess it ) the region now experience as Afghanistan , where they were bred to Leigh Hunt . DNA testinghas revealed that the Afghan hound is one of the most ancient dog stock , with a chronicle go back K of years . One legend even has it that it was a pair of Afghan heel representing dogs on Noah ’s Ark.
Whatever their distant rootage , the Afghan hound became a prized hunt companion for royals and aristocrats in the mountainous regions of central Asia , where their long coats protected them from the cold and their huge paw pads enabled them to get over the rocky terrain with easiness . As sighthounds , they pursued leopards and gazelles by mass , and were bred to be sprinters .
By the former 1800s , Afghan houndswere get to Europeby British officers give back from duty abroad . One official , Captain Banff , brought back adog named Zardinand exhibited him at the Crystal Palace in 1907 , where he became a virtuoso . By the 1900s , the breed had become tremendously popular with the British upper crust , thanks to their elegant practiced looks . The Afghan hound was recognise by the American Kennel Club in 1926 .
