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Monday, April 27, 2009

Afghan Hound


Other Names: Tazi, Baluchi HoundCountry of Origin: AfghanistanLifespan: 12-14 YearsMale Height: 25.5-27.5 InchesMale Weight: 60 PoundsFemale Height: 23.5-25.5 InchesFemale Weight: 50 PoundsAmerican Kennel Club Classification : Hound GroupCanadian Kennel Club Classification : HoundsKennel Club (Great Britain) Classification : HoundAfghan Hound CharacteristicsThe Afghan is a desert dog that moved to the mountains. This shift from hot to cold necessitated a long fur coat. Selective breeding gave the Afghan his long coat and high-set hipbones that allow them to run easily over rugged terrain. They may look like "take-it-easy" movie stars, but they are fearless hunters.Afghans and other sight-hounds were bred to be faster than the prey that they hunted. The Afghan's deep chest and light bones enables him to run for hours in pursuit of game. Afghans can accelerate very rapidly and are able to stop on a dime.Know Your Afghan HoundThe Afghan Hound is a medium to large 55 to 65 pound dog that grows to between 24 and 29" in height. The Afghan Hound has long, silky hair and appears to be both elegant, reserved and agile. But, don't let the looks fool you. They can run, frolic and play with the best of the dogs.Afghan Hounds comes in a variety of colors including Black, red, cream, fawn and brindle. Fawn, cream and brindle Afghans typically have a black mask on face or on fringe of ears. White markings are discouraged by the AKC. In contrast to the long hair on its body, the Afghan Hound as a long, thin tail that curls on the end and is covered with short hair. Because of their long, thick hair, the Afghan Hound requires regular grooming.They are very energetic and affectionate dogs. They get along with children, other dogs and pets, especially those that they know from puppyhood. They do not always get along with cats, especially those that they aren't familiar with. Some Afghan Hounds can be more on the timid or high strung side, so they are recommended more for older or well behaved children. The Afghan Hound is an ideal dog for homes where they will get plenty of exercise, outside play and where there is ample room to roam and explore.The breed can date itself back over 5000 years. It is native to Afghanistan. It is a sight hound and was originally used for herding, hunting and as a watchdog. Due to its quick speed, it made an excellent hunting animal to pursue game. It only reached Europe and the United States in the 1900s because its exportation was prohibited. The Afghan Hound is now used mainly as companion, watchdog and hunting dog.This dog with a dignified air is a loyal and faithful companion. They make good watchdogs and a great companion for an active family that enjoys exercise and play. If you choose an Afghan then plan on a lifetime of love and enjoyment from your new pet.Is An Afghan Hound Puppy The Right Choice For Me And My family?The Afghan hound can be an great choice for you and your family, as long as you do not have very young children. Even older children need to learn to respect the hound and leave it alone when it has had enough. You need to have a place where this dog can run or gallop full out for as long as a half hour a day. You must be willing to spend serious time grooming his coat. Because of his aloofness, he may decide to ignore your commands so you must also be willing to spend a great deal of training time with him. Never leave very young children alone with any dog.The Afghan hound is all about being an aristocrat. His appearance is one of aloofness and dignity. They are beautiful with a long silky topcoat and the tail has a signature ring curl at the end.Temperament. His general temperament is dignified but happy and even clownish. He is a bit independent and sometimes has a personalty somewhat like a cat. Afghans need to be socialized and can be wary of strangers. They either like someone or they do not.Approximate Adult Size. Males can weigh in at 60 pounds and stand 27 inches at the withers (highest point of the shoulders) and females can weigh 50 pounds and stand 25 inches high at the withers.Ideal Environment. The ideal environment for this dog is a properly fenced, spacious yard or acreage. He loves to run. He does prefer to spend time with his master and would like to sleep indoors. The enclosed area should be kept trimmed and be free of shrubs and weeds that like to hitch a ride on fur. This hound is prone to getting his hair tangled.Special Health Considerations. The Afghan Hound is a healthy breed. Cancer and allergies are his main problem. They have low body fat levels and may be sensitive to anesthesia. Additional genetic problems may be dysplasia, juvenile cataracts, enzyme deficiencies and hypothyroidism.Grooming. The Hound should not be clipped or trimmed much, especially for showing. His coat is long and fine so he needs plenty of attention. Did I say plenty of attention? I roomed with an Afghan and his owner and the Afghan always liked me. I remember when my room mate spent several hours washing and grooming his pet, getting every single burr out because he wanted his dog to look great and make a good impression on an important date he had that evening. Well, somehow the afghan managed to get out and do his run and when he got back, his coat was so trashed, I though that my roommate was going to cry. It takes plenty of work to keep them looking like they do in the breed photos. They shed in the spring and fall.Life Span. The life span is fairly long, being approximately 14 years.History. The Afghan Hound comes from Afghanistan where it was bred to hunt gazelles, foxes and wolves. DNA testing reveals that this dog is from one of the most ancient dog breeds. The original name of this dog is a Tazi. There is a similar breed in Russia called Tasy and they are related.Special Good Points. The aristocrat of dogs. Beautiful to watch and have. Relatively Healthy. Patient, calm, and has common dog sense.Special Bad Points. Can Tend to be shy. Can tend to be aloof. Low pain tolerance, a bit of a baby. Can be hard to train, may ignore commands. They are fast and can steal food and objects. Difficult to keep off of the couch. They think that they own the furniture. Can be difficult to housetrain.The Afghan Hound Breed. Origins, Information and History of this Extravagant BreedOrigin: The Afghan Hound is a very ancient breed. This dog has been mentioned several times in the Egyptian papyruses as well as pictured in caves of Northern Afghanistan more than 4,000 years ago. This beautiful sighthound was used as a shepherd and hunter for many centuries, hunting such game as deer, wild boars, goats, and even wolves. They were also used by shepherds as watchdogs and herders due to their fast and agile running.History: The Afghan was discovered in the west in the regions of Afghanistan during the 19th century. These dogs were later sent to England in the later part of the century. Some say that Afghan Hounds served as guard dogs and herd dogs, which are within the capabilities of the breed as we know it. The major role of these dogs, however, was undoubtedly that of hunting. The Afghanistan kings would breed a kennel of these hounds for many generations for these purposes alone.The real start of the breed in the US started with the first Ghazni imports in 1931, when Zeppo Marx and his wife brought from England a bitch, Asra of Ghazni, and a dog, Westmill Omar. Asra and Omar were later acquired by Q. A. Shaw McKeans Prides Hill kennels in Massachusetts. Mr. McKean soon added a young English champion, Badshah of Ainsdart. These three - Asra, Omar and Badshah - formed the cornerstone of the breed in America.Summary: This dog has become a luxurious pet in America and Europe due its aristocratic look. The Afghan Hound is prized and loved by many of their owners and family members. With its distinctive personality and long coat that requires regular care and maintenance, it's not the breed for wanna-be dog owners, but when the match between owner and this hound is right, there is no other dog that can equal the Afghan hound as a great and welcome addition to any family.Aristocratic, but very sweet, loyal, affectionate and emotional, with a low dominance level. The Afghan Hound has been described as "a king of dogs." Majestic, elegant, noble and courageous, suspicious of, but not hostile to, strangers. Although resilient, they will pine if they are deprived of attention. They will do best with more mature, considerate children. At one time, the breed had a reputation for being untrustworthy, but has now been replaced by a character that, while still energetic, is said to be more agreeable to training and discipline, as they can be disobedient if allowed to be so. This breed can be problematic to housebreak.Afghan Hound - Centuries of PerfectionThe Afghan Hound dates back more then 4,000 years. It has always been coveted, though only in the more recent years for its graceful appearance. Today, the Afghan Hound is recognized by most canine associations and is a popular pet around the world.A native of the Sinai region, the breed was carefully guarded over many centuries and no one was allowed to take any Afghan Hound out of the area. With transportation so carefully guarded, it was only the tales of travellers who alerted the rest of the world to the beauty and grace of this dog until a century or so ago. It's quickly become a popular breed for the show ring. Watching those show dogs, the most notable traits are the long, silky hair and the agile body, but there's a history of courage behind this breed.The Afghan Hound was originally used in two major capacities - hunting and herding. The dog's alert nature and protectiveness made it ideal as a guard dog for herds of domesticated animals. This hound also has an incredible nose and has been used to hunt some very large, fierce animals. Not only have they helped hunt deer, wild goats and similar herd animals, they've also been used for hunting snow leopards and wolves.The slender neck supports a slim head, giving the Afghan Hound a very regal bearing that makes it stand out from some other hounds. The coat tends to be very thick. Their ancestors needed those heavy coats as protection against the elements and the breed of today can typically withstand cool temperatures without problem. Afghans may be any color, though sand, red and black seem to be the more common. For show purposes, only white is not acceptable and even white marking will count off in the show ring.These dogs are true "people dogs." They love to be with their owners and will grieve greatly if left alone for long periods of time. Not only that, but some of these dogs also tend to act sad if their favorite person or people are no longer around.Ages ago, the Afghan had a reputation for being somewhat sneaky or unreliable. Selective breeding seems to have all but eliminated that trait, though this breed still seems to thrive in a sound, stable atmosphere.The Afghan Hound typically weighs in at somewhere around 50 to 60 pounds. They also tend to live slightly longer than most larger dogs with averages estimated around 12 to 14 years. As a rule, these dogs are very sensitive to pain. They may not readily recover from even minor injuries without proper care, especially if those injuries limit activity.The Afghan Hound loves the outdoors, though they're gentle enough to adapt to living indoors, provided they get ample exercise. They remain easily trained for hunting and herding, though most people who seek these dogs are doing so because of the aristocratic bearing and elegance - traits that make them show dogs and pets, not working dogs.Afghan Hound - Dog Breed ProfileKey Facts:Size: Medium - largeHeight: 63 - 74 cm (25 - 29 inches)Weight: 23 - 33 kg (51 - 66 lb)Life Span: 14 yearsGrooming: Frequent & thoroughExercise: EssentialFeeding: MediumTemperament: Gentle yet wary of strangersCountry of Origin: Afghanistan/EnglandAKC Group: HoundOther Names: Tazi, Baluchi HoundTemperament:The Afghan Hound appears dignified and aloof but can also be fun loving. Afghan Hounds are gentle dogs that are affectionate towards the family but wary of strangers. Training can be difficult despite their high level of intelligence. Afghan Hounds are not always compliant and tend to ignore human instructions if they see no good reason for an order. Afghan Hounds naturally pursue anything that runs and are almost impossible to recall once they're on the chase. They will kill most things they catch and therefore should not be kept with other household pets such as cats.Grooming:Afghan Hounds require regular and thorough grooming at least once a week with a good pin brush. This is best done by lifting the hair up so each stroke begins from the root of the hair and continues downward. Afghan Hounds do not shed hair like most other breeds.Exercise:Afghan Hounds are athletic and require a lot of exercise to cope with their restless energy. Because of their hunting and chasing instincts, they need to be kept on a lead.Feeding:Afghan Hounds are not greedy eaters and may even be somewhat picky if allowed to have their own way.History:The sighthound family dates back to between 4000 BC and 3000 BC, with their name derived from Afghanistan. It has been suggested that the longer coated Tibetan Terrier (from adjacent Tibet) played a part in making the Afghan Hound, the longest coated member of the sighthound family. The Afghan people put their dogs to many uses from guarding to hunting and also using their hair for weaving.Physical Characteristics:General Appearance: Very tall, impressive and elegant.Color: All colors. The most common are red through to shades of beige, often with a darker mask.Coat: Long silky hair, with short hair around the face and back saddle.Tail: Not too short and ends in a ring.Ears: Long, set low and well back. They are covered with long silky hair.Body: Deep chest, prominent hip bones and muscular back of moderate length.Additional Comments:Elegance is the hallmark of this breed - a long chiselled head carried high on a long neck is an essential characteristic. In proportion to it's size, the Afghan Hound's body is relatively light.

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