Afghan Hound

The Afghan Hound's ancestry dates back thousands of years to the greyhound family, although he is most closely connected to the Persian Greyhound. After arriving in Afghanistan from Arabia and Persia, this distinctive dog's coat is thought to have developed in response to the harsher climate. The breed became the Afghani nobility's hunting dog of choice because of its ability to cover rocky terrain with agility, speed and ease. The first Afghans were brought to England in 1894 by soldiers returning from the Afghan and India border. Breeding of the Afghan began in earnest in the early 1920's when two Englishmen imported seventeen more of these dogs. A breed standard was adopted in England in 1926, in the States in 1931, and in Canada in 1937. This popular breed is a good family friend when provided with space and plenty of exercise.

Height: 26 - 28" (66 - 66cm) for dogs, 24 - 26" (61 - 61cm) for bitches

Weight: 60 lbs (26.8 kg) for dogs, 50 lbs (22.3 kg) for bitches

Coat Type: The distinctive coat of the Afghan consists of profuse, long, silky hair covering most of the body while short hair covers the shoulders and the length of the back. All colors are acceptable, as are different color combinations. White markings on the head are not considered pleasing. Although Afghans don't require any trimming, grooming requirements are time consuming and demanding.

Temperament: The Afghan carries himself with pride and dignity and often appears characteristically "aloof". But don't be fooled, this breed can be quite open to fun and humor.

Special Interest: Although no one, except Noah himself, was actually there to witness it, some accounts state that a pair of these "monkey-faced hounds" were privileged enough to book a spot on Noah's Ark.

Classifications:
AKC: Group 2 - Hounds
CKC: Group 2 - Hounds
KC: Sporting - Hound Group
FCI: Group 10
ANKC: Group 4 - Hounds