BREED DESCRIPTION & INFORMATION
Zara, Can Ch. Sha Zahn Zanzara of Obiwan
Photo courtesy of Zanzara Afghans |
Breed Registries:
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* — The FCI is the World Canine Organization, which includes 84 members and contract partners (one member per country) that each issue their own pedigrees and train their own judges. The FCI recognizes 339 breeds, with each being the "property" of a specific country. The "owner" countries of the breeds write the standards of these breeds in co-operation with the Standards and Scientific Commissions of the FCI, and the translation and updating are carried out by the FCI. The FCI is not a breed registry nor does it issue pedigrees.
Origin:
Afghanistan
Height:
Males: 27 inches, ± one inch - Females: 25 inches, ± one inch
Weight:
Males: about 60 pounds - Females: about 50 pounds
Breed Profile:
The Afghan Hound, a member of the Sighthound family, is an aristocrat with a proud and dignified look. The breed was first discovered on the border country between Afghanistan and India. Orginally bred to course game across mountainous terrain, the Afghan is very agile and moves with grace and ease — he can trot at speeds of up to 12 mph for hours on end. This is a breed that needs room to run and requires regular exercise.
The Afghan has an aloof and elegant manner, very devoted and loyal to his family, and rather reserved with strangers. Early socialization is very important for the breed as they can be overly brave or extremely shy. Known to be independent, free thinkers, the Afghan can be challenging when it comes to training.
Today, the Afghan is mostly seen as a companion, competing in the show ring, at lure coursing events, as well as in agility and obedience trials.
One of the Afghan's most distinguishing features is his elegant, long and silky coat.
Health Issues
In general, the Afghan Hound is known to be a very healthy breed; however, like all breeds certain genetic disorders have been known to occur, such as: Cataracts, Demodicosis, Hip Dysplasia, and Hypothyroidism.
Two additional health concerns should be noted:
- Anesthetics — Like all members of the Sighthound family, the Afghan Hound is sensitive to a number of anesthetics. It is very important to discuss this with your Veterinarian in advance of any required surgery. For additional information, see: Anesthesia And Your Saluki from the Saluki Club of America, as well as Anasthesia in Sighthounds from the Irish Wolfhound Society of Ireland.
- Bloat — As with any deep-chested dog, the occurrence of Bloat or Gastric Torsion is a real possibility in the Afghan Hound. If you are not familiar with this condition, it is absolutely necessary to learn about it and know the symptoms — This is a real emergency and a life threatening condition that requires immediate Veterinary attention. See Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV) - Bloat in the Health and Nutrition section of Canada's Guide to Dogs for more information and First Aid for Bloat for an article describing some of the things you can do if you are faced with this situation.
If you are considering the adoption of a Afghan Hound puppy, or any breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy's parents have all health clearances. Breeding of any dog should not be done until after they have been proven to be free of evidence of significant hereditary diseases. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the main Breed Listing and Breeders page.)
Additional Health Resources:
- Health and Nutrition — Growing section of the Canada's Guide to Dogs website which includes information on several health and nutrition related issues.
- Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) — Providing a source of health information for owners, breeders, and scientists that will assist in breeding healthy dogs. CHIC is a centralized canine health database jointly sponsored by the AKC/Canine Health Foundation (AKC/CHF) and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
- AKC Canine Health Foundation — Working towards developing scientific advances in canine health.
- Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF)
- Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
- Ontario Veterinary College (OVC)
- University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHip)
- HealthGene — HealthGene Corporation is the leading provider of veterinary DNA diagnostic services in Canada.
Breed Standards
- CKC Breed Standard
- AKC Breed Standard
- UKC Breed Standard
- The Kennel Club (U.K.) Breed Standard
- FCI Standard No. 228 / 12.01.2009 / GB
- The Afghan Hound Club of America Judges Study Group & Judges Study Guide
- AKC Afghan Hound DVD
Published by: AKC Duration: 25 Min.
Discussion of the breed standard: good structure and movement, acceptable colors, correct head, size. Developed for breeders, exhibitors and judges.
Grooming Information
- Afghan Hound Colours — Pictorial description of the various coat colours of the Afghan Hound, from the Afghan Hound Association, U.K.
- Afghan Hound Grooming and Coat Care
- Grooming — This section of the Canada's Guide to Dogs website includes tips, articles and information covering all aspects of dog grooming along with a listing of Groomers from across Canada.
Training Resources
- Afghan Hound Care and Training
- Training — For training information, see this growing section of the Canada's Guide to Dogs website for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada.
Additional Information
- Lure Coursing Information
- Afghan Hound Pedigree Database — The database has more than 95,000 Afghan Hound pedigrees, and is continually being developed to document the past, present, and future of the Afghan Hound.
- Clubs, Sports & Activities — For information on the many sports and activities you can get involved in with your dog.
- Working Dogs — The Working Dogs section of the Canada's Guide to Dogs website provides information and listings of organizations that are involved in various dog jobs, such as Guide Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Police Dogs, Protection Dogs, and much more.
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Select from the following links to view Breeder listings; Breed Clubs; Rescue Organizations; as well as Books and other Merchandise specific to the breed:
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