Afghan Hound Breed Standard
Comparison Chart

Origin and Purpose / History:	CKC: (Not indicated in Standard.) AKC: The Afghan Hound was discovered by the Western World in Afghanistan and surrounding regions during the 19th century, with the first specimens brought to England in the latter part of that century. Of the breed's origin and its history prior to then, little is known for certain. It was once believed that the Afghan Hound existed in Egypt thousands of years ago, with a second theory that the breed evolved on the steppes of Asia representing the original sight hound. A great deal of research has not provided proof for either of these speculations. As the breed developed in Afghanistan, two distinct types evolved. Hounds from the southern and western desert regions had a rangy build, were light in color and sparse in outer coat. The dogs from the northern regions were more compact in structure, darker in color and more heavily coated. These and other variations represented logical adaptations to the wide diversity of climate and terrain of the country. The breed is primarily a coursing hound, pursuing its quarry by sight. The Afghan Hound was hunted singly, in dog and bitch pairs, in packs and combined with specially trained falcons. A tremendously versatile breed, its quarry included hare, wolves, jackals, marmots and snow leopards. Because of the variety of game hunted and the diversity of the geography, the Afghan Hound's most desirable traits were being sure-footed and agile to work the rugged terrain, strength and speed to bring down prey, plus the stamina to maintain a strenuous chase for a sustained length of time. UKC: The origin of the Afghan Hound is uncertain. Prior to European penetration into Afghanistan, the Afghan Hound was kept by tribal chieftains. The tribes were isolated in the various valleys of Afghanistan, which kept the Afghan Hound clear of crosses with other breeds. The use of the Afghan Hound for hunting in the mountainious terrain of Afghanistan required a dog that was highly intelligent and could survive by hunting on its own. The particular characteristics that distinguish the Afghan Hound from his desert-dwelling relatives enabled this breed to survive in the wide range of temperatures and the mountainous terrain of Afghanistan. The first Afghan Hounds arrived in Great Britain with soldiers returning home from military service in the eastern Empire during the early 1900's. After the first Afghan Hound created a sensation at the Crystal Palace show in 1907, the breed virtually disappeared in England, largely due to the hardships imposed by World War I. The breed was revived in Great Britain after World War I and developed through two influential lines, the Bell-Murray dogs and the Ghanzi hounds. A number of British-bred Afghan Hounds were exported to the United States in the 1920's and became the foundation of the breed here. The Afghan Hound was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1948. KC: Not indicated in Standard. FCI: FCI-Standard No 228 / 22. 11. 2004 / GB ORIGIN : Afghanistan. PATRONAGE : Great Britain. DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 09.11.2004. UTILIZATION : Sighthound. CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 10 Sighthounds. Section 1 Long-haired or fringed Sighthounds. Without working trial.
General Appearance:	CKC: (Same as AKC Standard.) AKC: The Afghan Hound is an aristocrat, his whole appearance one of dignity and aloofness with no trace of plainness or coarseness. He has a straight front, proudly carried head, eyes gazing into the distance as if in memory of ages past. The striking characteristics of the breed-exotic, or "Eastern," expression, long silky topknot, peculiar coat pattern, very prominent hipbones, large feet, and the impression of a somewhat exaggerated bend in the stifle due to profuse trouserings-stand out clearly, giving the Afghan Hound the appearance of what he is, a king of dogs, that has held true to tradition throughout the ages. UKC: The Afghan Hound is a medium-sized sighthound whose appearance gives the impression of strength and activity, combining speed with power and agility-in short, an efficient hunting dog, albeit a glamorous one. The Afghan Hound is a unique blend of substance, elegance, and function. The head and neck are long, ears are long and pendant, and the tail is long with a ring or curve at the end. The head is held proudly. The correct relationship of length of body (measured from prosternum to point of buttocks) to height (measured from withers to the ground) is 1:1. The coat is long and silky on the ribs, fore- and hindquarters, the flanks, and the top of the head, while the foreface and the back are covered with short hair. The upper tips of the pelvis bones are prominent. The Afghan Hound is dignified and aloof, with a keen, "oriental" expression that looks at and through one. In evaluating this breed, it is important to remember that the Afghan Hound hunted its quarry over rough and mountainous ground full of crags and ravines. For this purpose, a compact and well-coupled dog is required, rather than a long-loined racing dog whose first quality is speed. KC: (Same as FCI Standard) FCI: Gives the impression of strength and dignity, combining speed and power. Head held proudly.
Temperament / Characteristics:	CKC: (Same as AKC Standard.) AKC: Aloof and dignified, yet gay. Faults--Sharpness or shyness. UKC: Characteristics: The characteristics that distinguish the Afghan Hound from all other dogs are the long, silky topknot; the sloping croup and low tail set; the prominent pelvis bones; the sparsely coated tail with the ring or upward curve at the end; the unique coat pattern; and the "oriental" expression-inscrutable, piercing, and wise. The Afghan Hound is a strong-willed, independent thinker who is dignified and aloof with strangers. With family, however, this breed can be exuberant and playful. The Afghan Hound does not respond well to harsh training methods and prefers to do things his way. This breed has a very well-developed chase instinct. Regular grooming is required to maintain the glamorous Afghan coat. KC: (Same as FCI Standard) FCI: Eastern or Oriental expression is typical of breed. The Afghan looks at and through one. Dignified and aloof, with a certain keen fierceness.
Size, Proportion, Substance:	CKC: (Same as AKC Standard) AKC: Height: Dogs, 27 inches, ± one inch; bitches, 25 inches, ± one inch. Weight: Dogs, about 60 pounds; bitches, about 50 pounds. UKC: Desirable height at maturity is 27 inches for males and 25 inches for females, ± one inch either way. A 27-inch male in good condition weighs about 60 pounds, while a 25-inch female in good condition weighs about 50 pounds. KC: (Same as FCI Standard) FCI: Ideal height : dogs 68-74 cm (27-29 ins); bitches 63-69 cm (25-27 ins).
Coat and Colour:	CKC: (Same as AKC Standard) AKC: Coat: Hindquarters, flanks, ribs, forequarters, and legs well covered with thick, silky hair, very fine in texture; ears and all four feet well feathered; from in front of the shoulders; and also backwards from the shoulders along the saddle from the flanks and the ribs upwards, the hair is short and close, forming a smooth back in mature dogs - this is a traditional characteristic of the Afghan Hound. The Afghan Hound should be shown in its natural state; the coat is not clipped or trimmed; the head is surmounted (in the full sense of the word) with a topknot of long, silky hair - that is also an outstanding characteristic of the Afghan Hound. Showing of short hair on cuffs on either front or back legs is permissible. Fault--Lack of shorthaired saddle in mature dogs. Color: All colors are permissible, but color or color combinations are pleasing; white markings, especially on the head, are undesirable. UKC: Coat: The Afghan Hound coat pattern evolved in a land where the temperature can fluctuate widely in a single day. The coat on the fore- and hindquarters, legs, ribs, and flanks is dense, long and silky. There are patches of short hair on each side of the neck forward of the shoulders that are generally covered by the profuse neck coat. From the shoulder backward across the top of the back, the coat is short and close. The hair on the head is long from the forehead backward forming the characteristic topknot. The hair on the foreface is short. Some Afghan Hounds have a refined beard, called a mandarin, on the lower jaw, which adds to the oriental expression. The ears and the feet are heavily feathered. The front of the pasterns and/or hocks may be covered with short hair forming "cuffs." The hair on the top side of the tail is short; the hair on the underside of the tail is long, silky, and sparse. The Afghan Hound is presented in a natural condition and trimming to artificially create the characteristic coat pattern is to be strongly discouraged. Faults: Absence of short-haired saddle in a mature dog; absence of topknot. Color: All colors are acceptable but white markings, such as a blaze on the head or white on the feet or tail tip, are undesirable. Blue Afghan Hound puppies should not be penalized for a white spot on the top of their heads since this normally fades away at maturity. KC: (Same as FCI Standard) FCI: HAIR : Long and very fine texture on ribs, fore and hindquarters and flanks. In mature dogs from shoulder backwards and along the saddle, hair short and close. Hair long from forehead backwards, with a distinct silky "top-knot". On foreface hair short. Ears and legs well coated. Pasterns can be bare. Coat must develop naturally. COLOUR : All colours acceptable.
Head:	CKC: (Same as AKC Standard) AKC: The head is of good length, showing much refinement, the skull evenly balanced with the foreface. There is a slight prominence of the nasal bone structure causing a slightly Roman appearance, the center line running up over the foreface with little or no stop, falling away in front of the eyes so there is an absolutely clear outlook with no interference; the underjaw showing great strength, the jaws long and punishing; the mouth level, meaning that the teeth from the upper jaw and lower jaw match evenly, neither overshot nor undershot. This is a difficult mouth to breed. A scissors bite is even more punishing and can be more easily bred into a dog than a level mouth, and a dog having a scissors bite, where the lower teeth slip inside and rest against the teeth of the upper jaw, should not be penalized. The occipital bone is very prominent. The head is surmounted by a topknot of long silky hair. Ears--The ears are long, set approximately on level with outer corners of the eyes, the leather of the ear reaching nearly to the end of the dog's nose, and covered with long silky hair. Eyes--The eyes are almond-shaped (almost triangular), never full or bulgy, and are dark in color. Nose--Nose is of good size, black in color. Faults--Coarseness; snipiness; overshot or undershot; eyes round or bulgy or light in color; exaggerated Roman nose; head not surmounted with topknot. UKC: The head is long and refined but not too narrow, with a prominent occiput and a barely perceptible stop. The distance from occiput to stop is equal to the distance from the stop to the end of the nose. There is a slight median furrow running from mid-muzzle to between the eyes. The head is finely molded and well chiseled with tight, fine skin. SKULL -- The skull is longer than wide, and viewed from above, tapers slightly toward the stop. The occipital bone is very prominent. The hair on the skull is long and silky, forming the characteristic topknot. Faults: Skull too coarse or too narrow; extreme falling away of backskull; absence of prominent occiput; absence of topknot or receding topknot. MUZZLE -- The muzzle is long and, viewed from above, tapers evenly from the stop to the nose. Viewed in profile, there is a slight prominence of the nasal bone structure causing a slightly aquiline appearance. There is a slight falling-away under the eyes ensuring clear, unimpaired vision. The jaws are long, powerful, and deep. The bones and surface blood vessels are clearly visible through the skin of the well-chiseled muzzle. Lips are tight with no hint of flews. The hair on the muzzle and foreface of a mature Afghan Hound is short but puppies carry heavy facial hair known as "monkey whiskers" until about one year of age. Some Afghan Hounds have a refined beard, called a "mandarin," on the lower jaw, which adds to the oriental expression. Faults: Weak or receding underjaw; snipy muzzle; exaggerated Roman nose. TEETH -- The Afghan Hound has a complete set of large, evenly spaced, white teeth meeting in a scissors or level bite. Faults: Undershot or overshot; missing teeth; incisors crowded as a result of a too-narrow jaw; wry bite. NOSE -- The nose is black and of good size. Nostrils are large. The nose projects somewhat over the mouth so that a line drawn from the tip of the nose to the end of the lower jaw slopes downward and backward. Fault: Nose any color other than black. EYES -- Shape of the eyes is very important to establish correct Afghan Hound expression. The eyes are triangular and set obliquely. Dark brown is the preferred color but lighter shades of brown are acceptable in light-colored dogs. Eyerims are black. Faults: Round eyes, giving a pleading expression; yellow eyes; visible haws; eyerims any color other than black. EARS -- Ears are pendant and set on a level with the outside corners of the eyes. The ears are long enough to reach to the corner of the mouth. Ears are heavily feathered. KC: Head and Skull: Skull long, not too narrow, with prominent occiput. Foreface long with punishing jaws and slight stop. Skull well balanced and mounted by a long ‘top-knot’. Nose preferably black, liver permissible in light-coloured dogs. Eyes: Dark for preference, but golden colour not debarred. Nearly triangular, slanting slightly upwards from inner corner to outer corner. Ears: Set low and well back, carried close to head. Covered with long silky hair. Mouth: Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Level bite tolerated. FCI: CRANIAL REGION Skull : Long, not too narrow with prominent occiput. Well balanced and mounted by a long "top-knot". Stop : Slight. FACIAL REGION : Nose : Preferably black, liver permissible in light-coloured dogs. Muzzle : Long, with punishing jaws. Jaws/Teeth : Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Level bite tolerated. Eyes : Dark for preference, but golden colour not debarred. Nearly triangular, slanting slightly upwards from inner corner to outer. Ears : Set low and well back, carried close to head. Covered with long silky hair.
Neck, Topline, Body:	CKC: (Same as AKC Standard.) AKC: Neck: The neck is of good length, strong and arched, running in a curve to the shoulders which are long and sloping and well laid back. Faults--Neck too short or too thick; a ewe neck; a goose neck; a neck lacking in substance. Body: The back line appearing practically level from the shoulders to the loin. Strong and powerful loin and slightly arched, falling away toward the stern, with the hipbones very pronounced; well ribbed and tucked up in flanks. The height at the shoulders equals the distance from the chest to the buttocks; the brisket well let down, and of medium width. Faults--Roach back, swayback, goose rump, slack loin; lack of prominence of hipbones; too much width of brisket, causing interference with elbows. Tail: Tail set not too high on the body, having a ring, or a curve on the end; should never be curled over, or rest on the back, or be carried sideways; and should never be bushy. UKC: Neck: The neck is long, strong, and arched, blending smoothly into well-laid-back shoulders. The neck is carried high whether the dog is moving or standing. Faults: Neck carried too high, forming a 90-degree angle with the topline; neck too short or too thick; ewe neck; goose neck; neck lacking in substance. Body: A properly proportioned Afghan Hound is square, with the length of body (measured from prosternum to point of buttocks) equal to the height (measured from the withers to the ground). The withers are clearly defined but not prominent. The back is level, well muscled, and of moderate length. The loin is muscular and broad, supple, and slightly arched. The croup is long and sloping. The tips of the pelvis bones are prominent and set wide apart. A line drawn from the top of the withers to the top of the pelvis bones would be level. The ribs extend well back and are moderately sprung out from the spine, then curving down and inward to form a deep body. The chest is deep, extending nearly to the elbows, and moderately wide, in balance with the width of the hindquarters. The underline starts to rise after the sternum bone, in the area of the floating ribs to a well tucked-up belly. Prominence of the pelvis bones is not to be achieved by keeping the dog too thin. A properly constructed Afghan Hound will have prominent pelvis bones and a well-muscled back. Judges should penalize Afghan Hounds with more than three prominent dorsal vertebrae. Faults: Sloping topline; swayback; narrow or shallow chest; slab sides; poorly defined tuck-up; narrow or roached loin; lack of prominent pelvis bones; more than three prominent dorsal vertebrae. Tail: The tail is long, and set low, about two-thirds of the way between the top of the pelvis bone and the point of buttock. The tail is curved upward and forms a ring or curve at the end. When the dog is moving, the tail is carried high but not curled over the back. The hair on the topside of the tail is short; the hair on the underside of the tail is long, silky, and sparse. A correct tail is an essential breed characteristic. Faults: High-set tail; straight tail; tail curled too far over the back. KC: (Same as FCI Standard.) FCI: NECK: Long, strong with proud carriage of head. BODY Back : Level, moderate length, well muscled. Loin : Straight, broad and rather short. Croup : Falling slightly away to stern. Hipbones rather prominent and wide apart. Chest : A fair spring of ribs and good depth. TAIL Not too short. Set on low with ring at end. Raised when in action. Sparsely feathered.
Legs:	CKC: (Same as AKC Standard) AKC: Forequarters:Forelegs are straight and strong with great length between elbow and pastern; elbows well held in; forefeet large in both length and width; toes well arched; feet covered with long thick hair; fine in texture; pasterns long and straight; pads of feet unusually large and well down on the ground. Shoulders have plenty of angulation so that the legs are well set underneath the dog. Too much straightness of shoulder causes the dog to break down in the pasterns, and this is a serious fault. All four feet of the Afghan Hound are in line with the body, turning neither in nor out. Hindquarters: The hind feet are broad and of good length; the toes arched, and covered with long thick hair; hindquarters powerful and well muscled, with great length between hip and hock; hocks are well let down; good angulation of both stifle and hock; slightly bowed from hock to crotch. Faults--Front or back feet thrown outward or inward; pads of feet not thick enough; or feet too small; or any other evidence of weakness in feet; weak or broken down pasterns; too straight in stifle; too long in hock. UKC: Forequarters: The particular structure of the fore- and hindquarters are designed for hunting in rough terrain, which requires both power and agility. This must always be considered when evaluating the structure of this breed. The shoulder blade and upper arm are extremely long and of apparent equal length. The shoulder blade is laid back at an angle of 55 to 65 degrees and forms an angle of about 110 to 130 degrees with the upper arm. When properly angulated, the elbow will be in a direct vertical line below the uppermost tip of the shoulder blade. The forelegs are long, straight, and strong. The pasterns are long, slightly sloping, strong, and flexible. The elbows are close to the body. Faults: Short legs; short, weak, or knuckled-over pasterns; upright shoulder blades; short or upright upper arm. Hindquarters: The hindquarters are powerful and well muscled. The upper and lower thighs are long and of approximately equal length. The hocks are well let down. The angulation of the hindquarters is in balance with the angulation of the forequarters. The angulation of the stifle appears to be exaggerated because of the profuse leg hair hanging from the upper and lower thigh. Viewed from the rear, correctly muscled hindquarters appear to be slightly curved from the crotch to the hock but there is no curvature of the bone. The hocks are straight and parallel to one another. Viewed from the side, the rear legs are set so that a line dropped from the point of the buttocks will just touch the front of the rear toes and the hocks are perpendicular to the ground when viewed from either the side or the rear. Faults: Over-angulated stifles; too long a second thigh; narrow rear; straight stifles; long hocks. Feet : Afghan Hound feet are perfectly designed for agility in rocky terrain so correct feet are essential to this breed. The forefeet are very large with arched toes and the pads are thick and well down on the ground. The rear feet are as long but not quite as broad as the front feet. All four feet point straight forward. The feet are covered with long, fine-textured hair. Faults: Small feet; absence of hair on feet; feet turned inward or outward; thin pads. KC: Forequarters: Shoulders long and sloping, set well back, well muscled and strong without being loaded. Upper arm long and sloping. In profile this brings the elbow vertically below the wither. Forelegs straight and well boned, elbows close to ribcage, turning neither in nor out. Hindquarters: Powerful, well bent and well turned stifles. Great length between hip and hock, with comparatively short distance between hock and foot. Dewclaws may be removed. Feet: Forefeet strong and very large both in length and breadth, and covered with long, thick hair; toes arched. Pasterns long and springy, pads well down on ground. Hindfeet long, but not quite as broad as forefeet; covered with long thick hair. FCI: FOREQUARTERS : Forelegs straight and well boned, straight with shoulder viewed from front. Shoulders : Long and sloping, set well back, well muscled and strong without being loaded. Upper arm : Long and sloping. Elbows : In profile vertically below the withers. Close to rib cage, turning neither in nor out. Pasterns : Long and springy. HINDQUARTERS : Powerful. Great length between hip and hock with comparatively short distance between hock and foot. Stifles : Well bent and well turned. Dewclaws : May be removed. FEET : Forefeet strong and very large both in length and breadth, and covered with long, thick hair; toes arched. Pads well down on ground. Hindfeet long, but not quite as broad as forefeet; covered with long thick hair.
Gait:	CKC: (Same as AKC Standard) AKC: When running free, the Afghan Hound moves at a gallop, showing great elasticity and spring in his smooth, powerful stride. When on a loose lead, the Afghan can trot at a fast pace; stepping along, he has the appearance of placing the hind feet directly in the foot prints of the front feet, both thrown straight ahead. Moving with head and tail high, the whole appearance of the Afghan Hound is one of great style and beauty. UKC: Although the Afghan Hound is evaluated at the trot, it must be remembered that the natural gait of the Afghan Hound is the double suspension gallop. When trotting, the Afghan Hound moves with a smooth, elastic, springy stride that differs in two respects from the "natural" trot of herding dogs. First, the Afghan Hound carries its head proudly when trotting, rather than bringing the head down almost level with the back. This proudly carried head is slightly out in front of the body when the dog is moving. Dogs who carry their heads so high they appear to be looking upward will have excessive lift in front and are to be penalized. Second, the feet are lifted somewhat higher off the ground than a herding dog. A hackney gait is a serious fault. Afghan Hound movement is smooth, effortless, and powerful with great freedom of action. An Afghan Hound in motion gives the impression of controlled power ready to spring forward into a double suspension gallop. Faults: Head carried too high or too low when moving. Serious fault: Hackney gait. KC: (Same as FCI Standard.) FCI: Smooth and springy with a style of high order.
Faults:	CKC: (Same as AKC Standard) AKC: Coarseness; snipiness; overshot or undershot; eyes round or bulgy or light in color; exaggerated Roman nose; head not surmounted with topknot. Neck too short or too thick; a ewe neck; a goose neck; a neck lacking in substance. Roach back, swayback, goose rump, slack loin; lack of prominence of hipbones; too much width of brisket, causing interference with elbows. Front or back feet thrown outward or inward; pads of feet not thick enough; or feet too small; or any other evidence of weakness in feet; weak or broken down pasterns; too straight in stifle; too long in hock. Lack of shorthaired saddle in mature dogs. Sharpness or shyness. UKC: Sharpness or shyness. Absence of short-haired saddle in a mature dog; absence of topknot. Skull too coarse or too narrow; extreme falling away of backskull; absence of prominent occiput; absence of topknot or receding topknot. Weak or receding underjaw; snipy muzzle; exaggerated Roman nose. Undershot or overshot; missing teeth; incisors crowded as a result of a too-narrow jaw; wry bite. Nose any color other than black. Round eyes, giving a pleading expression; yellow eyes; visible haws; eyerims any color other than black. Neck carried too high, forming a 90-degree angle with the topline; neck too short or too thick; ewe neck; goose neck; neck lacking in substance. Sloping topline; swayback; narrow or shallow chest; slab sides; poorly defined tuck-up; narrow or roached loin; lack of prominent pelvis bones; more than three prominent dorsal vertebrae. Short legs; short, weak, or knuckled-over pasterns; upright shoulder blades; short or upright upper arm. Over-angulated stifles; too long a second thigh; narrow rear; straight stifles; long hocks. Small feet; absence of hair on feet; feet turned inward or outward; thin pads. High-set tail; straight tail; tail curled too far over the back. Head carried too high or too low when moving. Serious Fault: Hackney Gait KC: (Same as FCI Standard) FCI: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog. N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
Disqualifications:	CKC: (Not indicated in Standard.) AKC: (Not indicated in Standard.) UKC: Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness. Albinism. KC: (Not indicated in Standard.) FCI: Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

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