Afghan Hound

Afghan Hounds are one of the oldest sighthound breeds. These dogs are adept at chasing prey, keeping it within their line of sight and bringing it with their great agility and agility. This breed is distinguished by its fine, thick, silky coat and its tail usually has a ring-like curl at the very end. These dogs are said to have developed in the harsh, cold mountains of Afghanistan. There, these dogs were used to hunt gazelles and hares. Some local names for these dogs are Sag Tazi (which is Persian) and Tazi Spai (which is Pashto). Other alternate names are Balkh Hound, Barutzy Hound, Baluchi Hound and they are sometimes incorrectly referred to as African Hounds.

These dogs are tall and can be between 24-29 inches (61-74 cm) as far as height is concerned and weigh about 20-27 kg. Their coats can be of various colors. White markings on the dogs’ heads are usually penalized in shows. Many dogs may have black muzzles. Some dogs of this breed have facial hair that could look very much like a Manchu moustache. These dogs are nicknamed ‘mandarins’. Some dogs can be almost completely white. Impure breeding may be indicated if the dog is white with patches of black or red.

The Afghan hound’s long, fine coat requires careful grooming and maintenance. A saddle of short hair, usually found the back of mature dogs and the longer topknot on the head are unique features of these dogs. High hipbones also set these dogs apart from others.

These dogs are generally known to be dignified and somewhat aloof but they can also be rather clownish and happy during play. According to dog trainers, these dogs seem to have a reputation for somewhat slower obedience intelligence compared to other breeds. However, it should also be remembered that Afghans are not made for obedience tasks. There are many feline characteristics in their nature and they prefer to be independent. This means that these dogs are not as slavish in their obedience of commands as some other types of dogs. If they do not develop a close relationship with their trainer or owner, they could ignore or disobey commands.

In present times, Afghans are rarely used in hunting. Instead, they have gained popularity as show dogs due to their striking appearance, and are also frequently seen in events like lure coursing (which involves chasing a mechanically operated lure).

Some major health concerns affecting these dogs are cancer and allergies. These dogs are quite sensitive to anesthesia, a trait they share with most other sighthounds. This happens due to the comparatively lower level of body fat in these dogs. These dogs are also vulnerable to chylothorax, a disorder which causes leaking of thoracic ducts, allowing the entry of a large amount of chyle fluid into the chest. This could result in torsion of the lungs due to which the dog’s lung twists within the chest. There is a high likelihood of this happening because of the dogs’ barrel shaped, deep chest structure. This condition isn’t necessarily fatal, but is commonly so.