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Afghan Hound Breed Summary
Elegant, Independent, Comical and Free-thinking
These dogs are extremely glamorous to look at, which is how they have come to be one of the most recognisable breeds in the world! They first appeared here in the UK during the early 1900's. This was when a dog named Zardin won a dog show in 1907 in Crystal Palace.
Originally, they were bred to hunt in mountainous terrain and so it's no surprise that they need a LOT of exercise in order to remain fit and healthy. Additionally, they have a very high prey drive, so should be kept on a lead in public at all times to avoid any unwanted deaths or lost dogs!
Fun Fact: These dogs have unique hips that are higher and wider apart compared to other breeds. This allows them to make quick turns and manoeuvre more easily over mountainous terrain!
| Kennel Club Group | Hound |
| Lifespan | 11 - 13 Years |
| Height (at the withers) | Males 68cm - 74cm, Females 63cm - 69cm |
| Weight | Males 23kg - 27kg, Females 20kg - 25kg |
| Coat | Thick And Soft to the Touch. Fine in Texture |
| Colour | Black, Black & Brindle, Black & Cream, Black & Silver, Black & Tan, Black Masked Cream, Black Masked Gold, Black Masked Red, Black Masked Silver, Blue, Blue & Cream Domino, Blue Domino, Brindle, Brindle Domino, Cream, Cream Brindle, Gold, Oyster Brindle, Red, Red Domino, Shaded Mask Cream, Shaded Mask Gold, White |
| Eye colour | Dark |
| Common health issues | Hip dysplasia, Generalised demodicosis (mange), Hypothyroidism, Mucopolysaccharidosis 1 (MPS 1), Panosteitis, Cancers which includes Perianal gland tumour, mammary tumour, skin tumour, Afghan Hound myelopathy, Laryngeal paralysis, Cataract, Medial canthal pocket syndrome, Lung disease, Elbow deformity, Gastric torsion/bloat |
| Other Names | Afghan, Tazi, Baluchi Hound |
These sleek creatures are affectionate as puppies and love to seek attention from their owners. However, the cute antics displayed by Afghan Hound pups quickly diminish when this breed reaches adulthood. Instead, these traits are replaced to create an extremely independent and free-thinking dog. These sophisticated animals will seek affection on their own terms and will not want to be smothered with cuddles or attention - unless they say so! Regardless of this, they are extremely tender animals and are actually known to be rather comical, through acts of stealing everything from food to clothes, right under the nose of their ‘hooman’ parents! They will definitely need a big home, lots of grooming and plenty of walkies in order to remain fit, healthy and silky smooth.
The Afghan Hound is supposedly one of the oldest breeds in the world, dating back to the pre-Christian era. They are also discussed as being one of the most elegant breeds and the ‘fashion models’ of the dog world, which can be seen through their advert worthy hair and silky coat. What makes the breed so unique is their ability to see over greater distances than us ‘hoomans’ and also, their pivotal hip joint, that allows them to cover ground extremely quickly. They also have the capability to hunt independently without human direction making them incredibly good at sport, and it’s easy to see why in the past they have been used to hunt leopards! They actually owe their popularity to Barbie. Mattel’s profits mainly came from this dolly and her companion Beauty the Afghan Hound, which created a huge rise in the breed's popularity!