The Afghan Hound is considered to be one of the most exotic breeds to be shown in the United States. When the Afghan enters the Hound ring the crowd usually goes wild. It is one of the most popular exhibits at the dog show. As a pet, it is a "status symbol" in the apartments of upper Manhattan and yet fits in equally well into rural lifestyles.
This is a sight hound which is also known as a "wind hound" , having great lung power and using its nose for scent as well as its eyes to give chase to its prey, which historically has ranged anywhere from the fox to the leopard. It takes its name from its country of origin, Afghanistan. Many centuries before the time of Christ, this dog is believed to have been illustrated in the hieroglyphics of ancient Egypt and Africa. No one knows how it came to be found at a later date in Afghanistan.
Historically this breed was prized for its ability to hunt deer and to ward off wolves, leopards and even panthers as part of its duties of being a guard dog for the flocks. Usually the sight hounds do not attack the prey that they have chased but the Afghan Hound is noted for this characteristic.
Despite the appearance of elegance and refined beauty, this is a breed that is built for speed and strength. The chest is deep and the long body is slightly arched at the loin to allow for a lengthy galloping stride. The breeds' height is to be as long as the length of the back and the dog is tall and rangy in appearance. The coat is one of the most well known and admired characteristic, being silky and flowing. An afghan that is well groomed is aa majestic sight when moving, as the hair flows with the body and accentuates the beauty of the movement. The Afghan's coat can be of any color. On the head there is a long silky topknot and a fine beard of hair below the chin. The legs are heavily feathered and there is a good length of coat along the sides. The tail is a "wire tail" which has a finer length of silkly hair along the bottom, but is smooth of coat along the top. The tail is carried arched in a large curl over the back or out when the go is moving.
The Afghan Hound is aloof and aristocratic but has a delightful sense of humor also. It has gained popularity as a dog that walks the sidewalks of the big cities with ease and haughty demeanor, perhaps one could think of this dog as a "status symbol" among the apartment dwellers of upper Manhattan, but in truth it is a dog that fits well into apartment living, being quiet ( but not necessarily laid back) in the household and affectionate to its owners. This breed does have a history of being independent and a "thinker", being very smart and very dedicated to the hunt. Therefore it does have a strong character and should not be owned by just anyone, this dog needs to have firm discipline and plenty of training as a youngster.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
What breed is this dog?
By: Will | 13-07-2008
The dog can be seen at thte home page for Peticure,a dog nail trimming tool. The dog is smallish,has a black head and a grayish body with black stocking feet
What is SmartGreenUSA?
By: clm168 | 24-06-2008
What is SmartGreenUSA?
Best Friends
By: SusanPark | 02-06-2008
How do you get back together with a used to be #1 BFF???
How meny rodney bopp jr are ther in this world?
By: rbfaith4u | 24-04-2008
how meny rodney bopp jr are ther in this world?
What does Steven Grabill in Atlanta GA do for ...
By: Olmi | 29-03-2008
What does Steven Grabill in Atlanta GA do for living?
Excel help!!
By: ALizarraga | 17-03-2008
Hi ! I have a question about the NEW excel its driving me nuts!!! In the older versions of Excel I could Make a Title for my spreadsheet and press Enter if the title was too long so that the title would follow below the top portion. Now with the New excel Its become So hard!! someon PLEASE HELP! i need to do this so i can print out spreadsheets on a single page! Thanks!
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Pets Articles
Dog Weight Loss Tips
By: Jane Dinunzio | 13/10/2008
Dog obesity is a national epidemic, just as it is with ourselves. We have to relearn fitness and health and apply it to our pets also, to give them a chance of a healthier, happier life.
Food Intolerances in Dogs
By: Alan Low | 13/10/2008
A dog may develop intolerance to foods that they have been eating for years. Closely monitoring your dog diet is the best way to manage an intolerance.
Keeping Your Indoor Cat Happy
By: Connie Limon | 13/10/2008
Even though indoors in the best place for your cat, indoor life can also contribute to boredom and stress that might result in medical and behavior problems. There are steps cat owners can take to provide an interesting indoor life for feline companions.
Is Pet Insurance for your Dog a Smart Move?
By: Lawrence J. Reaves | 13/10/2008
Dog owners naturally want to make sure that their dogs can receive the care they need in the event of an accident, illness, or even a routine checkup.
Luxated Patella and What This Means to Your Dog and You
By: Kelly Marshall | 12/10/2008
Scenario: Let's say that your child is playing fetch with your one year old Chihuahua when all of a sudden, he cries in pain. You notice that he starts to limp with his lower back leg. Then suddenly, he skips on the other three legs for about 2 to 5...
Pet Food Recall - Knowledge is King When it Comes to Pet Food
By: Kelly Marshall | 12/10/2008
Due to current pet food recalls, several of pet owners are left feeling alarmed and bewildered as to why this incident happened. Several dogs and cats were left sick and worse yet-several more died. Since the many of pet owners depend solely on commercial pet food to feed their pets,...
Pet Food Recall on Purpose or Not
By: Kelly Marshall | 12/10/2008
Many pet owners want the best for our dogs, especially when it comes to what foods our pets eat. We not only want to give them the healthiest food possible but we want to make sure that they will live a long and healthy life. On the other hand, what...
Natural Cures For Dogs
By: Kelly Marshall | 12/10/2008
Most dogs are scared of loud noises, specifically thunderstorms and other unexpected sounds that rattles their little ears ---especially for puppies. Dogs are not used to hearing loud popping sounds and their ears are sharper and more sensitive than adult dog's ears.
When dog owners deal with the possibility of having...
More from John Williams
Chesapeake Bay Retriever - Dog Breeds - Facts And Advice you Should Know
By: John Williams | 09/08/2008 | Pets
Here we look at the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and its training, care and grooming advice.
Central Asian Ovtcharka - Dog Breeds - Facts Every Owner Should Know
By: John Williams | 08/08/2008 | Pets
Central Asian Ovtcharka training, charecteristics and care information.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Dog Breeds - Facts Every Owner Should Know
By: John Williams | 07/08/2008 | Pets
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dog training, care and informative personality information
Cesky Terrier - Dog Breeds - Info Every Owner Ought To Know
By: John Williams | 07/08/2008 | Pets
Cesky Terrier training, guidence and care advice.
Cesky Fousek - Dog Breeds - Facts The Owner Should Know
By: John Williams | 07/08/2008 | Pets
Cesky Fousek training, charecteristics and information on their personality.
Carolina Dog - Dog Breeds - Info Every Owner Ought To Know
By: John Williams | 04/08/2008 | Pets
Carolina Dog training, care, charecteristics and plenty more.
Cao da Serra de Aires - Dog Breeds - Facts Every Owner Should Know
By: John Williams | 03/08/2008 | Pets
Cao da Serra de Aires training,care, health issues and much more.
Canaan Dog - Dog Breeds - Info Every Owner Should Know
By: John Williams | 03/08/2008 | Pets
Canaan Dog training, charecteristics and care information and quality facts
Home and Family 
| Posted: 08-06-2008 | Comments: 
