Afghan hound Breed description: Character & Co

Afghan Hound - elegant hunter with a mind of his own

What is the origin of the Afghan Hound?

The Afghan Hound is an extremely old breed that originates from Afghanistan and there specifically from the highlands of the Hindu Kush. As early as about 4000 years before Christ, a dog is said to have been kept in Afghanistan that was very similar to today's breed. In its country of origin, this quadruped was considered a true treasure and was generally held in high esteem. This can be explained by the fact that it was a true survival aid for the nomads with whom it lived in the barren desert and mountain landscapes of the Hindu Kush. The greyhound was used as a hunting dog at that time. He went as a single hunter completely left to himself on the hunt and killed thereby from the mountain goat up to the predatory cat everything what could serve as food for his people. In this way, the independent quadruped was instrumental in the survival of the tribe and was revered for it. The export of the noble dog was punishable by death, nevertheless, around 1890 a British officer succeeded in bringing the first greyhounds from Afghanistan to Great Britain. From the beginning of the twentieth century the race was bred purposefully. One crossed two different strokes, the desert - and the mountain dog, with each other. The puppies from this cross are considered to be the origin of the modern Afghan Hound breed.

What are the breed characteristics of the Afghan Hound?

The Afghan Hound is a breed of dog recognized by the FCI. Assigned to group ten, they belong to the sighthounds, specifically to the long-haired or feathered sighthounds without working test (Section 1, Standard No. 228). The conformation of the animal is that of a medium to large sized sighthound. According to the breed standard, the overall appearance of the four-legged dog should express elegance, dignity and pride, however, the strength and the typical speed of the dog should also be recognizable.