fellfolioSighthound
Afghan Hound
There is a fast hunting dog beneath the long silk coat. An Afghan Hound needs secure places to run and a substantial commitment to coat care.
At a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height at shoulder
- 63 to 74 cm
- Weight
- 23 to 27 kg
- Lifespan
- over 10 yearsUK Royal Kennel Club breed profile
- Activity
- Very high
- Grooming
- Daily
- Training
- Patience & clear guidance
- Owner experience
- Experience recommended
Elegant and independent
This sighthound hunted by sight and speed across difficult ground in Afghanistan. At home it may be quiet and closely attached to its own people, while remaining reserved with strangers. Ask visitors not to touch it straight away and give the dog room to watch from a distance.
A hare appearing suddenly outdoors can command all of its attention. Recall training is valuable, but it cannot replace a secure place for off-lead exercise. An Afghan is a poor match for someone who expects instant obedience and unrestricted off-lead walks.
Everyday life
The Royal Kennel Club places the breed in its more-than-two-hours-a-day exercise category. Long lead walks alone may not satisfy a dog built to run; provide regular chances to sprint in a large, securely fenced area. The fence must be high and reliable because Afghans can jump.
A long line attached to a well-fitted harness gives it room to sniff on clear paths. Avoid letting the dog sprint into the end of the line. Brief scent games and calm practice indoors add variety. Adjust pace and strain while a puppy is growing. Start teaching it to stand comfortably for brushing early, too: this will become part of daily life.
Staying home alone
Dogs learn to stay home alone in small steps. The RSPCA advises no more than four hours at a time. Puppies and dogs that become unsettled when left alone need shorter absences and gradual practice. Arrange someone to care for your dog when you will be away longer.
Day-to-day care
The fine, long coat tangles readily behind the ears, on the legs and wherever a harness rubs. Brush an adult Afghan thoroughly to the skin every day, easing knots out gently with a comb. Allow enough time for this every day. As the puppy coat changes, tangles can be especially quick to form.
Twigs and burrs cling to the coat after walks. Remove them before they pull at the skin, and keep an eye on the feet and nails of this fast runner.
Size and build
The Afghan is tall, narrow and strong enough to change direction at speed. The British standard gives shoulder heights of 68 to 74 cm for males and 63 to 69 cm for females. Long, silky hair falls over the flanks, legs and ears; on mature dogs it is often shorter over the back. The long head with its topknot and the large, heavily coated feet are distinctive.
A lean outline is normal for the breed. Judge a dog’s condition with a vet by muscle, body fat and development rather than by prominent hip bones alone.
Health
The UK veterinary charity PDSA lists hypothyroidism, meaning too little thyroid hormone, and necrotic myelopathy in Afghan Hounds. In the latter condition, the protective covering of nerve fibres in the spinal cord is damaged; severe cases can lead to paralysis. The US breed club recommends hip, eye and thyroid assessments for breeding dogs. Ask for the parents’ results and about neurological illness in close relatives.
PDSA also notes sensitivity to anaesthesia and cortisone. Before an anaesthetic or a course of cortisone, tell the veterinary team your dog is an Afghan Hound so they can plan the medication. The deep chest also brings a risk of gastric dilatation-volvulus, in which the stomach swells and twists. Repeated unproductive retching, restlessness or a tight abdomen calls for emergency veterinary care.
Could this breed fit your life?
Could work well if …
- You can arrange regular running time in a secure enclosure.
- You appreciate a reserved dog and can make daily coat care part of your routine.
May be more difficult if …
- You need unrestricted off-lead walks without a fenced place to run.
- You have little time for thorough brushing on most days.
Similar needs, different dogs.
Selected by shared size, activity, grooming and training characteristics.
Herding dog
Briard
The Briard is a large French herding dog with a long, coarse-textured coat and an attentive nature. Exercise, consistent guidance and daily grooming all matter.
Setter
Gordon Setter
The Gordon Setter is a strong Scottish bird dog. It searches by scent, keeps going over long distances and stays close to its family. Expect long walks and regular coat care.
Sled dog
Alaskan Malamute
A powerful sled dog bred for sustained work. Its thick coat, pulling strength and need to move shape daily life far more than its striking Arctic appearance.
Sources and photograph credit
- Afghan Hound dog breed information
Used in this profile for: Temperament, Everyday life, Day-to-day care, Size and build, Health, Lifespan, Could this breed fit your life?
- Afghan Hound breed information
Used in this profile for: Size / Weight, Temperament, Everyday life, Size and build, Health, Lifespan, Could this breed fit your life?
- Afghan Hound, Breeds A to Z
Used in this profile for: Temperament, Everyday life, Day-to-day care, Size and build, Lifespan, Could this breed fit your life?
- Afghan Hound breed standard
Used in this profile for: Size / Weight, Temperament, Everyday life, Size and build, Lifespan, Could this breed fit your life?
- Teaching your dog to be left alone
Used in this profile for: Staying home alone
Portrait · Princess · tanakawho · CC BY 2.0 · Edited
Side view · Grupp 10, AFGHANHUND, C.I.B. DK UCH NO V-15 NORD UCH US CH Awbari Candy Rain · Johan Frick-Meijer / Svenska Mässan · CC BY 2.0 · Edited
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Coat and features · Afgana · Flickr user Esparta · CC BY 2.0 · Edited
Trotting on lead · Afghan Hound 3 · Томасина · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Edited
