Dog class - Hound
Average height - 23 to 28 inches
Average weight - 50 to 66 pounds
Average life span - 12 to 14 years

This large breed can be nervous, dignified, or even clownish. Their long, silky coat comes in black, cream, silver, brindle and other solid, exotic patterns. These dogs excel as broken field runners with their characteristic agility and cunning.

This dog is believed to have existed more than 7,000 years ago in the desserts and mountains of present-day Afghanistan. The wealthy nobles and royalty of Afghanistan hunted extensively with these dogs, and the breed takes its name from its geographical origins. These dogs hunted snow leopards, wolves, deer, and gazelle, among others. They hunt with their keen eyesight, commonly designated as a Sight hound breed, and their agility allowed them to cover extremely rugged terrain.

The Afghan Hound loves to run, and needs plenty of exercise, even in the city. Try several long walks, or a bike ride with a leashed Afghan, if it is trained well, can provide you and your dog with loads of excitement. Finding a large, fenced in area where you Afghan can run freely is ideal, only make sure that your dog will not be able to get out or hurdle the fence and escape!

This breed requires little trimming or clipping, and is very active when indoors. It loves tons of exercise when out of doors, however. This dog is unbelievably fast, with high hip bones for incredible agility and fence-jumping ability, so make sure you keep your pet leased. In addition, this breed gets along well with other dogs and can be trained to be considerate of cats and other small pets, making it an ideal addition to an active family with older, considerate children.

The most common health problems of the Afghan Hound include hip dysplasia, cataracts, and paralysis. In addition, this breed is sensitive to drugs and caution must be taken when anaesthetizing your dog for its hip dysplasia x-rays. It is recommended that other medications, like flea and tick powders, not be used with this dog because of its sensitivity.

The Afghan Hound can be a nervous dog, reserved and often timid with strangers. This breed should be watched with smaller pets, however, and requires gentle and patient training. This dog can display its resistance as stubbornness rather than as destructive behavior, so training can become a very trying endeavor. Therefore, this breed is recommended for experienced owners only.

These dogs are fast and agile, so high fences and leashes are mandatory! In addition, lots of brushing is required to keep this breed's coat shiny and healthy.

Further Afghan Hound Dog Resources