Afghan Hound- Is this the most elegant doggie?

The Afghan Hound is a majestic and elegant hound that is believed to be one of the most ancient dogs.

He is often referred to as the king of dogs.

Afghan Hound is also the world’s most glamorous dog.

This canine has a large history. One of which we are going to be talking about later in this article.

Today you are going to learn of all this doggo has to offer apart from having great looks.

You should be able to learn if this dog is going to be fit for your lifestyle and if he is, how you can best live with him.

So, let us get right into it.

About the Afghan Hound

Just by looking at this dog, you might get deceived that all he has to offer is good looks and a long glamorous coat.

However, beneath that coat is a pooch that has a heart of a hunter because that is what he was originally bred for.

And with a long coat comes a lot of care with it. Something that you always have to keep in mind when you are looking for one of these dogs.

You should never purchase a dog if you are not sure if you are going to meet all his needs.

Something else that you need to keep in mind is that the Afghan Hound was bred to be a hunting dog. This means that he has an instinct to chase prey.

He can also be a challenge to train because he is an independent dog and this will take time and patience.

This is not a dog to chase you around for affection but one that sometimes does not want to be petted or hugged.

However, this only happens when he grows and matures. When he is a puppy he loves human attention and affection just like any other puppy. This is something that might get you fooled into thinking that he is going to retain the trait into adulthood.

And despite being independent he is a doggo that you would love to have around you. This is because he can be very amusing and tender when he wished to.

Some people even refer to the Afghan Hound as a “clown” and is known for being mischievous at times.

He also enjoys sports a lot and has an excellent vision.

This dog is one of a kind.

Recognition

The American Kennel Club recognizes the Afghan Hound. The first recognized the dog in 1926.

The UKC later recognized the breed in the year 1948.

There is also an Afghan Hound club that is known as the Afghan Hound Club of America that was founded to promote and protect these dogs.

Characteristics and general appearance of the Afghan Hound

Size of the Kabul Hound

This is a large dog breed.

On average this dog could weigh anywhere between 50 to 60 pounds.

Male Afghan hounds have a height of between 27 to 29 inches while their female counterparts have a height of between 25 to 27 inches at the shoulders.

Physical appearance

The Afghan Hound has a dignified appearance and one like no other making him a truly unique aristocratic dog.

They have eyes that gaze into the distance and a proudly carries head. He has almond-shaped and dark eyes that are irresistible to look at.

You can easily identify this dog by its head and muzzle that is elongated.

This appearance makes him stand out clearly.

The ears are long and are set on the same level as the eyes.

Afghan hounds should never have a bushy tail and should not be curved or curled upwards.

Shedding and coat appearance

The Afghan Hound has a coat that is dense, long and has a fine texture. He is just a ball of fluff.

It may come as a surprise to many that this dog does not shed as much as people think he does.

He is a minimal shedder that will still require grooming which also makes him a hypoallergenic dog. Shedding less means that this pooch produces less dander and makes him compatible with allergic sufferers.

You may also want to consider some of the dogs that are on this hypoallergenic dogs guide.

Kennel clubs permit all the colors but white marking on the face is less favored because they are seen as a sign of bad breeding practices which is not true.

Some of the colors that are common on the Afghan Hound are:

• Black
• White
• Black and tan
• Beige
• Domino
• Blue
• Red

Certain color combinations are considered to be the most pleasing.

Afghan Hound Personality and temperament

If you are looking for a dog that is going to give you lots of affection and cuddles the Afghan Hound is not the dog for you.

You might want to consider another pooch like the Golden Retriever Poodle mix.

The Afghan Hound is not a needy dog that will follow you around but he is rather more independent.

Generally, this dog tends to be dignified and aloof but is also intelligent and happy. He may also be relatively playful and silly.

Being aloof does not mean that he is shy or is aggressive towards other people. It just means that these dogs take time to know people from outside the family.

And if you are fortunate enough and he allows you to be part of his circle, you are going to experience a dog that has a wicked sense of humor and his exuberant nature.

Afghan Hounds are extreme dogs. They are mischievous and bossy food thieves and can stir up a lot of drama.

These dogs also get around well with other pets that they have been brought up together with. However, they have a high prey drive that you need to pay close attention to.

This dog may not be ideal for small children. This is because he may tend to be defensive and withdrawn when he is badly treated and even a pinch from a child could end up badly.

As we have just mentioned that Kuchi Hound has a low tolerance to pain which also extends to the use of harsh words to which they are highly sensitive.

For the Afghan Hound, you need to start training as soon as he gets home and when he is still young. Once he grows up he becomes more headstrong and harder to train.

Frequently asked questions

Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs?

Afghan Hounds can make good family pets because of their loving and friendly nature. And despite being independent, they love to have fun and mess around and are very loyal dogs. If you are looking to have the best experience with your Afghan Hound make sure he well socialized and trained at an early age.

Are Kuchi Hounds the dumbest dogs?

Some Afghan Hound might disagree but this dog is on top of the list of the dumbest dog according to the Intelligence of Dogs. They might not be easy to train but that does not mean that they are dumb. This means that you might have to get more creative when you are training this dog.

What is the average lifespan of an Afghan Hound?

The average lifespan of an Afghan Hound is about 12 to 15 years depending on how healthy he is.

Origin of the Afghan Hound

Some people claim that the Afghan Hound is the oldest purebred dog. This cannot be proven but this is an ancient dog.

There is a myth that claims that this was the dog that represented the canine species in Noah’s Ark.

The exact place of origin or time that this dog was bred is unknown because the Afghan Hound predates written history and is thousands of years old.

What is know is that these dogs have been fleet-footed rugged hunting companions for centuries now. They were also royalty symbols for aristocrats in the Asian Mountain kingdoms and tribal chieftains.

These dogs belong to a hound sub-category known as sight-hounds. Sight-hounds are dogs that rely on their speed and vision to pursue their prey.

The Afghan only found its way to the Western countries in the late 1800s and had been in the Eastern culture since the dawn of civilization.

It is English officers that were returning from the British empires in the East that introduced this breed to Europe and by the 1900s these are the preferred dogs by the British gentry.

And although this breed was caught on by the American breeders in the early 1930s he had been registered by the AKC in 1927.

The beauty and elegance of the Afghan Hound made him one of the most prestigious dogs in the US.

Puppies of the Kuchi Hounds

Afghan Hounds have litters that have about 7 puppies.

These puppies seem to attract many dog lovers because of their unique appearance and traits.

This also means that getting one of these puppies could be high with one pup going for around $1000 on average. However, the cost will ultimately depend on your breeder and the location where you get the puppy from.

If you are looking for a superior Kuchi hound you should have a budget of about $2600 upwards to $5000.

Adoption is a cheaper and better option if you are looking to cut your costs.

Some of the places you can adopt an Afghan hound are:

• The Afghan Hound Club of Canada.
• Afghan Hound Club of America Rescue.

But you should always make sure that if you are getting your dog from a breeder he or she should be certified, responsible, and reputable.

Grooming requirements

When living with an Afghan Hound, grooming is very essential.

This is how you ensure that he has a healthy and shiny coat and you can do this by brushing the coat about three times a week to remove mats and tangles.

These dogs are minimal shedders and the more you brush him the lesser he is going to shed.

Brushing accompanied by baths once in the month should be enough to keep him clean. You should not brush him so frequently as this could get rid of essential oils and cause the skin to dry out.

Do not trim or clip the coat.

Apart from taking care of the dog’s coat, you will also be required to trim the nails when they get too long.

You should also check and clean the ears to prevent any infections

Brush the teeth of your Afghan Hound at least two times a week to remove bacteria and tartar that might build up over time.

Feeding an Afghan Hound

Just like any other doggo, the Kuchi Hound does well on high-quality food whether it is manufactured or home-made.

How much you feed to your dog depends on several factors:

• Age
• Size of the dog
• Activity level
• Metabolism

You ultimately need to make sure that you meet their nutritional and calories requirements.

The general rule of thumbs when you are looking to meet their calorie requirements is to give them 30 calories of food for every pound that they weigh.

This means that the Afghan Hound will need about 1500 calories in a day when you take into consideration the average weight that they have.

If you are feeding your pooch on dry food, this will amount to about 3 to 4 cups of kibble in a day.

The meals should be divided into two portions. One portion of the kibble should be given to the dog in the morning and the other in the evening. This should be accompanied by some treats that you give to the canine as the day goes by and during training.

Exercise requirements

This is a breed that you need to keep active both mentally and physically.

About 90 minutes of exercise on the day will be enough for this dog. This should not be a hard task for you considering that their instincts are to hunt and run.

From daily walks to hikes to agility classes, you should be able to have lots of fun when you are exercising together with this dog.

However, when you are taking this dog for a walk you should always make sure that he has a leash on.

If you have a yard where your Afghan Hound can play and explore, you should make sure that it is well fenced because these dogs are known to be escape artists.

Some of the health concerns

These are generally healthy dogs but they are also prone to some health issues.

You must be aware of these conditions but it does not necessarily mean that the Afghan Hound will suffer from them.

The best way to ensure that your puppy grows up to be healthy is by getting him from a reputable breeder.

Some of the common health concerns are;

• Allergies
• Canine cancer
• Hypothyroidism
• Juvenile cataracts

Cons and pros

pros:

These dogs are gentle and sweet

They are great chasers

Afghan Hounds are quiet dogs

Cons:

They require some amount of grooming

Can be stubborn and independent

The long hair makes this dog prone to some ear infections

Breed summary

The Afghan Hound is an ancient sighthound dog breed that has a long, silky, and dense coat.

This dog is not one for novice owners but rather for people that have experience handling dogs because he can be independent and self-driven which also makes training him difficult.

He is a dog that was bred for his speed and ultimately his hunting skills.

If you are going to get this pooch you should be prepared to handle the amount of care that he comes with.

Tell us what you think about this dog in the comment section below.

There you go WOOF!!