Afghan Hound. Bryony Harcourt-Brown
Physical Characteristics of the Afghan Hound
(from the American Kennel Club breed standard)
Eyes: Almond-shaped (almost triangular)—dark in color.
Nose: Of good size, black in color.
Mouth: Level.
Shoulders: Have plenty of angulation.
Coat: Hindquarters, flanks, ribs, forequarters, and legs well covered with thick, silky hair, very fine in texture; ears and all four feet well feathered.
Forelegs: Straight and strong with great length between elbow and pastern.
Forefeet: Large in both length and width; toes well arched.
Head: Of good length, showing much refinement.
Skull: Evenly balanced with the foreface.
Ears: Long, set approximately on level with outer corners of the eyes.
Neck: Of good length, strong and arched, running in a curve to the shoulders.
Body: The back line appearing practically level from the shoulders to the loin. The height at the shoulders equals the distance from the chest to the buttocks.
Tail: Tail set not too high on the body, having a ring, or a curve on the end.
Hindquarters: Powerful and well muscled, with great length between hip and hock; hocks are well let down; good angulation of both stifle and hock.
Height: Dogs, 27 inches, plus or minus one inch; bitches, 25 inches, plus or minus one inch.
Weight: Dogs, about 60 pounds; bitches, about 50 pounds.
Color: All colors are permissible, but color or color combinations are pleasing.
Hind feet: Broad and of good length; the toes arched.
Contents
Graceful and fleet of foot, the Afghan Hound is an elegant sighthound of noble ancestry. Follow its beginnings in its homeland of Afghanistan and learn how this distinctive and dramatic breed made its mark around the world to earn global popularity. A special section on the breed’s history in the US is provided by guest author Betty Stites.
Characteristics of the Afghan Hound
Truly unique in both appearance and personality, the Afghan Hound has won its share of devotees. Are you the right owner? This chapter addresses physical, personality and health traits of which all owners and potential owners should be aware.
Breed Standard for the Afghan Hound
Learn the requirements of a well-bred Afghan Hound by studying the description of the breed set forth in the American Kennel Club standard. Both show dogs and pets must possess key characteristics as outlined in the breed standard.
Find out about how to locate a well-bred Afghan Hound puppy. Discover which questions to ask the breeder and what to expect when visiting the litter. Prepare for your puppy-accessory shopping spree. Also discussed are home safety, the first trip to the vet, socialization and acclimating pup to his new home.
Proper Care of Your Afghan Hound
Cover the specifics of taking care of your Afghan Hound every day: feeding for the puppy, adult and senior dog; grooming, including coat care, ears, eyes, nails and bathing; and exercise needs for your dog. Also discussed are dog ID and safe travel with your dog.
Begin with the basics of training the puppy and adult dog. Learn the principles of house-training the Afghan Hound, including the use of crates and basic scent instincts. Get started by introducing the pup to his collar and leash and progress to the basic commands. Find out about obedience classes and other activities.
Healthcare of Your Afghan Hound
By Lowell Ackerman DVM, DACVD
Become your dog’s healthcare advocate and a well-educated canine keeper for all of your dog’s life stages. Select a skilled and able veterinarian. Discuss pet insurance, vaccinations and infectious diseases, the neuter/spay decision and a sensible, effective plan for parasite control, including fleas, ticks and worms.
Step into the center ring and find out about the world of showing pure-bred dogs. Learn the basics of AKC conformation showing and how to get started. Explore other types of competitive sport for the Afghan Hound: obedience, agility, tracking, lure coursing and racing.
KENNEL CLUB BOOKS® AFGHAN HOUND
ISBN 13: 978-1-59378-249-8
eISBN 13: 978-1-59378-720-2
Copyright © 2005 • Kennel Club Books®A Division of BowTie, Inc.
40 Broad Street, Freehold, NJ 07728 USA
Cover Design Patented: US 6,435,559 B2 • Printed in South Korea
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by photostat, scanner, microfilm, xerography or any other means, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the copyright owner.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Photography by:
John Ashbey, Paulette