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If
a [person] be great even his dog will wear a proud look.
- Mohandas Gandhi
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Nat
Spec BIS Cdn/Am Ch Obiwan's Last Dance Vindela
"Summer" |
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Multi BIS SBIS Cdn/Am Ch
Obiwan Trillium
"Lilith"
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Although
the Afghan Hound was 'discovered' in Afghanistan, he is believed
to have originated in Arabia and Persia. An ancient member of
the greyhound family, the Afghan developed his long coat to
adapt to the harsh climate of Afghanistan.
Don't
be fooled by his glamorous exterior - this dog is an athlete,
originally bred to run down the gazelle and other prey such as
deer, antelope, wolves, and snow leopards. Swift and agile, the
Afghan is capable of covering rocky terrain with ease.
In the late
1800s, British soldiers in Afghanistan found the breed and
brought it back to England where it was first shown as the
"Oriental Greyhound".
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The
Afghan Hound ranges in size from 24 to 28 inches tall with males
reaching up to 30 inches tall at the shoulder. Perhaps his most
remarkable feature is his abundant, flowing coat. The
Afghan's coat is fine, long, straight and silky. The coat may be
any color but be prepared - it requires hours of grooming each
week to keep it in top shape.
Like many
other hounds, the Afghan is aloof and may appear standoffish.
Although reserved in temperament, he is also lively, active, and
can be mischievous. He bonds well with his family but is best in
a household with older children. Afghans
are sight hounds, bred to chase and catch game by sight; any
small animal that runs may trigger this response. This is
especially true with cats. Bear this in mind if there are other
pets in the house. A dignified aristocrat, he is an
independent thinker. Boredom can be the cause of some
destructive behaviour. Attention and exercise can often
help alleviate the problem.
Alert and agile,
and possessing a high activity level, the Afghan needs lots of
outdoor exercise. You should count on a minimum of 30 minutes to
one hour per day. He should have a well fenced area to run
around in. Remember he is a far-seeing dog who will take off
after anything that catches his interest. Lure coursing
and agility are good sports for Afghans. However active he may
be, an Afghan will adapt quite well to the life of a couch
potato! Characteristically independent, training may be a
challenge. Start early! His stubborn streak and low
boredom threshold will try your patience. Consistency is the
key. Harsh training methods will only discourage
him.
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