Afghan Hound Picture Gallery

Afghan Hound Breeders

Afghan Hound Clubs/Associations

The Full Afghan Hound Description

The Afghan Hound is an aristocrat, his whole appearance one of dignity and aloofness with no trace of plainness or coarseness.

Did you know?

The Afghan Hound was discovered by the Western world in Afghanistan and surrounding regions during the 19th century. The current breed was developed in Afghanistan's mountainous countryside.

So you want to own an Afghan Hound?

The Afghan Hound is covered with a thick coat of long silky hair that requires hours of grooming each week to maintain its beautiful appearance.
 
The Afghan Hound needs room to run in a fenced area under supervision.
 
Afghans can be very destructive when bored. The Afghan's independent disposition may not understand your displeasure with his destructive behaviour.
 
They may appear aloof and particularly standoffish with strangers.

Indicative Breed Standard

General Appearance

Gives the impression of strength and dignity, combining speed and power.
Head held proudly.

Characteristics

Eastern or Oriental expression is typical of breed. The Afghan looks at and through one.

Temperament

Dignified and aloof, with a certain keen fierceness.

Head and Skull

Skull long, not too narrow, with prominent occiput.
Foreface long with punishing jaws and slight stop. Skull well balanced and mounted by a long ‘top-knot’. Nose preferably black, liver permissible in light-coloured dogs.

Eyes

Dark for preference, but golden colour not debarred. Nearly triangular, slanting slightly upwards from inner corner to outer corner.

Ears

Set low and well back, carried close to head. Covered with long silky hair.

Mouth

Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Level bite tolerated.

Neck

Long, strong, with proud carriage of head.

Forequarters

Shoulders long and sloping, well set back, well muscled and strong without being loaded. Forelegs straight and well boned, straight with shoulder; elbows close to ribcage, turning neither in nor out.

Body

Back level, moderate length, well muscled, back falling slightly away to stern. Loin straight, broad and rather short. Hipbones rather prominent and wide apart. A fair spring of ribs and good depth of chest.

Hindquarters

Powerful, well bent and well turned stifles. Great length between hip and hock, with comparatively short distance between hock and foot. Dewclaws may be removed.

Feet

Forefeet strong and very large both in length and breadth, and covered with long, thick hair; toes arched. Pasterns long and springy, pads well down on ground. Hindfeet long, but not quite as broad as forefeet; covered with long thick hair.

Tail

Not too short. Set on low with ring at end. Raised when in action. Sparsely feathered.

Gait/Movement

Smooth and springy with a style of high order. 

Coat

Long and very fine texture on ribs, fore and hindquarters and flanks. In mature dogs from shoulder backwards and along the saddle, hair short and close. Hair long from forehead backwards, with a distinct silky ‘top-knot’. On foreface hair short. Ears and legs well coated. Pasterns can be bare. Coat must develop naturally.

Colour

All colours acceptable.

Size

Ideal height: dogs: 68-74 cms (27-29 ins); bitches: 63-69 cms (25-27 ins).