by Lian Slayford-Wei

Created on: December 18, 2009

Dog Breeds: Afghan Hound

A distinguished breed, its long glossy coat is the embodiment of aristocracy and nobility in dogs. Its head held high with dignity, its long coat, a tail curled up at the end and tall stature are features that it acquired in the cold conditions of Afghanistan where it originates from.

Origin and History:

Known as a sight-hound, the Afghan hound appears to be one of the earliest, or the earliest, sight-hound in history, but it is still debated as to how old the breed is; some claim he appeared as early as 8,000 years ago. There are sources who also say that the Afghan Hounds existed in Egypt, but scientists have not been able to confirm this.

In his native land, he was used as a hunting dog, a job in which he excelled in. When Alexander the Great attempted to invade Asia, his troops nearly wiped out this breed, but have thankfully survived.

The Afghan hound was brought into the UK in the 1800’s by army officers who had been serving in India, the crown jewel in the British Empire at the time. At this time the English people called them Barukzy hounds or Persian hounds. They weren’t brought into the United States until 1931 with the Ghanzi imports.

During World War II, the Afghan hound disappeared in Europe. The breed that we know today only originated in 1920 when they were introduced into Scotland.

On the 3rd August 2005, the Korean scientist Hwang Woo-Suk cloned the first dog, an Afghan hound. Although there were controversies regarding the authenticity of his claims, outside investigators substantiated that Snuppy was indeed, a genuine cloned Afghan hound.

Breed Standard:

Afghan hounds are regal and aristocratic in appearance, with an expression of aloofness and character. He stands tall, males at around 27 inches, bitches at 25 inches, with a proudly carried head and a straight front. He has a somewhat ‘Oriental’ look to him, as though he looks at you through and through.

The skull of an Afghan should be long and his foreface with a strong jaw and slight stop. The nose should be black in colour, but the liver or ‘winter-nose’ colour is acceptable. Eyes should be dark but the golden colour is adequate. Triangular in appearance, eyes should tilt upwards.

The ears of an Afghan hound should be small, close to the head and covered by their coat. The mouth should have a scissor bite, where the upper teeth cover the lower teeth and the neck should be long.

The shoulders should be long and slopping in appearance

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