Which country does the Afghan dog come from, what are its characteristics, and is the selling price reasonable? What is the Afghan Dog Care Manual? We will advise you on all of this in today’s sharing article.

Origin of the Afghan dog

Afghan Hound – The Afghan comes from Afghanistan, but few people know about its early history or how long it has been around.

 A drawing of one of the dogs, sent home by Thomas Duer Broughton while he was in India in 1809, was published in a book of letters in 1813, so the breed certainly existed more than 200 years and possibly even longer.

Studies of the dog genome indicate that the Afghan dog is descended from one of the oldest types of dogs.

Dogs in Afghanistan are found in many different varieties, depending on the region from which they come.

Dogs in mountainous areas are more compact with darker, heavier coats, while dogs living in deserts are more tawny, with coats that are lighter in both color and volume.

They are used for fast-running game such as deer and antelope, as well as hares, wolves and jackals.

Hunting cooperatively with falcons, they flock to quail and falcon flocks for the falcon to take down or the hunter to shoot.

British military officers brought the dogs to the West after being brought to the India-Afghan border.

Dogs died in Europe during World War I because food shortages limited the breeding and breeding of dogs, but breeding began again in 1920 when some desert-dwelling Afghans were imported. exported to Scotland by men stationed in Baluchistan.

Several mountain dog breeds were sent from Kabul to England in 1925.

During the same decade, Americans imported a number of Afghan dogs from England.

The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1926, but the Afghan Kennel Club of America was not established until 1937.

Today, the Afghan dog ranks 86th among breeds registered by the AKC.

Characteristics of Afghan dogs

Physical characteristics of Afghan dogs

Male Afghan Hounds are about 35 cm tall, females are about 30 cm.

The Afghan dog breed usually weighs between 23 and 27 kg.

The Afghan dog has a regal appearance thanks to its proud “chariot” and long, silky hair.

They are also often given   beautiful dog costumes and accessories by their owners.

A strong, arched neck, prominent hips, large, seemingly exaggerated paws that bend at the knees, and a tail that ends in a donut shape, give this breed a distinctive character.

The head and muzzle of the Afghan hound are long, narrow and refined, with a slightly convex muzzle.

The ears are long and covered with longer hair.

The crown of the head, front body, chest, flanks, hind body and legs are covered with long, fine, silky hair; The hair on the horse’s face and back (or saddle) is short and glossy.

The most common coat colors are black, black and tan, red, cream, blue, brindle, domino or white.

Afghan Hounds can also come in a variety of coat colors, cream and red often but not always with a black mask.

Afghan puppies are not like long-haired adults.

They have fuzzy hair on their cheeks (called monkey whiskers) and on their saddles.

A puppy’s short, soft coat begins to shed around one year of age, giving way to the long, shiny, regular coat of an adult dog.

In terms of movement, the Afghan hound has a striking appearance, thanks to its elasticity, powerful stride, smooth speed and sweeping locks.

Personality traits of Afghan dogs

The Afghan Hound is aloof and dignified, except when he is a bit wandering.

Being alone doesn’t mean being shy; He should never be afraid of people and is usually not aggressive towards them.

This breed takes time to get to know people outside of its family.

Those lucky enough to be allowed into his circle of friends will experience a dog with an exuberant nature and a delightful sense of humor.

Afghan dogs take things to the extreme.

They are drama queens and food thieves, bossy and mischievous.

They have a high prey drive and although they can get along well with the cats they are kept with, outdoor cats will fear for their lives when the Afghan’s hunting instincts kick in. .

Therefore, you should always prepare  a dog collar  when taking your dog out for a walk.

On the other hand, the Afghan dog is also an independent thinker.

He’s happy to do what you ask — as long as it’s what he wants to do anyway.

This dog is very smart and learns quickly, but he doesn’t always respond to your commands.

That dog is thinking about it, maybe he will do it later or not.

This can make him frustrated when training and even more annoying to compete with.

Afghan dogs have done well in sports such as agility and seduction, but only if their owners have great patience, a restless sense of humor, and a good command of positive reinforcement techniques. to attract compliance.

And of course, you must prepare  snacks – chew bones – treats for your dog  .

Of course, the sport in which Afghan dogs excel is far superior.

If you can get him involved in this activity, you will be rewarded by witnessing his breeding and hunting heritage in action.

How to care for Afghan dogs

Living with Afghanistan

True to its origins as a hunter bred to think quickly and launch hunts on its feet, the Afghan hound is strong-willed and independent, aloof and confident.

A study in contradictions, the Afghan hound is described as fiercely brave but can be timid, flighty but sometimes quiet and lazy, preferring to lie on his dog bed.

The personality of the Afghan dog breed ranges from adorable to extremely serious, and these dogs can be quite wary of strangers.

If not properly socialized, Afghan dogs tend to develop a wild personality.

The Afghan Hound is a “high maintenance” breed for a number of reasons.

Although very intelligent, Afghan dogs can be difficult to train because they are very stubborn.

They are very sensitive to harsh correction, which often causes a refusal to comply.

 They respond best to gentle guidance, tasty dog ​​treats, and firm discipline.

Regular brushing is key to maintaining your Afghan’s coat.

Afghans require weekly bathing and brushing to remove dead hair and prevent matting and matting to which they are susceptible.

Adult Afghanis shed in the spring and fall, and after illness.

When you are sick, when bathing, you must use additional  products to treat dog dermatitis  .

Although they can make good apartment dogs and real “couch potatoes,” Afghans require plenty of exercise to avoid boredom and destructive behaviors such as chewing.

Afghans should be walked a mile or two a day at a minimum, and a fenced yard and  enclosure for the dog  to run in are essential.

This breed is notorious for ignoring pleas to watch the road, and death by car is an all-too-common tragedy.

Afghan dogs should never be allowed to roam unsupervised, as their hunting instincts can make them a threat to livestock in the area.

With proper training and owner vigilance, Afghan dogs can be compatible with both children and other pets.

On the other hand, Afghans are extremely skinny under their thick coats, and they eat much less than their size might indicate.

High-quality dog ​​food, possibly supplemented with vegetable oils, can help keep skin and coat healthy.

Ear socks (called snoods) can be used to prevent long ears from getting dirty while the Afghan dog enjoys its meal.

Conclusion on the secrets of caring for Afghan dogs

The Afghan Hound has an aloof and elegant appearance, but underneath his long, luscious fur, a hunter’s heart beats.

Of course he was bred to be a hare and antelope in the rugged terrain of his native Afghanistan.

Today, this medium-sized hunting dog, weighing about 60 kg, still has a very strong instinct to run and chase prey.

Don’t buy an Afghan Hound unless you are prepared to commit to coat care and exercise with your dog.

He is not a sit-and-wait lizard and needs long daily walks on a leash or the opportunity to run in a traffic-free area.

The Afghan is a breed naturally drawn to sport, so consider taking up that sport as a way to practice this breed’s athletic ability and speed.

Afghan dogs can also compete in agility, obedience and rally, and some are therapy dogs.

Once its exercise needs are met, the Afghan Hound is a calm, quiet companion who enjoys access to beds or soft furniture.

He is reserved with strangers and does not show off too much with his family.

With children, the Afghan hound is very gentle if kept with them, but it is not really a “playmate” dog.

The Afghan Dog is deeply attached to his family and it may take time for him to adjust to his friendly attitude and behavior if exposed to others.

Don’t adopt an Afghan if you don’t think you’ll be able to keep him for life.

Because your dog will sob so much when he feels sorry for himself and thinks of all the reasons why his owner left him to be raised by someone else.

The Afghan Hound is an independent thinker, but he is trainable using positive reinforcement techniques, especially with food rewards.

Start training him when he’s young and still somewhat limber, keep training sessions short and fun, and avoid harsh corrections.

Also remember that the Afghan’s height of 30 – 40 cm, combined with the hound’s insatiable appetite, makes him a perfect backslider.

Place food out of reach if you don’t want the “child” to eat himself uncontrollably, leading to the need to use  digestive prevention products for dogs .

You’ll need a securely fenced yard to keep your Afghan from chasing cats in the neighborhood, and that doesn’t mean an underground electronic fence.

If the Afghan Hound wants to leave the field, a shock will not stop him.

He is a good jumper, so the fence must be at least 20 cm high.

Above are the things you should know when adopting an Afghan dog.

Hope this article has provided useful information to you.