By Heidi Clayton
One of my favorite breeds to watch at a dog show is the Afghan hound. Known for their long stunning coat, watching an Afghan hound sail across the ring with their hair flowing is a thing of beauty. There is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog or a dog that doesn’t shed. That said, the Afghan hound is considered a low-shedding breed despite the amount of hair they have.
Afghan hounds are one the oldest breeds known to man. A popular yet unconfirmed myth is that they are so old they were included in the animals chosen for survival on Noah’s Ark. Though their exact date of origin is unknown, they originated in the mountain regions of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.
Afghan hounds are “sight hounds,” meaning they use their keen panoramic vision to hunt prey by sight instead of smell. When fully grown, Afghan hounds stand about 27 inches at the shoulder. Despite their elegant look underneath all of their hair, make no mistake – they are athletes that are built for speed and endurance. They have huge paws that were designed to be shock absorbers and to handle rough mountain terrain. Their coat actually serves the purpose of protection against harsh mountain elements. Males typically top out at about 60 pounds and females at about 50.
During the 1800s, the Afghan hound was favored by tribal chiefs in the mountainous regions of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. As the British Empire extended its reach into these areas, Afghan hounds started to make their way to England with returning military troops. Before long, their stunning looks endeared them to the aristocracy. In 1926, Zeppo Marx of the then-famous Marx Brothers comedy trio brought the first two Afghan hounds into the United States after he purchased two of them from England. They became a recognized breed the following year. The first Afghan hounds were registered with the American Kennel Club in 1927, and the Afghan Club of America was formed in 1937. This year’s hound group winner at Westminster was a stunning and flawless six-year-old Afghan hound named Louis.
The Afghan hound’s aristocratic looks match their attitude. If you are looking for a dog that will simply do your bidding, the Afghan hound probably isn’t the dog for you. Sight hounds are known to be aloof towards strangers, and the Afghan hound certainly is. Afghan hounds believe that they are royalty and possess an attitude that they are indeed kings or queens of the castle. While they can be aloof or snotty with strangers, they are fiercely loyal to their owners.
If you are an active person, an Afghan hound would make a great fit for you as they are natural athletes. These dogs need to exercise daily.
Being a low-shedding breed that grows hair instead of fur, they will need regular brushing to prevent dreadlocks and matting. If you are looking for a low-shedding breed, you can rely on the predictable coat of the Afghan hound and the literally hundreds of years of breeding behind it.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net.
Heidi Clayton started Four On the Floor Dog Training to provide positive, reward-based dog training in South Jersey. She breeds, trains and shows bull terriers under the SoraBully’s Bull Terriers kennel name. Email questions to heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net or learn more at https://fouronthefloordogtraining.net
