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The Afghan Hound is a real aristocrat who has all the attributes that match a good style. She has an elegant silhouette that harmoniously fits into the endless Asian steppe, and silky curls that look like a long dress can beautifully develop in the wind while running. The high-set head is decorated with a fashionable hairstyle, and dignity and independence prevail in the look of this greyhound.
The refined image of the breed is complemented by regal posture, confident graceful stride and beautiful, aristocratic manners. Despite its generous appearance, the Afghan hound can cause its owner many inconveniences caused by its proud and freedom-loving character. This behavior is explained by the fact that under aristocratic guise are energetic and brutal hunters with a difficult pedigree.
Breed history
Bible story
Due to the fact that the Afghan Hound breed belongs to the list of the most ancient dog breeds in the whole world, its history is calculated not in centuries, but in millennia. What is noteworthy, the most ancient facts testifying to this breed are absolutely in no way connected with Afghanistan. For the first time, alleged relatives of an Afghan hound were discovered in Ancient Persia, in whose territory Iran is today located.
In the expanses of modern Iran, caves with cave paintings made about 11,000 years ago, where greyhounds were depicted, were discovered. Most scientists and archaeologists have come to the conclusion that in this way people who lived in those days immortalized these animals, because they managed to survive the most terrible cataclysm. According to ancient legends, the Afghan hound was included in the list of animals that fell on Noah's ark from biblical tales, and were able to avoid death in a global flood.
In the ancient world, the owners of this breed called their dogs "tazi", which in Persian meant "one who runs fast." The Afghan hound was very much loved and revered in Ancient Persia - so much so that one of the then rulers gave the name to one of the cities in Yemen in her honor - Taiz.
Pure dog
Since Muslim laws and customs differ significantly from Orthodox, Afghans have a rather negative attitude towards any dog breed. A dog, like a pig, in this religion is considered a dirty animal, and therefore it is called a saga, which translates as "despicable", "dirty creature." However, it was the Afghan hound that became the exception to this rule, and according to the history of the Muslim people, it has an honorable place among dogs and bears the title of pure. This is justified by its positive qualities, since this breed is characterized as an excellent hunter and shepherd.
Traveling Continents
In addition to cave images of this greyhound on the territory of Iran, caves in Afghanistan also have cave paintings depicting this dog. Naturally, compared to Iranian drawings, they are much younger, since they were applied only 4,000 years. Also, images of the Afghan hound are often found on the canvases of Greek tapestries, the creation of which dates back to the sixth century BC. Based on these facts, it is quite logical conclusion that this breed made active trips accompanied by nomadic tribes, trade caravans and crews of sailors.
The appearance of the short-haired ancestors of the Afghan Hound is in Central Asia, from where, in fact, the breed spread in Iran and Afghanistan. After the dog was able to establish itself in the east as a successful hunter for mountain leopards and antelopes, gazelles, hares, foxes and wolves, they became seriously interested in it. This led to the fact that the short-haired ancestor of the Afghan hound was crossed with the Persian saluk. It was this crossing that bestowed this breed of dog its trump card - magnificent long hair, thanks to which the Afghan hound managed to escape from the harsh alpine climate.
Exit from confinement
After crossing with the Persian saluk, no selective experiments on the breed were conducted. This is justified by the fact that her residence was very isolated, and it was rarely necessary to contact other dogs. Representatives of the Afghan aristocracy, who were engaged in the cultivation of this breed, closely monitored compliance with its thoroughbred. The appearance of the dog has remained unchanged for several millennia, but the development of hunting and shepherding skills remained at an active stage of development due to regular practice.
The Afghan hound came to Europe only at the end of the 19th century. This happened thanks to the soldiers who participated in the Second Anglo-Afghan War, who imported several dogs of this breed into Great Britain in 1886. Thanks to qualities such as a pure pedigree, an unusual appearance and excellent hunting skills, the Afghan Hound gained popularity throughout England in a very short time.
Popularization in Europe
The appearance of the first valuable copy for dog handlers occurred only in 1907. He was found by captain John Braff in Pakistan and brought to Quetta, located in India, to attend a dog show. At this exhibition, the Afghan hound made an incredible splash. It is noteworthy that this dog belonged to the flat type and had a shortened coat.
This success was incredibly inspired by the captain, which led to the immediate delivery of this dog to London. In England, the Afghan Hound also caused a storm of emotions and admiration, won about 55 victories. As a result, she was introduced to the Queen of Great Britain herself directly on the territory of Buckingham Palace. To the great regret of breeders, this charming aristocrat did not have any descendants, however, this dog became the standard from which the first description of the breed came from.
A new breed suitable for breeding was discovered 19 years later, in 1926. At that time, Great Britain already had several working nurseries that were engaged in breeding of this particular breed, in one of which it was possible to breed a representative of the Afghan hounds related to the mountain type. This specimen had a very thick coat, and all other features of it remained identical to the flat type. Many modern representatives of the Afghan Hound are distant relatives of this particular specimen.
Afghan Hound in America
In the United States of America this breed appeared a little later than in Great Britain in 1902. The Americans, like the British, were delighted with the Afghan hound. Popularization of the breed in America developed at a fairly rapid pace. And in 1926 the opening of the first club of lovers of the Afghan Hound. It is noteworthy that this dog was imported to the territory of France in 1936, and the Afghan hound was able to enter the USSR only at the end of the twentieth century.
Standard and main characteristics of the breed
The modern type of Afghan hounds has a strong body, their movement is quite smooth and graceful.When looking at them, you can see that they are always alert and ready to take a lightning-fast jump, even with their noble posture. Compared to other greyhounds, the Afghan is inferior to them in speed, but significantly ahead of endurance.
In size, the dog is quite large, can weigh from 24 to 36 kilograms, and reach a height at the withers from 68 to 73 centimeters. The muzzle is elongated, characterized by the presence of strong jaws, which is a hallmark of all hunting dogs. The main feature of the Afghan hound is a high-set head, which has a wedge-shaped shape, which allows the dog to keep its potential prey in sight during the chase. The dog's skull lines are very peculiar, it has a well-defined occipital protuberance and a smooth transition between the nose and forehead. The distinguishing features of the Afghan hound include elongated saggy ears, on which there is a long silky coat, and the presence of a bang on the crown. The color of the eyes of these dogs is almost always dark, and the shape is triangular, landing on the face slanting. The nose pad is either black or brown.
The Afghan Hound has a wide chest, which positively affects the rhythm of breathing and heart function. Abundant wool hides massive muscular legs underneath. Despite a strong and flat back, her croup is lowered. There is a rare coat on the tail; during movement it is usually raised high.
This dog is incredibly fast and can reach exactly the same speed as a thoroughbred racehorse - 60 km / h. The speed and confidence when moving is due to the special structure of the hips, their location is quite high, and the distance between the legs is wide. Due to this feature, the Afghan hound is able to quickly change the trajectory of its movement, and is also prepared for sharp changes in height, which are typical for the mountains in Afghanistan.
Afghan Hound Health
This breed has excellent health, therefore it is not at all surprising that in comparison with other large dog breeds it is a clear long-liver, since its average life expectancy is 15 years. Despite this, the Afghan Hound has a very low pain threshold, which makes her incredibly sensitive to pain. Even a minor minor wound can cause great pain and discomfort in the dog. Also, they are characterized by the occurrence of various eye diseases, for example, cataracts, therefore it is necessary to drive these dogs as often as possible a veterinary examination. Often deplorable situations can be created by a beautiful tail, because it is his dog that injures most often.
Afghan Hound Training
Due to the fact that the Afghan Hound has a solid and unshakable character, it is a serious challenge for any trainer, and indeed it is possible to train this dog only by an experienced and affectionate specialist. This animal seeks to be independent, because stubbornness is a familiar thing for them. It is because of this stubbornness that the dog may not respond to the call, and ignore the moments when the owner asks her to come up.
It is very important for the potential owner of the Afghan hound to understand that this breed has a thick coat, which was originally intended to protect from the harsh freezing temperatures inherent in the highlands. The active behavior of this dog during hot or humid weather adversely affects the overall health of the animal.
Difficult temperament
Due to the fact that the Afghan hound is rather heavy and stubborn in nature, it is naturally much more difficult to train.Due to the complex nature of the breed, Colombian scientists who conducted independent studies on the intellectual level of various dog breeds classified the Afghan Hound as one of the dogs with poorly developed intelligence. However, the results of these studies cannot be considered reliable, since only the stubbornness and arrogance of the Afghan hound are most often perceived as a low level of their intelligence. In fact, these dogs are incredibly smart, just because of their proud disposition of dogs it is much more difficult to train something than other breeds. Such obstinacy is explained by hunting ardor, which can occur at the most inopportune moments literally out of the blue, for example, when a dog heard a loud sound or was disturbed by someone else's sudden movement.
In order for the Afghan Hound to become a true friend and faithful assistant to his master, he must devote enough time to adjusting her behavior. The main thing is not to offend your pet, because it is very sensitive to rude attitude from its owner, and perceives its emotional state very sensitively. Also this dog can be quite vindictive.
The Afghan Hound, like any other dog, loves attention and affection, but in fact it can only become attached to that member of the family with whom communication is more common than with the rest. This dog respects all members of the family equally, but as for outsiders, they can be hostile to them. Young children are also difficult to perceive, but this is not at all an indicator of the desire to dominate. The Afghan hound, on the contrary, loves a state of peace and silence, in such an environment she is usually restrained and silent.
Afghan Hound Care
The Afghan Hound, like any other hunting dog, needs long walks and outdoor games in nature. Many trainers and dog handlers recommend taking daily walks with these dogs for at least an hour. At the end of such walks, the dog must be thoroughly washed.
Since the main advantage of the Afghan hound is its excellent coat, it requires particularly careful attention and care, which in turn can be very problematic for its owner. Thanks to such a coat, the owner of the Afghan hound has an additional responsibility, since he needs to preserve the natural beauty of his pet in proper form. This, accordingly, leads to daily combing of the wool and its washing several times a week.
The main inconvenience in the care of the wool of the Afghan hound is the large amount of time that needs to be devoted to the procedure. It should also be borne in mind that not every brush can cope with such a thick coat. However, such features have some advantages, first of all, if the wool of the Afghan hound is properly looked after, it will not have an unpleasant smell, which is characteristic of dogs. Also, the Afghan hound rarely sheds due to the fact that its coat is updated regularly throughout the year.
Video: Afghan Hound dog breed
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