According to legend, the biblical Noah saved the ancestors of the Afghan greyhounds by taking them, among other creatures, on board his Ark. In the Middle East, this breed of greyhounds has been known for several thousand years. Images of Afghans are found on ancient Egyptian papyrus dating from the second millennium BC. e.
The breed of the Afghan hound is the result of the crossing of the Persian greyhound (Saluki) and the native Afghan. In Europe, the Afghans learned at the end of the nineteenth century. The first specimens of greyhounds came to England from the Afghan-Indian borders of the British Empire, hence the name of the breed, adopted in the Old World. On foggy Albion, the aristocratic exterior and self-esteem of the Afghans were appreciated. Already at the beginning of the twentieth century, the British approved the standard for the breed of Afghan Hounds, in 1926 the first club of breeders of the Afghan Hounds was opened, and in 1980 the breed of the Afghan Hounds was officially recognized by the International Federation of Cynologists.
In their historical homeland, Afghans have long been used as shepherd and hunting dogs. They are well adapted to the harsh conditions of the highlands. Feel confident on rough terrain. They can drive the beast without the command of a hunter.
Afghan hounds are known for their independent character and independence. On a leash, they behave perfectly. But if you let go of the leash, the Afghan acts as it sees fit. Standard methods of training here do not give results. This behavior gave rise to the myth that the Afghan Hound is very limited in intelligence. Of course, this is not so. It is enough to use specially developed for this breed (by the way, very simple) training methods to make the dog obedient and manageable.
The Afghan Hound dog copes with the role of a family friend. Agile, faithful, courageous and quick-witted, she gets along well with children and adults. The only thing she expects from the owners is constant attention. Afghans are very vulnerable, they are difficult to experience any injustice in relation to themselves.
Afghan hounds are divided into short-haired and long-haired. Shorthair native to the southern desert regions of Afghanistan. These are medium-sized dogs with a light color. The northern mountainous regions are home to long-haired greyhounds. They have a thick, thin and long coat. Long-haired greyhounds are more powerful than their southern counterparts.
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dogs with long hair , careful, daily grooming is required. Long-haired Afghans should not be bathed often. But combing is recommended as often as possible. Only if the dog’s coat is very dirty and tangled should it be bathed. Such procedures are time consuming. When taking an Afghan Hound puppy to your house, you need to remember this.
Afghan hounds are active dogs. Long walks (1-2 hours) only benefit them. It should be borne in mind that the innate hunting instinct forces the Afghans to pursue everything that moves in their field of vision. It doesn’t matter if it is a cat or a car. Therefore, when walking, you can not lose sight of pets.
The Afghan Hound is a very delicate and beautiful dog. Proper and good maintenance will ensure her 13-14 years of life in good shape.