MOST PEOPLE....
have an immediate response to the Afghan Hound - repulsive or fascinating, a thing of beauty or a monstrosity - there are no half measures - love him or leave him. As with his appearance, the above applies equally to the Afghan's
character.
NOT MANY PEOPLE....
get an Afghan Hound because of its personality. In fact, most have very little idea of what an Afghan Hound is like, and would probably not get one if they had been forewarned. Besides the coat, the main reason people get rid of an Afghan is because they just could not stand the dog's personality.
Anyone who had a Collie or a Cocker Spaniel as a kid, and expected all dogs to be super friendly, outgoing, demanding attention all the time, a lap dog, obedient, and eager to please, is in for a nude awakening with an Afghan Hound. An Afghan will not fawn all over anyone, it will not follow its owner everywhere off leash, sometimes it expresses a clear dislike of being petted or hugged, and at all times it is independent almost to a fault.
The puppy may fool you, as all puppies act the same to some extent. When young they are eager to play, and look at everyone as a friend. But, as young as 12 weeks old, a puppy's personality starts to emerge, and the puppy who once came running at top speed when you called now looks disdainfully at you from across the yard. They have the knack of making the owner feel terribly insignificant at times.
WHAT IS AN AFGHAN HOUND?
The official breed standard (approved by the American Kennel Club, September 14, 1948) of the Afghan Hound Club of America open with the following preamble:
"The Afghan Hound is an aristocrat, his whole appearance one of dignity and aloofness with no trace of plainness or coarseness. He has a straight front, proudly carried head, eyes gazing into the distance as if in memory of ages past. The striking characteristics of the breed - exotic or "eastern" expression long silky topknot, peculiar coat pattern, very prominent hip bones, large feet, and impression of a somewhat exaggerated bend in the stifle due to profuse tracings - stand out clearly, giving the Afghan Hound the appearance of what he is, a King of Dogs, that has held true to tradition throughout the ages".
This short essence of the "hound" as he should be at maturity means much to the dedicated breeder and knowledgeable judge. But to the passer-by who glimpses his first Afghan Hound the dog presents a bizarre and strange effect, even prompting children to occasionally ask, "is it a dog?" When told it is an Afghan Hound, there is probably no retort as common or as irritating as the oft-heard "An African what?" With his haughty air and unusual coat pattern, the hound makes a pronounced impact and rarely goes unnoticed in any surroundings. Response to the sight of the hound is instantaneous; viewers are either strongly and immediately attracted to the dog's elegance and "different" beauty, or just as strongly repelled by its strangeness and "comical" aspect. The dog itself is quite apt to reply in kind, being determined to pick his own friends. His reactions to strangers can be most unpredictable
The Afghan Hound puppy is quite a different matter as no dog goes through such marked transitions during one lifetime, both in temperament and in physical appearance. Born flat-nosed wrinkly!y faced, short-haired, and rat-like, it would take an expert to pick an Afghan Hound puppy from a nest of mongrels of similar size. The breed pattern takes form very slowly. By three months of age, the legs have lengthened to approximately the same length as the body and the sheen of short hair has been replaced by a dense puppy fluff. The coat begins to lengthen, blurring the outline of the dog's form from toes to tail.
"Monkey Whiskers" frequently sprout from the sides of a still short and broad muzzle. Accompanying this outlandish appearance is a similarly outlandish puppy personality thoroughly abandoned in wild, carefree play and knockdown exuberant demonstrations of affection to owners and litter- mates. The prospective buyer who expects to find more than a faint hint of the flowing-coated, sedate and elegant hound in a pup is certain to be not only disappointed but fairly skeptical of the parentage of these be whiskered apparitions.
The puppy hood state is an integral part of the hound's unique development. As the frame lengthens and the coating bursts forth, the yearling who has not yet broken "saddle", nor gained firm control of his limbs, is apt to be more reminiscent of a misbegotten sheep dog than of any Afghan Hound -to-be. With the shedding of much facial hair and development of a natural short-haired saddle running from withers to tip of tail, comes the emergence of an inscrutable "Oriental" attitude and restrained dignity. In maturity, the "foolish Prince" becomes a responsible King.
In Afghanistan
In the country from which the breed derives its name, the Afghan Hound is regarded, though unofficially, as the "national" dog, and native Afghans claim and believe this "monkey-faced" or "baboon" dog, as it was often referred to, was the chosen dog to accompany Noah on his ark in the year of the great flood. They also uphold the belief that the Afghan is the dog portrayed in rock carvings on the cave walls in the northern province of Balkh, which is why the Afghan has also been called the Balkh Hound. Afghan Hounds are sight hounds, rather than hunters by scent. Their exceptional vision means they can spot prey far off. Once sighted, they bring into play their fantastic running speed, which has been estimated to reach as much as m.p.h. Their great speed and power enable them to hunt gazelles, snow leopards, wolves, hyenas, jack rabbits and any other animals of similar size. Their powerful, twisting jaws make a kill almost certain. Their reputed "pivotal hip joints" enable the quick turns necessary when doubling back on prey, almost within length of itself.
Its profusion of coat guarding it against the extremely cold temperatures of the upper snow regions, whilst also shielding this fleet-footed mountain hunter from the merciless sun as it coursed the desert. Its huge, thickly padded paws and powerful hindquarters gave the Afghan Hound equal ability to skim across hot desert sands or to scale rocky tops in mountainous territory.
The beautifully coated, well-fed dogs that give rise to the "Oohs" and "Aahs" in today's show ring are not representative of the breed in ancient times. The appearance has changed as has the purpose to which the dog is put.(3)
Modern use of the hounds in fashion illustrations and current emphasis on coat beauty lead outsiders to think of the dog as purely ornamental. Intimate knowledge of these dogs gives clear lie to this concept, and evidences of his amazing mental and physical versatility are astonishing and plentiful. A rare combination of fierce hunting abilities and conversely, gentle herding instincts, endeared him to tribesmen and royalty in turn. His marked physical adaptability to extremes of climatic conditions provided him with the endurance to thrive where other dogs would have perished. His natural wit and independence of thought enabled him to survive with or without the guidance of man as successive civilizations rose and fell. He was as much at home in a tent as in a palace.
CHOOSING A PUPPY
In choosing your puppy, assuming that it comes from healthy well-bred parents, look for one that is friendly and outgoing. The biggest pup in the litter may turn out to be coarse as a grown dog, while the appealing "poor little runt" may turn out to be timid or have a Napoleon complex ! If you want a show dog and have no experience in choosing the prospect, study the "STANDARD" of the Afghan Hound obtainable from the Victorian Canine Association Inc.
The breeder's prices will be in accordance with the puppy's expected worth and he or she will be honest with you, because it is to his or her own advantage. The breeder wants their good puppies placed in the public eye to attract future buyers, although most breeders prefer to place puppies in a suitable home, this being their major desire. A good show home is the most attractive prospect to a breeder.
In searching for a puppy, temperament and then conformation should be primary considerations. The youngster's
colour, a matter of personal preference, is of secondary importance.
If the puppy's disposition is sharp or shy, he will be neither a good pet nor a good Show Dog. Do not confuse timidness with aloofness though. As the latter is a desirable trait and often indicates the "character" puppy of the litter.
Finally, don't be frightened to give in to the immediate magnetic rapport that flashes between some people and certain puppies. These instinctive reactions often signal compatible personalities, so important for the enjoyment of the dog as a life-long companion and worth far more than all the blue ribbons in the world.
AVOID buying from the breeder who claims his puppy has no faults or who guarantees a champion. The dog was never born who had no faults, and to guarantee a champion is foolhardy at best and downright dishonest at worst.
1. SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS OLD - Looking at a six week old Afghan Hound Puppy, it is hard to believe that it will develop into an aristocratic elegant adult. The puppy may appear more like a mongrel. The puppy's muzzle will not yet have gained its proportionate length, the coat will be short, giving little hint of its future growth. There will be little evidence that the head will be crowned with a luxuriant top knot. The puppy will have ears which are fairly short and give no indication at all that they will some day drip with hair. often his tail lacks its eventual ring or curve.
2. SIX MONTHS OLD - As the puppy ages, coat and legs lengthen and his face becomes more "Eastern" in appearance. At about six months of age the puppy will be an appealing youngster, giving an indication of the possibility of developing into quite an unusual animal. The puppy's coat will start to become evident at approximately 5 months of age. Whiskers on the face may start to appear and grow quite bushy for some months. Don't pull these whiskers off as they will come off at the correct time with normal grooming. A luxuriant crop of "monkey whiskers" generally indicates a luxuriant coat to follow.
3. TEN - TWELVE MONTHS OLD - Whiskers will be starting to fall out now. Saddles may be starting to appear on some early maturing puppies. Bitches will be saddling. Bitches may come into season after six months but generally the norm for Afghans is around 12 -13 months.
4. EIGHTEEN MONTHS' OLD ONWARDS - Dogs should have
saddled by now and coat starting to lengthen.
