Afghan Hounds are large dog breeds that are part of the hound group. This breed has a lot to love, especially since they’re affectionate and loyal to their family members. If you want to learn more about the Afghan Hound dog breed, keep reading.
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| Afghan Hound Dog Breed Overview | |
|---|---|
| Nicknames | Tazi, Baluchi Hound, African Hound, Shalgar Hound |
| Height | 22 - 29 inches |
| Weight | 44 - 60 pounds |
| Lifespan | 12 - 18 years |
| Hypoallergenic | Yes |
| Temperament | Independent, affectionate, loyal |
| Suitable For | Families with or without children, active families, experienced dog owners |
History Of The Afghan Hound Dog Breed
Afghan Hounds are thought to be the oldest of all the purebred dogs. It’s not entirely known how this breed came to be, but it is known where they came from.
This breed was developed in ancient times in today’s Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan. These dogs were rugged hunting companions in Asia’s mountain kingdoms. In addition, these pups were of royal status, tribal chieftains, and aristocrats.
When first created, this breed was named Tazi long before they were deemed Afghan Hound. As a result, they use several nicknames, such as the Baluchi Hound, African Hound, and Shalgar Hound.
Afghan Hounds made their way to England in 1925 and made their way to the United States shortly after.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized this breed as its own in 1927 as part of the hound group. However, it wasn’t until the early 1930s that this doggo grew popular.
One reason is due to Barbie, Mattel’s most popular toy. Barbie had a pet dog, an Afghan Hound named Beauty. Thus, many young girls wanted Afghan dogs for themselves.
Today, this breed is a lovely companion canine. However, they were initially bred to flush out and hunt rabbits and gazelle.
What Does The Afghan Hound Look Like?
Afghan Hounds are often between 25 and 27 inches tall. However, males can be between 24 and 29 inches tall, while females can grow to about 22 to 25 inches tall.
This breed typically weighs 50 to 60 pounds, but males are often 44 to 60 pounds, while females can weigh between 40 and 50 pounds.
According to the AKC’s breed standard, Afghan Hounds should have an appearance of dignity. The head is proportionate to the rest of the body, with a long skull that’s well-balanced.
Its ears are long and covered with long, silky hair. The eyes are typically dark and almond-shaped, almost looking like triangles.
This doggo has a strong neck that slopes well into the back that’s perfectly level. The tail isn’t set too high on the body and often has a ring or curl at the end. However, the tail is never curled over the back.
These long legged dogs hold the rest of the body up well.
Finally, they have a silky, long coat that can come in many different coat colors and coat patterns.
What Coat Colors Does The Afghan Hound Have?
The Afghan dog breed can have a variety of coat colors. For example, they can be seen with the following colors:
- Black
- Black & Silver
- Black & Tan
- Blue
- Blue & Cream
- Cream
- Red
- Silver
- White
In addition, they can have a few coat markings. For example, Afghan Hounds can have the following patterns on their coat:
- Black Mask
- Brindle
- Brindle Black Mask
- Brindle Domino
- Domino
Caring For Afghan Hound Dogs
As with all pet care, Afghan Hounds require a lot of responsibility. However, they’re excellent dogs to have at home. Let’s discuss how to keep your pup happy and healthy.
Grooming
As a puppy, Afghan Hounds have fuzzy, short coats. They won’t require much grooming at this point, but as they grow older, the long, silky fur will grow.
This silky coat requires brushing at least four to five times per week, if not daily. Otherwise, it’ll be easy for their fur to get knotted and matted.
Regular bathing is also needed. You can bring your doggo to a professional grooming salon every two to three months. Alternatively, you can bathe them yourself at home.
In addition, you’ll want to keep up with trimming their nails regularly. Also, brush their teeth regularly and clean their ears.
Diet
It’s a good idea to remember that Afghan Hounds have protruding hipbones. This is part of their physique and not a sign of them possibly being underweight.
If you’re concerned about your dog’s weight, you should check with your veterinarian. They’ll be able to help you decide what high-quality dog food to feed your pup and how much.
Since Afghan Hounds are large dog breeds, they’ll do well on about two to three cups of dog food per day, split into two meals.
If you’re searching for dog food for your Afghan Hound puppy, consider getting this kibble for high-energy large-breed puppies.
This limited ingredient dry dog food for adult Afghan Hounds is a good option.
This wet canned food is ideal for senior dogs if you have an aging pup at home.
Remember that your pup’s food should be appropriate for its breed size, age, metabolism, and energy levels.
Exercise
Remember that Afghan Hounds are sighthounds. They were bred to give chase and hunt. These doggos are strong, athletic, and energetic.
In addition, they’re excellent jumpers. So, they’ll need ample space to release excess energy and a fenced-in yard that’s tall enough to keep them inside.
Due to their high energy levels, Afghan Hounds need at least one to two hours of daily physical activity and mental stimulation.
You can bring them on long walks, hikes, and jogs, as long as their long fur doesn’t get tangled.
Games of fetch will be ideal in the backyard so they can spend some time with you and get some energy simultaneously.
They also love to swim, an excellent form of full-body exercise. Then, once or twice a week, you can bring them to the dog park and allow them to run around to their heart’s content.
Training
This dog breed is aloof and independent. So, dog training may not always be a walk in the park.
However, Afghan Hounds bond with certain family members and are incredibly loyal. If you build a healthy relationship with your dog, they’ll be responsive to training.
Due to this bond, training an adult dog that you haven’t been around its whole life may be more difficult. Therefore, training and early socialization should always begin as a puppy.
On the other hand, no matter how much training they have, Afghan Hounds have a high prey drive. If they see or smell something to chase, they will give chase right away.
It’s essential to always have this doggo on a leash in public, despite how well it knows obedience commands.
Health
Afghan Hounds puppies should visit the vet twice during their first year. These visits will ensure they’re growing and developing correctly. Also, you can keep them up to date with their vaccinations and booster shots.
Every year after that, you can bring your doggo to the vet at least once a year for their annual check-up.
This dog breed is relatively healthy but can be prone to specific health problems. For example, some health issues may experience listed below:
- Allergies (Food, Skin, etc.)
- Bloat
- Cancer
- Cataracts (Juvenile Cataracts)
- Corneal Opacities
- Demodectic Mange
- Glaucoma
- Hip Dysplasia
- Hypothyroidism
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
- Retinal Dysplasia
Also, due to their low storage of body fat, Afghan Hounds are more prone to being sensitive to anesthesia.
With proper care and regular vet visits, Afghan Hounds have an average lifespan of about 12 to 18 years.
Afghan Hound Temperament
Let’s go over some of the great personality traits this breed has.
One thing to note about Afghan Hound is that they’re friendly and adaptable. They can fit in well with any sized family and home.
While this breed can be stubborn and independent, they are loyal to those they love. Afghan Hounds will bond with their family members.
However, it might take some time to bond with this pup, depending on their age and background. But, with proper training and early socialization, they’ll get along well with others.
Afghan Hounds can get along well with young children as long as it’s supervised. They can also get along well with other dogs, meet new people, and have other pets in the home.
However, they might be wary after first meeting strangers. Also, if you have small animals in the home, such as guinea pigs or rabbits, your Afghan Hound might give chase.
This dog breed has a high prey drive due to its hunting background.
Afghan Hounds can do well with novice dog owners, but they would be best suited for experienced owners since they’re independent and need plenty of training.
Due to their large size and energy levels, Afghan Hounds prefer a bigger house with a fenced-in yard. However, they are calm enough to live in an apartment. In addition, this breed doesn’t bark too much.
On the other hand, Afghan Hounds don’t like to be left alone for too long. Otherwise, they’ll get separation anxiety and possibly become destructive.
If you’re going to be out most of the day, you can bring them to doggy daycare or have a professional dog walker check in on them throughout the day.
Alternatively, you can get another dog to help keep them company when home alone.
Are There Any Differences Between Males And Females?
Believe it or not, this breed hasn’t many differences between males and females.
Males are slightly bigger and heavier than females, but that’s all. Regarding their temperament and general behaviors, both genders are similar.
Who Should Own The Afghan Hound Dog Breed?
While Afghan Hounds are relatively calm and quiet, they have a lot of energy. So they’ll enjoy being part of an active family.
For example, this doggo will enjoy going on hikes, jogging, and swimming with you.
In addition, they’ll get along well with children so they can be with a young couple with or without kids.
Due to their exercise needs, Afghan Hounds won’t be suitable for elderly owners. Also, they’ll most likely do better with experienced dog owners.
Where Can You Get An Afghan Hound?
You shouldn’t have too much trouble finding an Afghan Hound dog if that’s the breed you want to add to your family.
Your local animal shelter or Afghan Hound rescue is an excellent place to start. Unfortunately, the dogs at these places are often surrendered by their previous owners or found as strays.
You can begin by checking out the Afghan Hound Club of America Rescue.
It’s always great to adopt and not shop. You can save a dog’s life through shelter or rescue. However, you may not be able to find a purebred Afghan Hound but a mixed breed. Also, you may find this doggo as an adult or senior rather than a puppy.
On the other hand, if you genuinely want a purebred Afghan Hound puppy, you can go through a reputable breeder.
Keep in mind that not all breeders are ethical. You’ll want to be mindful of backyard breeders and puppy mills.
These places only breed for profit rather than finding good homes for the dogs. Also, they don’t typically breed dogs in healthy or safe conditions. So the dogs and their litters are in kennels all day, too.
A good breeder will do the following:
- Health check the parents to ensure breeding is safe and healthy for them (then health test the puppies to ensure they’re healthy)
- Socialize and train the puppies as early as possible
- Treat the parents and litter as part of the family (without the use of kennels, aside from crate training)
- Ensure the puppies are up to date with their vaccinations
- Want to meet with you in person to get to know one another (and allow you to meet the parents and puppies)
An ethical breeder will also have vast knowledge about the dog breed. They’ll be able to answer all your questions and help you through the adoption process and beyond.
Finally, they’ll have health certificates and other documentation for you, such as the puppy’s family tree and history.
A great place to begin looking for reputable Afghan Hound breeders is through the AKC Marketplace.
Question Corner: FAQs About Afghan Hound Dogs
Have we convinced you that the Afghan Hound breed is fantastic yet? If you want to learn more about this great pup, then read through the frequently asked questions answered below.
What’s The Average Cost Of The Afghan Hound?
The average price of an Afghan Hound is between $600 and $1,000. A show dog may cost up to $2,500. The Afghan Hound price of a shelter dog will be less.
What’s The Average Litter Size Of Afghan Hound Dogs?
Due to their large size, the average litter size is between six and eight Afghan Hound puppies.
Do Afghan Hounds Shed?
Yes, this dog breed does shed. However, they only shed a moderate amount. You can brush them daily to help keep the shedding under control as much as possible.
Do Afghan Hounds Make Good Pets?
Afghan Hounds do make great pets. They’re loyal to their family members but won’t be too clingy. However, they are prone to separation anxiety and require daily grooming, but they’re relatively low-maintenance to care for.
Do Afghan Hounds Bark A Lot?
No, this breed doesn’t bark a lot. They will most likely only bark to alert you of something or if they need your attention for any reason. Otherwise, you often won’t hear them make a peep.
Do Afghan Hounds Smell?
They can sometimes smell “musky.” These sight hounds are also known as scented hounds because they produce a musky smell from their cheek glands. However, they don’t usually have a strong odor about them.
Is Afghan Hound Hypoallergenic?
Yes, this breed is hypoallergenic. They do shed a little bit and need regular grooming maintenance. However, that helps to keep the shedding at bay. This breed doesn’t drool much, either.
Do Afghan Hounds Like To Swim?
If it’s athletic, then yes. Afghan Hounds love to exercise, and swimming is no exception. They’ll love to play in the water, even if you’re using the hose to water your garden.
Are Afghan Hounds Good For First-Time Owners?
While they’re not typically recommended for novice dog owners, Afghan Hounds can do well with new owners. If the owners get trained adequately through a class and know how to care for them properly, they should do well.
Is This A Banned Breed?
Afghan Hounds are banned in Qatar. It may be due to their hunting background, even though the dogs are not used for hunting anymore. However, this breed is not aggressive but is sometimes still used for lure coursing.
Is The Afghan Hound Right For You?
Afghan Hounds are loyal and affectionate with their family members. This breed might be a good option if you’re looking for a more independent pup but enjoy outdoor activities.
Rachel Poli is a content writer and author, but her real job is being a stay-at-home pet mom. Her zoo currently consists of a dog, a cat, two turtles, and two fish tanks. She’s also an avid pet sitter for a few local families, caring for various animals.
After realizing how little information there is for pet sitters on the internet, Rachel decided to start her own animal website. She strives to educate pet parents and pet sitters about the overall care of our furry friends.