Everyone knows that the Afghan Hound is a Sighthound, closely resembling several of the other Sighthounds although in many respects, unique among them. There are many books available for anyone who is interested in the history of this breed but this is a profile for those who have " always wanted " an Afghan. A practical guide.

The Afghan Hound, being an Oriental breed, shares some of the same characteristics as other breeds of Eastern origin. They are basically independent , more like cats really, in that they are highly intelligent but marginally trainable. To attempt something like Obedience with an Afghan Hound one would have to be very patient and dedicated. However, I personally know of several Afghan Hounds which have competed successfully in Obedience because their trainers convinced them that it was fun. They are excellent at doing that which they enjoy ! One of my dogs happily sits, shakes either 'hand' and will perform other entertaining tricks, until he is required to 'perform' for an audience, at which time he acts like he has NO idea what is being asked of him !

To live with, Afghans are a challenge. They are inveterate thieves and almost everyone who has ever owned an Afghan has a story to tell of whole baked chickens disappearing from kitchen counters...in my case it was a whole salmon ! Once house-trained, they are almost always foolproof but they are commonly fairly stubborn about potty training so that is one part of their education which must receive dedicated attention to detail from their owner in order for the hound to be a good house dog.

Afghans are naturally wonderful runners. Given the opportunity, most love coursing which allows them to show off their natural talent, however, I have seen them get bored because they know that what they are chasing is simply a plastic bag....I have also seen them cheat by cutting the lure off at the pass. Others simply love the chase and continue to stay focused until the end where they can rip into the plastic bag and strutt around feeling tough !

As with most dogs, Afghans can be wonderful, intelligent companions or dumb, irritating creatures. That depends on how much quality time their owner spends in the early part of their development. They need to be handled a lot, taken for rides in a car ( not only to the vet. clinic ), socialized around children and other dogs and introduced to other pets with which they almost invariably get along just fine, whether they be birds or cats. They need to be taught good manners which will serve them well for the rest of their lives, like children.

Being a coated breed, the Afghan requires a fair amount of maintenance. He should be bathed at least once a month throughout his first year, just so that he knows to behave when he has a lot of hair and is a lot more work. Many people simply send their puppy to a groomer but taking care of an Afghan is not rocket science. With some basic equipment, the task can be a bonding experience for dog and owner. Brushing long hair ( without tangles ) can be soothing and calming. An initial investment in the right equipment should be a priority although there are do-it-yourself grooming shops everywhere these days so that is also a good option.

There are good reasons to buy an Afghan from a breeder. The main one is support. Most breeders willingly walk puppy buyers through their first couple of years given the opportunity to do so. However, many Afghans do end up in 'rescue' programs which is another way to acquire a hound for
those people who are 'fixers' and 'savers'. Sadly, in my experience, the reasons some older dogs end up in 'rescue' prevent them many times from intergrating successfully. This is NOT ALWAYS the case, but should be considered when adopting.