Afghan Hound - A Description

An Ancient Breed - Origins Lost In the Mist of Time?It was near Jebel Musa or the Mountains of Moses, on the peninsula called Sinia, between the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba, that the breed known as the Afghan Hound first became a recognized type of dog. This place, long held sacred by Hebrew and Christian alike, was part of ancient Egypt when the Afghan Hound's existence was first mentioned on a papyrus.

The document, which forms the cornerstone of the history of the Afghan Hound, is from the period 3000 TO 4000 BC, and mentions the dog so often that there is little doubt of the afghans existence at this time. According to Major Blackstone, an English authority on the Quities who made the translation, the Afghan called"Cynocephalus".,which literally translates as baboon or freely translates as monkey-faced hound. This is the meaning that Major Blackstone ascribes to it, for illustrations of the dog found on the tombs of the time offer convincing proof that even then, the Afghan Hound's head was suggestive of the baboon.

The Afghan Hound was the subject of mention in a valuable document of the times. This is tantamount to saying that he was accepted by royalty and his value as a hunting dog of rare ability was renowned. Development must have progressed systematically under the desert sheiks and although they left no stud books, there can be little doubt of the purity of his line for several thousand years. At first, it probably was a matter of selective breeding, breeding that was as successful as its modern, scientific counterpart.

The tombs on which the Afghan appears are in the Valley of the Nile. So it is inferred that, the hound, arrived in the entourage of a sheik or as a regal present to Memphis. His first appearance at the palace must have occasioned a stir and there is no doubt that an Egyptian princess claimed him as her pet and applied to him the nickname, "Monkey Face"

Considering the turbulent history of Egypt and the nature of the Afghan Hound it is not unusual that the archeologists could not find any trace of the dog itself when they unearthed the evidence that it had existed in Egypt and came from the Sinai. He is not a dog that would have prospered in urban surroundings, only the royal and the wealthy in a land such as Egypt could have maintained him.

Afghanistan. Just when the breed became established in the hill country of the northern part of Afghanistan may remain a mystery for a long time. The question why no trace of the Hound were found in Arabia or Persia, across which it would have to travel, may never be answered

While the Egyptian origin of the breed is well founded, there is little doubt that Afghanistan had made the greatest contributions to the development of the breed. Bred in mountainous terrain and living throughout the ages at high elevations where the winters are especially severe, the Afghan Hound has defied any change in its distinguishing characteristics. Its coat is of fine textured, thick, silky hair that stands off the body. The hindquarters, flanks, ribs and forequarters are well covered and the pendulous ears and the four legs are well feathered. The hair on the legs is full on the sides and extends right down to the feet. The Afghan Hound also has a topknot of silky, long hair.

While the tail is set low, the tail carriage is high. The high tail carriage emphasized in Afghanistan as the hounds hunt so much in thickets that it is only by watching the tails that the movement of the dogs is detectable. Another distinguishing point of the Afghan is the assembly of the hip bones. These are considerably higher than on the ordinary dog and set much wider apart. These unique hip bones make it possible for the Afghan to negotiate hilly country and uneven ground with ease and give him a motion like that of a monkey. Built in this manner, he turns easily and gets tremendous power into his leaps.

The Afghan hunts by sight and while he possess great speed, he is not as fast on the flat as other hound varieties. Yet, the Afghan knows no equal as a hurdle racer. Used for countless centuries in a country where leaping over obstacles was even more essential than speed, he has developed this specialty to the ultimate degree. Another heritage he brings to his new abodes in Europe and America is the ability to withstand any temperature - either heat or cold. Summers in Afghanistan are terrifically hot and winters severely cold.

The American Kennel Club describe the Afghan Hound as an aristocrat. "His whole appearance is 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 hipbones, large feet, and the impression of a somewhat exaggerated bend in the stifle due to profuse trouserings-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".

Descriptions of the Afghan Hound can be difficult unless you live with them, butDigitalDog website makes an excellent description in plain language and few words:

"The drama of the Afghan Hound would seem unlikely in a world of Labradors and Beagles, and then, you go to a show or a park and meet your first Afghan. Rather like the beautiful girl at school that everyone presumes is snobbish but is instead a bit gentle and shy, the Afghan reserves its happy abandon, total devotion and exuberance for those it knows best. This is not to say that the Afghan is a retiring competitor in Agility or Lure Coursing, indeed, the cloud of hair as they partly sail and partly fly at a full run defies honest description. The most heavily coated of the sighthounds, the Afghan is an ancient breed who's cousins still populate the desert areas striving to earn their keep in a changing world. Imported to the US in 1926, the Afghan quickly earned a place here, where its fanciers are quick to note that the dog is intelligent, perhaps too intelligent to be bribed for a bit of a treat and too aloof to work for someone who lacks sincerity and true enthusiasm for the task. To live and train an Afghan Hound requires respect for a strong minded individual who is happily a teammate but never a forced participant".

A Look Back

The Afghan hound was discovered by the Western World in Afghanistan and surrounding regions during the 19th century. As the breed developed in Afghanistan, two distinct types evolved from the southern and western desert regions and the northern regions. During WWI, the breed literally disappeared in the Western world. The start of the Afghan Hounds we have today dates back to 1920, when a group of them was brought to Scotland.

Right Breed for You?

Known for being aloof, dignified, and for having a highly individualized personality, Afghan Hounds are prized and loved by their owners as companions and members of their family. However, it is important to take into account that their coat requires regular grooming, and their larger size necessitates regular exercise.