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Afghan Hound |
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Description... |
 This
large breed can be nervous, dignified, or even clownish. Their
long, silky coat comes in black, cream, silver, brindle and other
solid, exotic patterns. These dogs excel as broken field runners
with their characteristic agility and cunning.
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History...
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This dog is believed to have existed more than
7,000 years ago in the desserts and mountains of present-day
Afghanistan. The wealthy nobles and royalty of Afghanistan hunted
extensively with these dogs, and the breed takes its name from its
geographical origins. These dogs hunted snow leopards, wolves,
deer, and gazelle, among others. They hunt with their keen
eyesight, commonly designated as a Sight hound breed, and their
agility allowed them to cover extremely rugged terrain.
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Traits...
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 The
Afghan Hound loves to run, and needs plenty of exercise, even in
the city. Try several long walks, or a bike ride with a leashed
Afghan, if it is trained well, can provide you and your dog with
loads of excitement. Finding a large, fenced in area where you
Afghan can run freely is ideal, only make sure that your dog will
not be able to get out or hurdle the fence and escape!
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Good aspects...
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This breed requires little trimming or clipping,
and is very active when indoors. It loves tons of exercise when
out of doors, however. This dog is unbelievably fast, with high
hip bones for incredible agility and fence-jumping ability, so
make sure you keep your pet leased. In addition, this breed gets
along well with other dogs and can be trained to be considerate of
cats and other small pets, making it an ideal addition to an
active family with older, considerate children.
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Health...
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The most common health problems of the Afghan Hound
include hip dysplasia, cataracts, and paralysis. In addition, this
breed is sensitive to drugs and caution must be taken when
anaesthetizing your dog for its hip dysplasia x-rays. It is
recommended that other medications, like flea and tick powders,
not be used with this dog because of its sensitivity.
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Be aware...
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The Afghan Hound can be a nervous dog, reserved and
often timid with strangers. This breed should be watched with
smaller pets, however, and requires gentle and patient training.
This dog can display its resistance as stubbornness rather than as
destructive behavior, so training can become a very trying
endeavor. Therefore, this breed is recommended for experienced
owners only.
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Summary...
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These dogs are fast and agile, so high fences and
leashes are mandatory! In addition, lots of brushing is required
to keep this breed's coat shiny and healthy.
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source: petcare information centre-
petcare.umn.edu
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Further resources... |
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