Afghan Hound

The Afghan Hound is often described as an ancient breed, although claims that it is the world’s oldest purebred dog or that it predates written history by thousands of years cannot be verified. Breeds did not exist in their modern, standardised form in antiquity. The Afghan Hound developed from long-haired sighthounds found across Afghanistan and neighbouring parts of Central and South Asia, but its precise ancestry and place of origin remain uncertain. The FCI officially lists Afghanistan as its country of origin and Great Britain as its country of patronage.

These swift, powerful hounds were traditionally used to pursue game across mountainous, desert and steppe terrain. Early documentation is scarce, but this should not be attributed to a complete Islamic prohibition on depicting animals; animal imagery appeared widely in secular Islamic art, although it was generally avoided in religious settings. An often-cited engraving published in Thomas Duer Broughton’s 1813 account of a Mahratta camp in India shows a soldier with a long-haired hound resembling an Afghan Hound, but it does not prove an unbroken line to the modern breed.

Afghan-type hounds began reaching Britain around the turn of the 20th century, often with military personnel returning from British India and surrounding regions. Zardin, imported in 1907, became an important early model for the breed standard, although his bloodline does not survive in modern pedigrees. Today’s Afghan Hounds descend mainly from the lighter-coated Bell-Murray dogs brought to Britain in 1920 and the more heavily coated Ghazni dogs brought from Kabul in 1925; the two lines were later combined to establish the modern breed.

The Afghan Hound is an active, athletic breed with impressive speed and endurance. Daily walks are important, but many Afghans also benefit from regular opportunities to stretch their legs and run freely at their own pace. Exercise should be varied and appropriate for the dog’s age, fitness and health, with strenuous or forced exercise avoided while puppies are still growing.

Afghan Hounds often excel at activities such as lure coursing, which provide a safe outlet for their natural chasing instincts. Because they were bred to pursue game by sight, they may suddenly chase wildlife or other moving animals, so off-leash exercise should be limited to spacious, securely fenced areas. Their enclosure should be carefully checked for gaps and have fencing tall and secure enough to prevent escape.

Training and socialisation should begin early, using patient, consistent and reward-based methods. Afghan Hounds can learn basic commands, but their independent nature and strong prey drive can make recall unreliable when something catches their attention. Even a well-trained Afghan should therefore remain on a lead outside securely enclosed areas

The breed can also be quite aloof with strangers, so early socialisation is especially important for the Afghan. Their free spirit and independence can make them hard to train, so they are not recommended for novice dog owners.

Afghan puppies have short, fuzzy coats that require little maintenance. They don’t stay that way for long, however.The adolescent and adult Afghan’s fine long hair requires lots of grooming, and brushing after each outing is recommended to ensure a silky smooth look.

Several hours per week of brushing are needed to keep the hair free of tangles and mats, as well as to remove any debris. Keeping the hair clean and mat-free is the key to keeping the Afghan’s glorious coat looking its best. Regular bathing, with shampoo and conditioner is also required – ideally on a weekly basis, but at least fortnightly. The hair will need trimming, and while you may be able to do this yourself, it can be beneficial to have your Afghan visit a professional groomer every couple of months.