The Afghan hound's characteristics
As the name of the breed suggests, this type of dog evolved in the mountains of Afghanistan where it spent its time hunting gazelles and hares. Centuries later, though, it has changed considerably when its impressive looks influenced people into taking him into their homes. Quite tall - reaching even 30 inches in height - and weighing up to about 60 pounds, the hound will leave an impression on anyone who sees it - and the chances of forgetting an encounter with such a dog are very slim.
Probably the most impressive thing about the Afghan hound is its coat - long, thick but silky to the touch. Do not buy such a dog if you are not prepared to invest lots of hours or lots of money into grooming its coat.
Other physical characteristics include a long topknot, high hipbones and a small ring at the tail's end. They can be of many colors: gold, white, cream, red or even shades of blue. If pedigree is important to you, pay attention to its colors: multicolored Afghan Hounds are most likely of impure breeding.
Typically, the hound is very dignified and aloof in attitude, matching its aristocratic looks with a similar personality. However, when playing, he can become very clownish and very fun to be around.
If you have other dogs or pets, you may want to think twice before buying an Afghan hound: it has a hard time getting along with small animals. On the other hand, if you are a big fan of showing off your dog, this breed will be perfect for you: they are highly intelligent and very intuitive and will quickly learn any tricks you would like to teach them. This is one of the reasons why this breed constantly appears in dog agility contests. It is also highly suited to be a therapeutic companion.
If you take good care of it, the hound can live up to 18 years and will be a constant and loyal companion during all that time.
In short...
The hound is a perfect match for anyone looking for an intelligent and dignified dog to keep them company. It may not always be the most social breed you could get your hands on, but it can be fun when gotten in a playful mood and will always be a source of pride. The Afghan hound is also highly suited to masters who like dedicating a lot of time to take care of their dogs: they definitely need plenty of that.
