The Aristocrat of Dogs: The Afghan Hound

Have you ever seen an Afghan Hound? The Afghan Hound is renowned for its majestic stance and silky-soft coat. Although it resembles a Greyhound in appearance, it can run with a double-suspension gallop and pursue prey at high speed.

Its high-set pelvis and short spine enable it to jump to great heights and change direction quickly while running. The Afghan Hound has large feet that protect it from injury even when walking over rough terrain.

Its thick, silky coat also helps it maintain its body temperature in bitterly cold weather, and it has a lifespan of 12 to 14 years. In an article, the online pet publication PetMD stated, “The Afghan Hound, dignified and elegant, can be considered the aristocrat of dogs.”

PetMD noted that the Afghan Hound is an ancient breed whose ancestors were Middle Eastern sighthounds, with a history stretching back to the era of the pharaohs in ancient Egypt.

The Greyhound is a breed raised by nomadic tribes for hunting. Over generations of living in Afghanistan’s mountainous regions, the Afghan Hound developed great stamina and an impressive jumping ability. The Afghan Hound was first introduced to Britain in the early 20th century, where it was known as the Barukhzy Hound or Persian Hound. PetMD reported, “The Afghan Hound quickly became the preserve of high society, and its popularity also rose rapidly in other areas, such as dog shows.”

The Afghan Hound is also known for being reserved and timid, but as it was originally bred as a hunting dog, it greatly enjoys hunting and chasing things. That does not mean it cannot be kept indoors. Because it is not rough around children, it can also be raised in a household with children.

However, because it may behave poorly when it is in a bad mood, it is important to closely observe how the Afghan Hound interacts with children. PetMD reported, “The Afghan Hound is so independent that some people even describe it as being like a cat.”