The Breed's History:

Sighthounds are among the oldest recognisable types of dogs, and genetic testing has placed the Afghan Hound breed among those with the least genetic divergence from the wolf on some markers; this is taken to mean that such dogs are descended from the oldest dog types, not that the breeds tested had in antiquity their exact modern form.

Today's modern purebred breed of Afghan Hound descends from dogs brought in the 1920s to Great Britain, and are a blending of types and varieties of long haired sighthounds from across Afghanistan and the surrounding areas.

Some had been kept as hunting dogs, others as guardians.

There are at least 13 types known in Afghanistan, and some are being developed (through breeding and recordkeeping) into modern purebred breeds.

As the lives of the peoples with whom these dogs developed change in the modern world, often these landrace types of dogs lose their use and disappear; there may have been many more types of longhaired sighthound in the past.

Once out of Afghanistan, the history of the Afghan Hound breed becomes an important part of the history of the very earliest dog shows and The Kennel Club (UK). Various sighthounds were brought to England in the 1800s by army officers returning from British India (which at the time included), Afghanistan, and Persia, and were exhibited at dog shows, which were then just becoming popular, under various names, such as Barukzy hounds. They were also called "Persian Greyhounds" by the English, in reference to their own indigenous sighthound.

Country of Origin:
Afghanistan

Breed Group:
Hound

Height:
2 to 2,4 feet (61 to 73 cm)

Weight:
50 to 60 pounds (22,68 to 27,2 Kg)

Life Span:
10 to 12 years

Potential Health Issues:

Allergies,
Hip Dysplasia,
Cancer,
Chylothorax,
Juvenile Cataracts,
Hypothyroidism

Adaptability

Apartment Living:

Friendliness

Affection With Family:

Health and Grooming

Shedding:

Training

Easiness:

Need For Exercise

Energy Level: