afghan hound

The Afghan hound is a canine breed originating from Afghanistan. The International Cynological Federation recognizes it under the name of Afghan Hound. It is classified in Group 10, Section 1, Long-haired or Fringed Sighthounds, Standard No. 228. Use: racing, hunting on sight. Care and health Its grooming is demanding: daily detangling and brushing are an absolute necessity. Attentive owners also protect their long-haired ears at mealtimes. Sports Racing events on cynodromes or racing. Sight pursuit on decoy (PVL) or coursing.

Certainly very old, the origins of the Afghan hound are still quite obscure. The Afghan populations nomadic a lot. They were close to Bactria, that is to say Samarkand, the meeting point of peoples and civilizations. They undoubtedly crossed the Kyrgyz who for millennia hunted with greyhounds (Kyrgyz greyhound). The Bakhmull, Afghan Mountain Hound, originating from the Mongolian steppes, may also have contributed to the creation of the Afghan Hound. It should also be noted that Afghanistan knew other greyhounds: the short-haired Luchak (sloughi) and the Kalakh (saluki-tazi) with a fringed coat. Rock drawings depicting Afghan hounds of a type existing in 2200 BC are said to have been discovered in the Balkh region of northwestern Afghanistan.1 In the 1880s, British soldiers returning from the Anglo-Afghan war brought back Afghan hounds. The English Kennel Club established the first standard and created a herd book in the early 20th century. English imports began steadily from 1920. The breed was introduced to France around 1930. The Afghan was represented by an oil on canvas by Salvador Dali in 1938. The work is called "Afghan invisible avec apparition on the beach of Garcia Lorca's face in the shape of a fruit bowl with three figures".

The Afghan hound has a character that is both playful and calm, sensitive, willingly dominating, a bit touchy and not very demonstrative. He is very independent but deeply attached to his master and distant towards strangers. Like any greyhound, he must be able to exert himself and run often to keep his balance and stay in shape.