The history of the origin of the Afghan hound breed, purpose and use, exterior standard, character, health, care. Afghan Hound puppy cost. The Afghan hound is a world-famous graceful oriental beauty with a completely unique exterior, independent character and energetic and persistent temperament of a tireless hunter dog. The representative of the breed is a dog with a thousand-year history, sung in ancient legends and tales, at all times evoking admiration and equally welcoming, both in the royal chambers and in the homes of ordinary workers in Persia, Afghanistan and India.
The history of the origin of the breed of sighthounds from Afghanistan
The Afghan Hound, colloquially called the Afghan Hound, is one of the oldest hunting dogs in the world, with origins dating back millennia.
Many rock portraits of these animals, dating back to the third millennium BC, have survived in the mountains of Eastern Afghanistan. And during archaeological research on the territory of modern Iran, scientists were lucky to find on the slopes of Mount Elbur (not to be confused with the Caucasian Elbrus) in the Belt cave images of these greyhounds, dating back to the tenth millennium BC. Such an antiquity of the family leaves no doubt that the biblical legend, which tells that the legendary Noah took a pair of greyhound dogs into his ark, has quite real ground. Although, some scholars of biblical subjects believe that in reality there could be other ancient greyhounds, such as, for example, the no less ancient "saluki" (Persian greyhound) or the famous "sluggi" (Arab greyhound). However, all three breeds (Saluki, Sluggi and Afghan women) clearly have common tribal roots. And about whose origin is more ancient, and which of these dogs originates from whom, is still so reliably and unknown. Disputes among experts and dog handlers do not subside to this day.
The distribution area of the population of ancient Afghan hounds, since ancient times, has always been very extensive, stretching from north to south from the steppes and semi-deserts of South and Central Asia to the Iranian plateau Sarhed; and from west to east from the Khuzestan plain to the Hindu Kush, Hindu-Raja, Pamir and Tien Shan mountains. A lot of Afghan dogs were also found in the south of Iran in the provinces of Baluchistan and Sistan.
The antiquity of the origin of the Afghan hounds is also indicated by a considerable number of pedigree names that have survived to this day, and given to essentially the same hunting dogs by completely different peoples, distant from each other for many thousands of miles. This is how the nomadic tribes of Central Asia called these indefatigable hunters "ak-taz-it", which literally means: "a white-colored greyhound dog." In Iran they were called (yes, they are called now) "Baluchi" or "Baluchi" (Baluchi Hound, Sage Baluchi) after the name of the province and the tribe living there. In the western provinces of India, these greyhounds are still called "kuram". Well, and most of all respect and names were received by these fast assistants of a person in Afghanistan. They are still called there differently, depending on the region and the historically established tradition. So, there are breed names: "kabuli" ("Kabul greyhound"), "bakhmul" (which in translation from the Pashto language means "velvet"), "barakzai" (after the name of one of the monarchical dynasties of Afghanistan, which actively cultivated these dogs) and "Tazi" (literally - "quickly rushing").
In Afghanistan, there are a lot of varieties of real aboriginal Afghan hounds, of which, according to the most conservative estimates, there are no less than 16 variants. For example, there are greyhounds called "kalah", that is, a dog with a slight coat ("kalah" in translation from Pashto means "bald"). Or, for example, "luchak" - a short-haired greyhound, common in the southern plains. So, the concept of "Afghan hound" in the homeland of the animal is very conditional and includes a large number of a wide variety of dogs that do not fit well into existing Western standards.
Well, the attitude towards the Afghan hound in Afghanistan, and in general, in the East, is the most respectful. In Afghanistan, bakhmul dogs were never sold, but only presented or exchanged for an equally valuable product. Theft of such a dog could end in death for the kidnapper. Afghan dogs were carefully looked after, washed, combed and treated.
The purity of the breed was also carefully monitored. An ancient manuscript has survived, setting out a kind of standard with instructions on the tribal purity of Afghan hound dogs. This is how it sounds in translation from the Pashto language: “… you are an ancient greyhound, and let no person change you. You must carry your saddle with pride, for it is the true mark of your breed. You must carry your tail high in a ring. You must move with strength and grace, for you are an ancient greyhound. You should not cover up your shortcomings with an abundance of wool, because they can pass to your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. " It should be added that the presence of a dark longitudinal "belt" or, as it is said in the manuscript, a "saddle" on the back of a dog is still considered an important breed characteristic, testifying to the antiquity and purity of the breeding line.
The most active breeding of Afghan hounds was carried out by the tribal royal dynasty of Barakzai, which ruled Afghanistan from 1826 to 1973. And the breed was bred in royal nurseries not at all for beauty (although the cleanliness of the exterior was carefully observed), but for hunting mountain goats and rams, snow leopard-snow leopards, as well as gazelles, wolves, foxes and hares.
The first acquaintance of Europeans with the Afghan hound took place in the second half of the 19th century after the end of a series of Anglo-Afghan wars, when British officers returning from Afghanistan brought the first representatives of the unique and hitherto unknown Afghan hound breed to Foggy Albion.
Quite quickly, these dogs gained the necessary popularity in Great Britain, by 1894 a stable export of dogs from Afghanistan and Persia was established, and even a national club of Afghan hound lovers was created. In 1907, the first national breed standard was established, based on the exterior of an Afghan dog named Zardin, brought from the Chagaya Mountains (now Pakistan) by British Army Captain John Bariff.
Despite the already existing tribal standard, in the early 30s of the last century in the UK and Western Europe, a debate erupted between fans of "Afghan women" about the need to change the standard. This was due to the fact that the greyhounds imported to Europe from the East differed greatly in their exterior, although they were real aboriginal "Afghans". Thus, animals brought from the lowland regions of Afghanistan and Iran were distinguished by their larger size and shorter wool length (or even its absence at all). The dogs brought from the mountainous regions of the Hindu Kush and the Pamirs (as well as from Mrs. Amp's kennel in Ghazni) were smaller, but had beautiful long fur. Adherents of the breed were divided into two hostile camps, which immediately affected the judging of the European championships. Judges adherents of the taller and less woolly plain "Afghans" were happy to "condemn" mountain dogs, and when judging championships by supporters of mountain woolly greyhounds, everything happened exactly the opposite - priority was always given to mountain "Afghans".
Many years of disputes were resolved by a simple decision of the Dutch arbiter Gan-Yundelin at the Winners Show (England, May 1930), who for the first time divided the “Afghan women” into two categories, and evaluated them separately (which caused a lot of criticism against the judge himself). Soon after that, both "warring" sides did come to a single correct option - it was decided that the Afghan dog should be tall and strong and have luxurious silky fur. To this end, an unprecedented mixing of already existing types began. The result was the emergence of the modern type of Afghan hound, which has largely lost the appearance of the aboriginal dog of Afghanistan. The famous "saddle" has disappeared, the shape of the skull has changed dramatically, the color of the lips, nose and eyelids has changed, and many more changes have taken place in the exterior (about 20 changes in total). Over time, appropriate changes were made to all the standards that are guided by breeders today.
Purpose and use of the Afghan Hound
Afghan hounds at all times were used exclusively for hunting. They never performed any shepherd's functions (as they sometimes write on the Internet). The main purpose of the Afghan women has always been hunting. But the game, the pursuit of which they were engaged in, varied depending on the locality and traditions. In mountainous areas, these were mountain goats and rams, which the dog drove over the rocks with surprising ease, tiring and forcing them to fall into the abyss. In the same place, sometimes "Afghan women" were massively used to track and chase snow leopards. In the steppe and plain areas, the prey of tireless dogs were deer, gazelles and chamois, jackals, foxes and hares. Sometimes wolves.
The modern purpose of bakhmul in the countries of the East, in fact, remained the same. In Europe and the USA, their purpose is different. These are, as a rule, show or sports (in agility competitions) dogs that have completely lost their hunting instincts. Occasionally, "Afghan women" can be found as pets, especially in people with a very energetic lifestyle, cycling or running.
Afghan Hound exterior standard description
The representative of the breed is an energetic, surprisingly courageous and at the same time non-aggressive dog, with a very independent character and unique exterior. The size of the animal is quite large. The height at the withers of a sexually mature male reaches 74 cm, and the height of the female is 69 cm, with an average dog weight of 23-27 kg.
- Head Afghan hound for millennia of existence has acquired a sophisticated wedge-shaped shape, with a rounded skull. The frontal part of the skull is rather flat and moderately wide. The occipital protuberance is well developed, but visually not visible due to the coat. The stop (transition from the forehead to the forceps) is smooth. The muzzle (gable) is elongated, long, dry. The lips are dry, tight to the jaws, and have a black color. The nasal bridge is straight, often narrow (it may be medium in width). The nose is black (in dogs with a light coat color - brown). The jaws are strong with a firm grip. The teeth are of a standard set, rather large, and white. The bite is scissor-like (a straight bite is considered a fault).
- Eyes very beautifully shaped (almond-shaped or "oriental"), somewhat obliquely and widely planted. The color of the eyes is preferable dark (from hazel to dark brown). A golden color of the cornea is allowed (lighter eyes are considered a defect in the assessment). The gaze is smart, independent and seemingly through the object (sliding, without concentration on the object in question). The eyelids are dark in color.
- Ears Afghan Hound, low and wide set, long, drooping, close to the head, covered with long hair, silky to the touch.
- Neck muscular, long and graceful (with a nice curvature of the nape), dry without dewlap.
- Torso strong, elongated. In this case, the format of the dog should be square (format index for males - 100-102, for bitches - 102-104). The chest is developed, deep, oval. The back is moderate in length, well muscled and straight. The withers are well defined. The loin is short, wide and straight. The croup is strong, muscular, rounded, somewhat sloping. The abdomen is moderately tucked up.
- Tail set low, long, reminiscent of a whip, twisted into a ring at the end. It is covered with a sparse short coat, which looks somewhat strange for a dog covered with long hair.
- Limbs very strong, muscular, even, parallel, in length proportionate to the body. The hind legs are set somewhat wider than the front ones. Paws are round (or oval) in shape, tightly packed ("in a lump"), with elastic pads. The front legs are slightly larger than the hind legs.
- Wool long, straight, heavy, rather tough (silky-harsh in quality), dense, with practically no undercoat. On the head, long strands of fur are parted and mixed with the long hair that covers the ears. The muzzle and areas above the eyes of the dog are covered with short hair that is close to the skin. On the ears and thighs of the animal, the cover can be wavy.
- Color Afghan hound is not limited by the standard and can be very diverse. The most common colors are: red, fawn, black, blue, white, golden, black and tan, apricot with gray hair, silver and brindle. One-color, two-color and three-color color options are available. It is desirable to have dark-colored "masks" on the muzzle and a longitudinal "strap" on the back (except for dogs of black, black and tan and white colors). White markings on the head are faults.
The character and health of the Afghan Hound
"Afghan" is a very reckless, dexterous and strong dog, possessing remarkable hunting talents, capable of equally tirelessly and courageously pursuing game in the most difficult landscape conditions, whether it be the cliffs of the highlands or the endless steppes of the plains. She is uniquely loyal to her owner and excellent handling.
Aboriginal Afghan Hounds are believed to be dogs with robust health and robust immunity to a wide variety of diseases, allowing them, with proper care, to live up to 14 years of age.
Animals with decorative and exhibition orientation are much more vulnerable and susceptible to the following diseases: extended cardiopathy, chylothorax, myelopathy, hypothyroidism, demodicosis and cataract. Despite this, the average duration of these dogs is in the range of 12-14 years.
Dog Grooming Tips
Care, maintenance and nutrition of the "Afghan" are quite comparable with the standard rules for keeping greyhounds. Therefore, for a true greyhound, caring for them is nothing new and difficult.
Price when buying an Afghan Hound puppy
In Russia, the breed of Afghan hounds has been known since the beginning of the 20th century. The first specimens of the breed were brought from Great Britain and did not take root too much (since ancient times, Russia has had its own proven greyhounds and hounds). Nevertheless, a certain number of individuals took root in Russia, having undergone all further changes in the breeding standard. Therefore, when in the 1980s aboriginal "Afghan women" were brought to the territory of the USSR from Afghanistan, they were very different from those animals that already existed in the country.
Hunters-greyhounds quickly appreciated the talents of the imported purebred aboriginal women, who were able not only to correctly drive the beast, but also to protect it from stranger dogs and people. I liked the dogs. However, there are many adherents of the already familiar type of "Afghan women" left in the country. Therefore, in present-day Russia there are two parallel branches of the "Afghan women" greyhounds (not counting the mixed variants).
Accordingly, the priorities and cost of such puppies vary significantly. For example, working dogs cost from 15,000 to 30,000 rubles. Aboriginal promising bakhmul puppy - from 25,000 to 50,000 rubles. Well, a show-class puppy - from 35,000-40,000 rubles and more.
For more information about the Afghan Hound breed, see this video:
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