Pampered Dog Blog

With the looks of a glamor model, and the physique of an athlete, the Afghan is an instantly recognizable dog breed.

Standing anywhere between 24 and 29 inches at the shoulder, and weighing up to 59 pounds, these lean sighthounds are characterized by a long lustrous coat that can be any color.

Another feature of the breed is a black facemask, and in some dogs you’ll also see a long ‘moustache’, which is referred to as a mandarin. As you can deduce from the name, these dogs come from Afghanistan. Like most sighthounds they were hunters of small game. The breed was unknown in the west until the 19th century, and by the end of World War 1, had virtually disappeared.

Then in the 1920′s several dogs were brought to Scotland as breeding stock. These dogs caused quite a stir on the dog show circuit and were soon recognized by the major international kennel clubs. Virtually all of the Afghans we see today, descend directly from this group.

Afghans are an ancient breed, and have genetic markers in common with wolves, making them close descendants of the original domesticated dogs.The Afghan is not your typically eager-to-please pet. They can be quite aloof, and economical with their affection. They also can be hard to train, despite being quite intelligent dogs.

Those who know the breed even describe their temperament as cat-like. That is to say that, an Afghan will only do your bidding if he sees a very good reason for doing so!

Having said that, they still make excellent pets, and are affectionate towards those close to them. With strangers though it’s a different story. When you meet an Afghan for the first time, you should expect to be ignored!

In common with many sight hounds, Afghans have a tendency towards laziness. They enjoy nothing more than to curl up on the couch or a comfortable blanket and wile the hours away.

Once outdoors though, the breeds strong hunting instincts kick in. You’ll notice that the dog is suddenly on full alert for prey, and he’ll chase any small animal he sees.Despite its limited gene pool, the Afghan is a surprisingly healthy dog. They suffer from few of the problems that typically afflict purebreds. They are however prone to eye diseases, with cataracts a particular problem.

One of the biggest challenges for an Afghan owner is keeping that luxurious coat looking its best. This requires daily brushing, and a regular trip to the dog salon to trim the coat back into shape.

The Afghan may be a hunting dog, but that doesn’t mean it enjoys living outdoors. These dogs much prefer sleeping on a comfy couch than in a kennel. Besides, the dog’s coat may look impressive, but it actually provides very little protection in cold weather.

The easiest way to find good names for your Afghan Hound is to visit an online dog names, resource, like puppy-names-hq.com. This site has tons of dog names, including 1000s of boy dog names to choose from.