Afghan Hound

The Afghan Hound is a beautiful, regal breed of dog, but beneath the surface beats the heart of a hunter. These purebred dogs were bred to course hare and gazelle over the rocky mountainous terrain of their native Afghanistan. Today, these medium-sized sighthounds still have a strong instinct to run and chase. They usually weigh between 50 and 60 pounds.

The Afghan Hound is a beautiful breed with a striking appearance, but please only purchase one if you’re prepared to daily walk him and take care of his coat. He’s not a couch potato that will lounge around all day, so he needs lots of exercise. A long leash walk or being able to run in an area away from traffic are perfect for this pup. Additionally, consider signing up for agility, obedience or rally competitions as they’re activities he would excel at – plus it’s a great bonding experience! Some Afghans even make therapy dogs too.

The Afghan Hound is a gentle and quiet companion that likes to have access to soft bedding or furniture. They are reserved around strangers but can be silly with their own family. Although they are not “playmate” kind of dogs, they can be raised well with children if introduced early on. Afghans are very close to their families, and if they have to be placed with someone else, it can take some time for them to adjust. If you’re not prepared to keep an Afghan for his entire life, don’t get one.

The Afghan Hound has an independent nature with independent thinking, but he can be trained with the use of positive reinforcement techniques, especially those that offer food rewards. Start training with mental stimulation when he is young and still somewhat pliable, keep training sessions concise and fun, and try to avoid corrections that could seem too harsh. Also remember that the Afghan’s height–25 to 27 inches at the shoulder–in combination with the insatiable appetite of hounds in general means that this breed is particularly adept a counter surfing for food. If you don’t want your dog helping himself to whatever snacks are within reach, it would be best to store them out of his sight and reach.

The Afghan won’t chase neighborhood cats if he’s contained in a secure, enclosed area–and we’re not talking about an underground electronic fence. If the Afghan consciously decides to leave the yard, a shock from the fence certainly won’t stop him; They are excellent jumpers, so building that secure fence at least six feet tall should do it since this pup is meant to be indoor dog. And by “indoor dog,” we mean one who gets plenty of attention from his family and isn’t relegated to backyard lonely-town.