Adopting Puppies: Afghan Hound Appearance and Personality

The Afghan Hound first appeared in the US in 1926. The first specimens were brought to England in the latter part of the 19th century. Prior to this time, little is known for certain of its origin and history. Two type extremes exist in the Afghan breed with numerous intermediate variations, they are:

" The hounds of the southern and western regions that tend to be relatively rangy in build, light in color and sparse in coat " The hounds of the northern mountain regions that tend to be more compact, dark and more heavily coated

During World War I, the Afghan Hounds just disappeared in the Western world. The Hounds we have today date back to 1920.

The following information is offered to help you decide if the Afghan Hound breed is right for you, your family and lifestyle. The descriptions are also meant to fit a dog true to the breed standard.

Origin: The current breed was developed in Afghanistan's mountainous countryside

Special Abilities:

" Primarily a coursing hound, pursuing its quarry by sight " Sure-footed and agile to work the rugged terrain " Strength and speed to bring down prey " Stamina to maintain a strenuous chase for a sustained length of time

AKC classification: Hound Group

Appearance Description:

" Straight front, proudly carried head " Eyes gazing into the distance as if in memory of ages past " Long silky topknot " Peculiar coat pattern " Very prominent hipbones " Large feet " Head is of good length, showing much refinement " Ears are long, set approximately on level with outer corners of the eyes " Eyes are almond-shaped, never full or bulgy and are dark in color " Nose is good size, black in color " Strong and powerful loin and slightly arched " Tail set not too high on the body, having a ring, or a curve on the end " Coat is thick, silky hair, very fine in texture " Height: Males 27 inches, females 25 inches " Weight: about 60 pounds for a male, about 50 pounds for a female " All colors, but color or color combinations are nice, white markings especially on the head are undesirable " When running free, the Afghan Hound moves at a gallop

Personality Description:

" Aloof " Dignified " Gay

For more information about this breed, other dog breeds and to view pictures, follow the link in the resource box of this article.

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

Written by: Connie Limon. Visit "Adopting Puppies" at http://smalldogs2.com/AdoptingPuppies to find a complete online reference for choosing and caring for the perfect puppy, which matches you and your lifestyle. Purchase Shih Tzu puppies at http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com