03 Jul Interesting facts about the Afghan Hound dogs

Afghan Hound is a unique hunting dog. He has long, slender legs and a furry body. This dog is a hairy and tall friend ​​with straight legs. He’s one of the aristocratic hunting dogs. Her hair colour ranges from white, black, grey, brown, cream and sand. The Afghan’s snout is black and has long, drooping ears. The hair of this breed is long and has a curved tail at the end of his body. Afghan Hound dog has a long neck with solid muscles. If you have this breed, read this article to get more complete information about him.

Afghan Hound dogs information

• Cleaning Afghan Hound is essential. To clean this dog, you have to be a professional groomer or leave his cleaning to a professional groomer.
• Afghan Hound is a natural hunter, which can make his training a bit difficult.
• This breed has low pain tolerance, and a superficial injury can be problematic for him.
• Afghan Hound shouldn’t be mistreated; Because they are susceptible and don’t react well.
• It’s true that this breed treats children (except young children) well, but it’s better to grow up with them from childhood to get used to them.
• To ensure a healthy dog, check for any genetic disorders in him.

History of Afghan Hound dogs

The Afghan Hound has been available for thousands of years as a greyhound and shepherd. Narratives of this breed have been found in ancient Egypt, as well as paintings in tombs in northern Afghanistan dating back 4,000 years. People used Afghan Hound to hunt wolves, deer and goats. But today, because of his beauty, he’s accepted as an aristocratic dog.

The appearance of Afghan Hound dogs

The first feature that catches the eye of any viewer about the Afghan Hound dog is his long silky hair. The whole body of this dog is covered with long and lovely hair, So the beautiful fur on his head and neck falls around his face and creates a beautiful scene. In addition to his handsome appearance, this unique cover fits the geographical area of his life. So, it protects his body against the cold of the mountains of Afghanistan and the heat of that region. The height of this dog is about 61 to 74 cm, and he’s classified as a tall dog and weighs about 20 to 27 kg. His colour is usually seen in gold, black, brown and white, of which gold and black are the most popular colours. The lifespan of this dog is about 12 to 14 years. The Afghan Hound is naturally a slender dog. His particular skeleton helps him to be agile, and he can surprise you with his agility in hunting!

Afghan Hound dogs character

• Sometimes he gets bored and isolated, but he’s very kind, fresh and attractive.
• His education must be non-violent. Afghan Hound has been given the title (King of Dogs).
• This breed doesn’t have a good relationship with young children and doesn’t make friends with strangers, and becomes aggressive when confronted with them.

Health and disease

Afghans are usually healthy, but like other breeds, they have certain diseases.

Hip dysplasia

It’s an inherited disease that causes the bones to stick together and manifests as pain in one or both hind legs. One of the best ways to diagnose this disease is by X-ray. Under no circumstances should a dog grow up with this disease.

Hypothyroidism

The thyroid is a glandular disease that causes alopecia (hair loss), obesity, sedentary lifestyle, epilepsy and skin hyperpigmentation.

Allergies

Allergies are one of the most common diseases in this breed. The disease is generally divided into three categories: food, contact, and environment. Substances in dog food cause food allergies. Contact allergies are also caused by contact with the dog’s blanket, bedding or shampoo. Finally, environmental allergies are due to dust and the spread of chemicals in the air. Symptoms include eye discharge, runny nose, sedentary lifestyle, sneezing, itching, and hair loss. Depending on the type of allergy, diet, medication, and relocation can be used.

Von Willebrand

The disease causes bleeding in the gums, nose, and heavy bleeding after surgery. It can be diagnosed and treated at 3 to 5 years old. But it can be treated with sutures or controlling bleeding without particular medications.

Cancer

 Dogs, like humans, can get cancer. There are different types of cancer. Symptoms are usually respiratory problems, abnormal swelling, and sores that don’t heal and depending on the kind of dog, it has its treatment. Some undergo surgery, and others undergo chemotherapy. In some cases, both methods are required.

Cataracts at a young age

The high cataract in the eye may cause blindness in the dog. But it’s slight turbidity. Depending on its severity, the vet can sometimes remove it with surgery.

Nutrition

Give 2 to 2.5 servings of high-quality dry food daily to Afghan Hounds in two stages. Industrial foods usually provide everything with your dog needs. But if you want to give him homemade food, you need to have a variety of foods to absorb all the nutrients his body needs. You can use your hands to control the weight of the dog. The method of using the writing is such that we place the thumb along the spine and press downwards. If you touch the ribs without much pressure and effort, the dog isn’t overweight. Otherwise, the dog is obese. The amount of dog food depends on their physical activity, age, size and metabolism. Also, the needs of the dog’s body are different at different ages. The vet must determine his proper nutrition.

Maintenance and care

Afghan Hound is a dog that likes to spend time at home with family members. But like other dogs, he needs daily mobility. Try not to take him for walks in crowded places; Because they have an extraordinary talent for escape, and their speed is so high that they can even overtake a horse. This breed loves outdoor running and loves long walks. At least 30 minutes of physical activity and exercise is enough for him.

Grooming

• Afghan Hound needs to take a bath once a week. Be careful not to brush his hair after it dries; it causes damage and tangling.
• Try to brush your dog’s mouth every day or at least three times a week to prevent the growth of bacteria, gum disease and bad breath.
• You should trim his nails once or twice a month. If you hear your dog walking, know that his nails are long. Be careful not to cut your dog’s nails too short; it may cause bleeding and cause your dog not to cooperate next time.
• You should check Afghan Hounds once a week. If redness or a foul odour is seen, it’s a sign of infection and should be cleaned with a damp cotton swab. (In addition to the ears, you should also check the mouth, eyes, nose, and legs for redness or discharge.)

keeping place

This breed isn’t suitable for apartment living. He needs a quiet house with a large space. Afghan Hound likes to sleep indoors but can also live outside the home.

Training

The Afghan Hound is a dignified and robust, calm and lively dog! It has an attractive and friendly look that makes him look mysterious. He’s very kind to his owner and friendly with other dogs. To avoid problems interacting with people, they should be social from birth. They have superior intelligence, But this dog is a little rebellious that comes from the wild nature. So don’t be surprised if he sometimes disobeys. This feature makes training these dogs hard. So if you don’t have the experience of caring for any dog, this dog isn’t suitable for your first experience. Afghan Hound’s energy level is high and requires long walks; Because this dog is a breed of hunting dog and instinctively likes to follow prey. In Europe today, he’s mainly used as a domestic dog. Another advantage of him is that he adapts perfectly to the hot weather, which is due to the unique cover of his body. So you can live in any area with any weather conditions suitable for you.

Compatibility

Afghan Hound’s independence and large size have made him the best companion. This breed doesn’t like to play with young children. Their noise and activity can upset him.

To wrap up

 Afghan Hound dogs aren’t suitable for living in apartments. Only if you have enough daily activity and exercise can these dogs be kept in an apartment. Homes with safe yards and fences are a good place for them to live. The high energy level of these dogs makes short walks not enough to drain their energy. Afghan Hounds need relatively long runs and a high level of activity. Although they’re an intelligent breed, their independent personality prevents them from responding well to instructions and training. To have a healthy and lively dog, you need to pay attention to nutrition, activity, health, grooming, etc. You can prevent the disease and have a healthy dog in this case. In all these steps, you can count on the specialized team of MishkaGrooming. Our experienced and precise groomers have carefully and accurately groomed your dogs, so they count the moments for the next session.