AFGHAN HOUND

       

 

The Afghan Hound Is an aristocrat, his whole appearance one dignity and aloofness with no trace of plainness or coarseness.He has a straight front, proudly carried head, eyes gazing into the distance as if in memory of ages past. The striking characteristics of the breed - exotic, or* Eastern, expression, long silky topknot, peculiar coat pattern, very prominent hipbones, large feet, and the impression of a somewhat exaggerated bend in the stifle due to profuse trouserings - stand out clearly, giving the Afghan Hound the appearance of what he is, a king of dogs, that has held true to tradition throughout the ages.

 
 

                 

 

General Appearance  Gives the inpression of  strength and dignity, combinning speed and power.Head held proudly.

Characteristics Easternor Oriental expression is typical of breed. The Afghan looks at and through one.

Temperament    Dignified and aloof, with a certain  keen fierceness.

Head and skull Skull long, not too narrow, with promiment occiput. Foreface long with punishing jaws and slight stop. Skull well balanced and mounted by a long  top-knot Nose preferably black, liver permissible in light-coloured dogs.

 
Eyes Dark for preference, but golden colour not debarred. Nearly triangular, slanting slightly upwards from inner corner to outer.

Ears Set low and well back, carried close to head. Covered with long silky hair.

Mouth   Jaws strong, with a perfect regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower theet and set square to the jaws.Level bite tolerated.

Neck Long, strong,with proud carriage of head.

 

ForeeQuarters  Shoulders long and sloping, well set back, well muscled and strong without being loaded. Forelegs straight and well boned, straight with shoulder; elbows close to ribcage, turning neither in nor out.

Body  Back level, moderate length, well muscled, back falling slightly away to stern. Loin straight, broad and rather short. Hipbones rather prominent and wide apart. A fair spring of ribs and good depth of chest.

HindQ uarters  Powerful, well bent and well turned stifles. Great length between hip and hock with comparatively short distance between hock and foot. Dewclaws may be removed.

 
Feet  Forefeet strong and very large both in length and breadth, and covered with long, thick hair; toes arched. Pasterns long and springy, pads well down on ground, Hindfeet long, but not quite as broad as forefeet; covered with long thick haire.

Tail  Not too short. Set on low with ring at end. Raised when in action. Sparsely feathered.

Gait  Movement Smooth and springy with a style of high order.

Coat  Long and very gine texture on ribs, fore and hindquarters and flanks. In mature dogs from shoulder backwards and along the saddle, hair short and close. Hair long from forehead backwords, with a distinct silky  top knot On foreface hair short. Ears and legs well coated. Pasterns can be bare. Coat must develop naturally.

 

  

 
Colour  all colours acceptable.
Size ideal height: dogs: 68-74 cms (27-29ins); bitches:63-69 cms (25-27 ins).
Faults Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Note Male animals should have two apparrently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

 

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