Afghan Hound
Silk over steel — a mountain sighthound with a supermodel's coat and a cat's view of obedience.
Vital stats
| Size | Large · 63–74 cm |
| Weight | 23–27 kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–14 years |
| Energy | High — daily walks plus fenced sprints |
| Shedding | Low, but the coat mats |
| Coat | Long silky coat · all colours |
| Group | Hound · FCI №228 / AKC |
Breed traits
Friendliness
Care
Mind
Temperament
Bred to course game alone over rock and scree, far from any hunter's instruction, the Afghan learned to make its own decisions — and never unlearned it. At home that history reads as dignity: reserved with strangers, sensitive to harshness, quietly attached to its people, with a daily burst of pure silliness at speed.
Habits & quirks
The distance stare
Sighthound eyes lock onto movement long before you see it; the legs follow.
Selective hearing
Knows its name perfectly and treats it as an invitation, not an instruction.
Evening zoomies
Once a day, all that dignity dissolves into laps of glorious, silly speed.
Cat-like fastidiousness
Clean, quiet and particular about where it sleeps — usually your best chair.
Care
| Grooming | Several hours a week: bathe first, then brush — dry-brushing a dirty coat snaps the silk. |
| Exercise | A long daily walk plus regular free running in securely fenced space. |
| Off-lead safety | Never off-lead near roads — a running cat outranks your voice, every time. |
| Training | Gentle, brief and food-sweetened; force achieves precisely nothing with this breed. |
Common questions
Are Afghan Hounds hard to train?
They learn fast and comply selectively — independence is bred in, not a flaw. Short, rewarding sessions and realistic expectations work best.
How much grooming does an Afghan Hound need?
Plan on several hours weekly, with regular baths and careful line-brushing to prevent mats. Many owners keep pets in a shorter clip.
Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs?
With calm, older children, yes — they are gentle but reserved and dislike rough play. They bond deeply while staying elegantly undemonstrative.