Afghan Hound 

Breed History

The Afghan Hound was originally developed as a sighthound in its native Afghanistan. They used their speed and sight to hunt in the deserts and mountains. Did you know, it used to be illegal to export this dog from their native Afghanistan? Thankfully, this is no longer the case and they are now found internationally.

General Appearance

The Afghan Hound is a stunning sighthound with a muscular body, long muzzle and long, silky fur. They can reach heights of up to 70cm and weigh in up to 27kg.

Temperament

These dogs can be standoffish and enjoy their own company. They aren’t overly affectionate, even with their own owners.

Health Considerations

Dilated Cardiomyopathy is a heart disease that can affect the Afghan Hound. The heart walls progressively weaken over time and the heart’s ability to function as a pump reduces. Those in heart failure should be kept on a low sodium diet.

Trainability

This is a dog that can be difficult to train as they don’t generally have a desire to please their owner. Despite this, they can be intelligent so training is not always a chore.

Grooming

The grooming for an Afghan Hound can vary depending on the time of year and how much of a coat they have. For a full coated Afghan Hound, a bath every 1 - 2 weeks is advised. We shouldn’t brush our Afghan Hounds coats if they are dry or dirty so brushing after a bath is advised.

Exercise

We should aim to give our Afghan Hounds a minimum of two hours of exercise each day. Aim for a couple of shorter walks (30 - 40 minutes) with plenty of off-lead time in a secure space to help them burn off excess energy. This breed also needs a lot of mental stimulation so at-home games and activities are advised on top.

Feeding Considerations

Pooch & Mutts’ Superfood  is ideal for growing Afghan Hounds and will see your dog through from Puppyhood to their Senior Years. This range is nutritionally complete and has a whole host of lean-protein, healthy fats, fibrous superfoods, vitamins and minerals.

You'll find a handy feeding calculator on every product page here at Pooch & Mutt to help you identify how much of our health led recipes are right for the age, size and weight of your dog.