With their unique profile and movie star looks it is difficult to mistake the Afghan Hound for any other dog breed.

These tall, sleek sight hounds can stand as high as 29 inches at the shoulder, and can weigh between 44 to 59 pounds. Their trademark long, silky coat can be any color, although white markings are not permitted.

The face also has a black ‘mask’, while some dogs sport a long mandarin-style moustache called, unsurprisingly, a mandarin. Like most sighthounds, the Afghan was developed for hunting small game. The breed is from Afghanistan and was first seen in the west during the 1800s. However, by the end of World War One, very few remained.

Then in the 1920′s several dogs were brought to Scotland as breeding stock. These dogs caused quite a stir on the dog show circuit and were soon recognized by the major international kennel clubs. Virtually all of the Afghans we see today, descend directly from this group.

Afghans are an ancient breed, and have genetic markers in common with wolves, making them close descendants of the original domesticated dogs.The Afghan temperament is a perfect match for its stylish looks. They are known to be aloof, stand-offish, and have even been described as ‘snobbish’. They are intelligent dogs, but with a stubbornness that makes them a challenge to train.

Those who know the breed even describe their temperament as cat-like. That is to say that, an Afghan will only do your bidding if he sees a very good reason for doing so!

But they are still great pets, and can be surprisingly loving with those close to them. With strangers though, they’ll keep their distance, until you’ve earned their trust and respect.

Like most other sight hound breeds, the Afghan can be quite lazy. They enjoy nothing more than curling up on the couch for a good nap, and normally see no reason to exert themselves.

Outdoors though, it’s an entirely different story. The hunting instinct kicks in and they will chase anything that moves, small animals in particular.Despite its limited gene pool, the Afghan is a surprisingly healthy dog. They suffer from few of the problems that typically afflict purebreds. They are however prone to eye diseases, with cataracts a particular problem.

Grooming an Afghan is a labor intensive job. The coat needs daily brushing to keep it looking its best and will also have to be trimmed by a professional groomer every once in a while.

The Afghan may be a hunting dog, but that doesn’t mean it enjoys living outdoors. These dogs much prefer sleeping on a comfy couch than in a kennel. Besides, the dog’s coat may look impressive, but it actually provides very little protection in cold weather.

If you’re searching for dog names, for your Afghan Hound, I recommend puppy-names-hq.com. This site has 1000’s of excellent dog names, including a huge list of male dog names choose from.

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