(AKC Hound Group)
Height: 26 to 28 inches (male); 24 to 26 inches (female).
Size: Large.
Weight: 58 to 64 pounds (male); 45 to 55 (female).
Availability: May take some effort to find.
Size: Large.
Weight: 58 to 64 pounds (male); 45 to 55 (female).
Availability: May take some effort to find.
ORIGIN : Afghanistan.
UTILIZATION : Sighthound.
GENERAL APPEARANCE : Gives the impression of strength and
dignity, combining speed and power. Head held proudly.
dignity, combining speed and power. Head held proudly.
BEHAVIOR / TEMPERAMENT : Eastern or Oriental expression
is typical of breed. The Afghan looks at and through one. Dignified
and aloof, with a certain keen fierceness.
HEAD :
CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : Long, not too narrow with prominent occiput. Well balanced
and mounted by a long « top-knot ».
Stop : Slight.
FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Preferably black, liver permissible in light-coloured dogs.
Muzzle : Long, with punishing jaws.
Jaws/Teeth : Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor
bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set
square to the jaws. Level bite tolerated.
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.
NECK : Long, strong with proud carriage of head.
BODY :
Back : Level, moderate length, well muscled.
Loin : Straight, broad and rather short.
Croup : Falling slightly away to stern. Hipbones rather prominent and
wide apart.
Chest : A fair spring of ribs and good depth.
TAIL : Not too short. Set on low with ring at end. Raised when in
action. Sparsely feathered.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS : Forelegs straight and well boned, straight with
shoulder viewed from front.
Shoulders : Long and sloping, set well back, well muscled and strong
without being loaded.
Upper arm : Long and sloping.
Elbows : In profile vertically below the withers. Close to rib cage,
turning neither in nor out.
Pasterns : Long and springy.
HINDQUARTERS : Powerful. Great length between hip and hock
with comparatively short distance between hock and foot.
Stifles : Well bent and well turned.
Dewclaws : May be removed.
FEET : Forefeet strong and very large both in length and breadth, and
covered with long, thick hair; toes arched. Pads well down on ground.
Hindfeet long, but not quite as broad as forefeet; covered with long
thick hair.
GAIT / MOVEMENT : Smooth and springy with a style of high
order.
COAT
HAIR : Long and very fine 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 backwards, with a
distinct silky « top-knot ». On foreface hair short. Ears and legs well
coated. Pasterns can be bare. Coat must develop naturally.
COLOR : All colors acceptable.
SIZE : Ideal height : dogs 68-74 cm (27-29 ins); bitches 63-69 cm
(25-27 ins).
CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : Long, not too narrow with prominent occiput. Well balanced
and mounted by a long « top-knot ».
Stop : Slight.
FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Preferably black, liver permissible in light-coloured dogs.
Muzzle : Long, with punishing jaws.
Jaws/Teeth : Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor
bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set
square to the jaws. Level bite tolerated.
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.
NECK : Long, strong with proud carriage of head.
BODY :
Back : Level, moderate length, well muscled.
Loin : Straight, broad and rather short.
Croup : Falling slightly away to stern. Hipbones rather prominent and
wide apart.
Chest : A fair spring of ribs and good depth.
TAIL : Not too short. Set on low with ring at end. Raised when in
action. Sparsely feathered.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS : Forelegs straight and well boned, straight with
shoulder viewed from front.
Shoulders : Long and sloping, set well back, well muscled and strong
without being loaded.
Upper arm : Long and sloping.
Elbows : In profile vertically below the withers. Close to rib cage,
turning neither in nor out.
Pasterns : Long and springy.
HINDQUARTERS : Powerful. Great length between hip and hock
with comparatively short distance between hock and foot.
Stifles : Well bent and well turned.
Dewclaws : May be removed.
FEET : Forefeet strong and very large both in length and breadth, and
covered with long, thick hair; toes arched. Pads well down on ground.
Hindfeet long, but not quite as broad as forefeet; covered with long
thick hair.
GAIT / MOVEMENT : Smooth and springy with a style of high
order.
COAT
HAIR : Long and very fine 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 backwards, with a
distinct silky « top-knot ». On foreface hair short. Ears and legs well
coated. Pasterns can be bare. Coat must develop naturally.
COLOR : All colors acceptable.
SIZE : Ideal height : dogs 68-74 cm (27-29 ins); bitches 63-69 cm
(25-27 ins).