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The doghouse

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Original poster

Afghan Hound

27 replies

Nopeihavenoidea · 13/09/2022 20:03

I am contemplating getting one but before I go down that route has anyone got one and can let me know more?

OP posts:
Kite22 · 13/09/2022 23:41

Ahh. I haven't seen an Afghan hound in years. Probably decades.
I have no knowledge, just a memory of a friend of my parents who had one when I was a child Smile

Reggiebo · 13/09/2022 23:54

The Afghan hound association UK have a FB page. You would be able to contact breeders and discuss the needs of the breed. Obviously grooming is going to be a big job.

RedDiamond · 14/09/2022 00:00

My family had an Afghan Hound when I was a young girl! Be prepared that they can scale 6ft garden fences and run like the wind. I was forever being sent off to find him...

Original poster
Nopeihavenoidea · 14/09/2022 05:43

thanks all. Will look at the Facebook page. We had a jack Russell who could also scale fences.

OP posts:
mountainsunsets · 14/09/2022 06:44

Incredibly rare.
Lots of grooming.
Practically no recall and very fast.

Reggiebo · 14/09/2022 08:21

Yes agree with all the above. There are breeders on Kennel club website to.

TidesOfLife · 14/09/2022 08:23

Makes me think of a cartoon I used to watch as a child called What-a-mess all about an Afghan hound. 😊

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 14/09/2022 08:25

Apparently they're the thickest dog breed, and for sighthounds that's saying something.

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 14/09/2022 08:26

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 14/09/2022 08:25

Apparently they're the thickest dog breed, and for sighthounds that's saying something.

😂

RedRosie · 14/09/2022 08:29

I grew up with an Afghan. He was beautiful, fabulous with kids, and very, very stupid. We loved him so much. 😍

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 14/09/2022 08:32

www.dogster.com/lifestyle/dumbest-dog-breeds

Here you go! If it makes it any better - it's perhaps better phrased as extremely hard to train rather than thick. So some of those breeds will be bright but stubborn and very focused on their own agenda. However, as afghans are sighthounds, I fear you're looking at something which is both stubborn AND thick. And can move at up to 40mph.

Good luck!

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 14/09/2022 08:56

Would a retired greyhound not be similar but with less hair?

mountainsunsets · 14/09/2022 09:19

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 14/09/2022 08:32

www.dogster.com/lifestyle/dumbest-dog-breeds

Here you go! If it makes it any better - it's perhaps better phrased as extremely hard to train rather than thick. So some of those breeds will be bright but stubborn and very focused on their own agenda. However, as afghans are sighthounds, I fear you're looking at something which is both stubborn AND thick. And can move at up to 40mph.

Good luck!

Sorry but this really made me laugh 😂

TooMuchToDoTooLittleInclination · 14/09/2022 09:24

I haven't seen one in years.

there's probably a good reason for that!!

but if you do, we need photos.

Impossiblepossibilities · 14/09/2022 11:22

Beautiful dogs, can be escapologists, their speed is obvious and beautiful to watch, but needs factoring in in terms of secure field hire etc. They are often total princesses who are ridiculously stubborn whilst simultaneously being a total dumb-ass.

The grooming would put me off, but the rest is just the usual sighthound stuff that I’m used to, but ramped up a bit.

picklemewalnuts · 14/09/2022 11:27

I thought they were delicate? As in, fragile? But I've not seen one since I was a child, so could be misremembering.

Do they need lots of maintenance or could they get by with a six weekly trim like most dogs near me seem to get these days?

mountainsunsets · 14/09/2022 11:49

picklemewalnuts · 14/09/2022 11:27

I thought they were delicate? As in, fragile? But I've not seen one since I was a child, so could be misremembering.

Do they need lots of maintenance or could they get by with a six weekly trim like most dogs near me seem to get these days?

Tons of maintenance - including daily brushing as well as baths in the winter to prevent matts.

They're a really high maintenance breed and I suspect that's part of the reason they're so incredibly rare.

There was one on Dogs Behaving Badly not long ago - owned by a professional dog walker but it had pulled her over and broken her leg 😳 it had absolutely no recall whatsoever and it took hours to get it back!

As lovely as they are to look at they're really not a breed for novice owners or anyone who wants to keep their sanity 🤣

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 14/09/2022 12:26

So Whatamess isn't a work of fiction then Grin I used to love those books. I bet they were written by someone with a lot of (bitter) experience of afghans.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 14/09/2022 12:28

They were!

Frank Muir, the popular comedian and radio presenter who died in 1998, kept Afghan hounds as well as cats.

MagpiePi · 14/09/2022 12:29

Afghans are my favourite dogs!
I often pass a man walking an Afghan and I would say, if you do get one, you're going to need supermarket plastic bags rather than the usual dog poo bags.
💩

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 14/09/2022 12:32

So do you still want one, OP... Grin

Creepymanonagoatfarm · 14/09/2022 12:34

My dgm's favourite breed though she never had one.
Why is an Afghan called an Afghan?
One bite and afgan's ya hand!
Sure that's not true though!

helpmedate · 14/09/2022 17:32

I know a young one who plays with my dog regularly. He's glorious- a beautiful animal, amazing to watch in full flow, dog and people friendly and not very woofy. But he's wilful, stubborn, terrible recall (despite a lot of effort) and can be a real prince- will lie down and refuse to move and play roughly and then yelp and look sorry for himself. Howls for his walks and generally does as he pleases! He's also a real mud lover and fox poo roller so needs frequent baths.

He's a lovely thing and definitely a local superstar but he seems like very hard work. The breed seems to be reducing so would be lovely to see more, but do it with your eyes open- this seems like a high maintenance hard work dog!

ScattyHattie · 14/09/2022 17:40

Used to see a few at the lurcher races, they are a weird mix of stunning & rediculous in full flight. They also look like people in furry suits from behind when stood up on their hind legs 😂

They are on my 'if I win the lottery' list where I can afford a secure field for them to run off nutty energy safely and someone to do all the grooming work as would be shame to shave the coat for practicality, although they sell various Afghan leg body wraps to avoid wet, mud, pee on coat . I love the dark coated afghans and the puppies have cute hairy noses than eventually go smooth as adults.
Hoping to hear from an owner too, they sound similar to salukis in temperament & energy levels, I know Greyhounds are the lite version of all the pointy sighthound breeds so are more realitically suited to a lazy person like myself.

Suzi888 · 14/09/2022 17:44

I had to Google but sure enough- someone around here has one. My Labrador takes immense offence to the afghan hound. I don’t think he realises it’s a dog 😂.

The owner walks him /her together with another dog but always crosses the road (to get away from my lab- he stands and stares, probably looks a bit scary) so I’ve never been able to speak to her.

The coat must take some brushing! If I had one I think I’d have to name it Rapunzel 🤷🏼‍♀️