The Afghan Hound is also known as the Baluchi Hound, Sage Baluchi, Tazi, Afghanischer Windhung, Levrier Afghan, or Lebrel Afgano. This dog is a sighthound and is generally considered to be an aristocratic dog. They are tall and slender with a narrow head, silky topknot, and powerful jaws. The back of the head and skull is quite prominent and the muzzle is slightly convex. The nose is always black and the dark eyes are almond shaped. The ears should lie flat against the head. The front legs should be strong and straight, ending in large feet which are covered in long hair. The beautiful tail has a curl or even a ring at the tip, but the tail is never carried over the back. The coat is long, rich, and silky and is usually a sandy color with darker face and ear fringes. All colors are permitted in the show ring, but white marking are strongly discouraged.
Standing 27 to 29 inches high at the shoulders, the Afghan Hound typically weighs anywhere from 50 to 64 pounds. The dog looks as if it should weigh more, but the body has a slight build which can be deceiving. Their coats protect them against extreme temperatures, but they still should not be left outside for long periods of time.
The Afghan is courageous, sweet, loyal, affectionate, sensitive, dignified, and very spirited. They have a low dominance level and can be somewhat aloof, but they socialize well so this tendency can be easily corrected. They tend to be suspicious of anyone they do not know, but they are not usually hostile. These dogs need guidance and a firm hand during training, go give clear guidelines when beginning your training program. Not recommended for younger children, Afghans do well with older children who can establish a leadership role. Afghan hounds can be difficult to housebreak and can become timid and high strung without proper training.
These dogs are generally healthy but are not suitable for apartment living. Afghan Hounds require long walks and plenty of space to exercise, so make sure you are providing for your dog's physical needs. While these dogs love to be outside, your Afghan should always sleep in the house.
This elegant dog is very ancient indeed. It is native to Sinai and mentioned several times in Egyptian papyruses. They are also pictured in the caves of northern Afghanistan and it is possible that these paintings are more than 4000 years old. The dog only appeared in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century, mostly because of a ban on the exportation of these lovely beasts. Once they did reach Europe, their popularlity exploded. As a sighthound, which means it hunts by scent, the Afghan was uniquely suited to hunting deer, wild goats, wolves, and even snow leopards. They were also used for tracking, herding, racing, and were put in place as watchdogs.
Today, the Afghan Hound has become a luxury pet and a show dog. They are not considered the most intelligent of dogs, but they more than make up for that in drive and personality. This dog can be registered with most associations around the world and is considered one of the purest dog breeds.
The Affenpinscher, also called the Affen, has a shaggy wire-type coat and is on the smaller side. Unlike most breeds, the hair on the face of the Affenpinscher is longer than the hair on the rest of the body, resulting in a unique and distinctive look. The undercoat is slightly curly, giving the coat a bouncy appearance.
The Affen generally stands between 10 and 15 inches at the shoulder and weighs seven or eight pounds. Despite its small size, the Affen is not a delicate dog. It is a working dog and has a stocky body with a deep chest. The ears and tail are traditionally docked, but this is slowly becoming less common as various countries ban docking entirely. The coat is usually black or dark gray, though other acceptable colors include silver, red, light gray, or black and tan.
As a terrier, the Affenpinscher can be stubborn, bold, inquisitive, and mischievous. They are excellent with other pets if they are raised with them but often develop dominant tendencies. For this reason, owners of Affens should take care to give the dog limitations and boundaries early in life. These dogs are not recommended for young children, though older children usually enjoy these little dogs. They shed very little and so are suitable for many people who can't handle a shedding breed.
These dogs like to bark and will climb fences and occasionally trees. They are quite intelligent but they do become bored easily, so try to keep your Affenpinscher engaged and they'll respond to training better. Many are difficult to housebreak, but a little persistence usually does the trick.
Some Affenpinschers are prone to fractures. They may also experience slipped stifle, open fontanel, respiratory problems, and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). These dogs do fine without a yard and so are suitable for apartments provided they get two or three good walks a day. Affens are sensitive to temperature extremes and should not be left in either warm or cold weather for very long. Additionally, hot weather can damage the coat.
It's difficult to say where the Affenpinscher originally came from. However, they seem to have emerged in Germany, though these dogs were significantly lager than today's Affenpinscher. The larger dog worked on farms as a ratter and watchdog. In the 18th century, a concerted effort to miniaturize this breed began, initiating the first selective breeding the Affen had ever known. The drive to hunt and protect never lessened, however. They might be a companion dog today, but they will still hunt down mice that sneak into the house and alert their owners to intruders.
The Affenpinshcer is the perfect companion for anyone with a little patience and a willingness to work with this demanding little dog. It can also be registered with most associations around the world.
The Afaird is an experimental breed that has only recently begun to attract any attention. This breed is a cross between the Afghan Hound and the Briard. The hope is to create a dog with the protective instinct, playfulness, and intelligence of the Briard with the coat and bone structure of the Afghan. This attempt has been met with limited success. As a result, the Afaird is not recognized by any associations in the world.
Sometimes referred to as a designer dog, the Afaird tends to be ambitious and obedient, but intelligence has been difficult to breed for. Physically, the puppies of such crosses tend to vary widely. Luckily, Afaird puppies seem to have relatively few health problems. Breeders are attempting to stabalize the breed, but until this happens, this dog breed will not be any more than an experiment.
