Afghan Hound
阿富汗獵犬
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Afghan Hound may be the oldest of all purebred dogs — an aristocratic sighthound from the mountains and deserts of Afghanistan whose thick, silky, flowing coat protected it on a long day's hunt for gazelle and hare, and whose huge paw-pads absorbed the punishing terrain. Afghans are independent and sweet: aloof, dignified and elegant, reserved with strangers, affectionate and extremely loyal to the humans they bond with, and — with a 1/5 trainability score — not an obedient dog by nature; no amount of training, owners say, overcomes the urge to break into a high-speed chase. They need a lead outdoors and a high, secure fence to run behind, several hours of brushing a week and, in the AKC's words, are a special breed for special people.
Facts
| Size | Large |
|---|---|
| Height | 64–69cm |
| Weight | 23–27kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–18years |
| Breed group | AKC: hound FCI: 10 |
| Role | Hound |
| Coat | Long coat |
| Shedding | 1/ 5 |
| Exercise | 60–150min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 4 hours |
| Companionship need | 3/ 5 |
| Trainability | 1/ 5 |
| Barking | 3/ 5 |
| Good with children | 3/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 3/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 3/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 3/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Hip dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen hips by X-ray. Ask your vet about hip screening and about keeping your dog lean and fit.
Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus)
Deep-chested dogs of this breed are at risk of bloat, a life-threatening emergency. Ask your vet about the warning signs and prevention options.
Hypothyroidism
Thyroid testing is one of the three tests the parent club requires for its CHIC programme, with hip and eye screening. Ask your vet about thyroid testing if you notice weight gain, lethargy or coat changes.
Cataracts
The parent club lists juvenile cataract certification among the health tests it recommends, and eye screening through CERF is a CHIC requirement for the breed. Ask your vet about eye examinations if you notice cloudiness in the eyes.
Chylothorax
Chylothorax — an accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the chest cavity — is described by the parent club as a condition seen in the breed. Ask your vet promptly if your dog breathes rapidly, coughs or tires easily.
Anaesthesia sensitivity
The AKC says sighthounds such as Afghans have naturally low body fat and tend to be sensitive to anaesthesia, and breed experts recommend a sighthound-savvy vet for surgery. Tell your vet before any procedure.
Behaviour
Aloof, dignified, sweet — and not obedient
The AKC says Afghans are independent, dignified and aloof in general but affectionate and extremely loyal to the humans they have bonded with — a loyalty that makes it hard for an adult to adjust to a new home but fairly easy to house-train; unless competition is the goal, teaching come, sit and stay is generally sufficient, and owners are quick to point out that no amount of training will overcome the hunting instinct to break off on a high-speed chase. Its trait chart scores trainability 1/5. The CKC says that, befitting its aristocratic appearance, the Afghan is aloof and dignified but good-humoured.
Built to run — behind a high fence
The AKC says that as sighthounds Afghans have a strong instinct to run off after perceived prey, so walking off leash is not advisable; short walks are not enough for this athletic breed, some owners take leashed adults on long runs, and ideally an Afghan runs full out several times a week in a large enclosed area — with a high, secure fence, because tall, lean, strong Afghans are excellent jumpers. The CKC calls it an athlete bred to course gazelle that requires lots of outdoor exercise; the Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at more than 2 hours a day and daily grooming.
Energy and exercise
Energy level is rated 4/5 (high) on the AKC breed-trait chart. The Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at "more than 2 hours per day".
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 1/5, barking level 3/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — Afghan Hound
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Canadian Kennel Club — Afghan Hound (Hounds)
Origin, temperament, activity level, height/weight, coat and grooming as described by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Afghan Hound
Breed characteristics (size large, exercise more than 2 hours per day, lifespan over 10 years), plus the recommended pre-breeding health schemes and DNA tests.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — Afghan Hound (standard no. 228, group 10)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
What owners say
Owner advice is quoted from public community posts and reflects those owners' opinions, not PocketPaw's position. It is unverified and not a substitute for professional advice. Each item links to where it was said.
“The parent club's 'Common Questions' page describes a dog with an aloof, elegant air that likes to make its own decisions — foolishly playful with friends, rather reserved with strangers — says that with children some are and some are not good, depending on the example the parents set, and that very small children should never be left alone with any dog; it advises a good long walk on lead plus a fenced area for running, no long jogs in the heat of the day, and answers the fence question with 'definitely yes' — an Afghan is so fast it can be in the next county before you begin to give chase, and seems to have springs in its legs, so the fence must be high. It recommends consistency, crate training and a few hours of brushing a week. The club's 'Your First Afghan Hound' page adds that if you want a dog that follows you everywhere and lies adoringly at your feet, the Afghan is not for you — it shows affection in its own way, rubbing its head against you like a cat — that in general it is not an obedient dog, that males are more aloof than females, and that puppies need more and more space as they grow.”
— Afghan Hound Club of America — Common Questions via breed clubWorldwide2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Afghan Hound — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Afghan Hound — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Afghan Hound — Breeds A to Z — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]Afghan Hound — FCI standard no. 228 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [7]Common Questions — Afghan Hound Club of America — Afghan Hound Club of America (public breed information) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [8]Health Care Information & News — Afghan Hound Club of America — Afghan Hound Club of America (public breed information) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [9]Your First Afghan Hound — Afghan Hound Club of America — Afghan Hound Club of America (public breed information) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
Still have questions?
Ask owners on the PawMunity forum — every breed has its own board.
Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.