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186476 Afghan Hound pedigrees and 17900 photographs |
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AFGHAN HOUND BREED STANDARD (UK)
INTERIM (Breed Standard under review until June 2009)
Previous standards listed below
ALL UK Breed Standards are prefaced with the following:-
A Breed Standard is the guideline which describes the ideal
characteristics, temperament and appearance of a breed and ensures that the
breed is fit for function. Absolute soundness is essential. Breeders and judges
should at all times be careful to avoid obvious conditions or exaggerations
which would be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of
this breed. From time to time certain conditions or exaggerations may be
considered to have the potential to affect dogs in some breeds adversely, and
judges and breeders are requested to refer to the Kennel Club website for
details of any such current issues. If a feature or quality is desirable it
should only be present in the right measure.
General Appearance Gives the impression of strength and dignity, combining speed and power. Head held proudly.
Characteristics Eastern or Oriental expression is typical of breed. The Afghan looks at and through one.
Temperament Dignified and aloof, with a certain keen fierceness.
Head and Skull Skull long, not too narrow, with prominent occiput. Foreface long with punishing jaws and slight stop. Skull well balanced and mounted by a long 'top-knot'. Nose preferably black, liver permissible in light-coloured dogs.
Eyes Dark for preference, but golden colour not debarred. Nearly triangular in appearance, slanting slightly upwards from inner corner to outer corner.
Ears Set low and well back, carried close to head. Covered with long silky hair.
Mouth Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Level bite tolerated.
Neck Long, strong, with proud carriage of head.
Forequarters Forequarters : Shoulders long and sloping, set well back, well muscled and strong without being loaded. Upper arm long and sloping. In profile this brings the elbow vertically below the wither. Forelegs straight and well boned, elbows close to the rib cage, turning neither in nor out.
Body Back level, moderate length, well muscled, back falling slightly away to stern. Loin straight, broad and rather short. Hipbones rather prominent and wide apart. A fair spring of ribs and good depth of chest.
Hindquarters Powerful, well bent and well turned stifles. Great length between hip and hock, with comparatively short distance between hock and foot.
Feet Forefeet strong and very large both in length and breadth, and covered with long, thick hair; toes arched. Pasterns long and springy, pads well down on ground. Hind feet long, but not quite as broad as forefeet; covered with long thick hair.
Tail Not too short. Set on low with ring at end. Raised when in action. Sparsely feathered.
Gait/Movement Smooth and springy with a style of high order.
Coat 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.
Colour All colours acceptable.
Size Ideal height: dogs: 68-74 cms (27-29 ins); bitches: 63-69 cms (25-27 ins).
Faults Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
Note Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum
PAST AFGHAN HOUND BREED STANDARDS (UK)
The original 1906 standard from the Indian Kennel gazette (based on Zardin)
Head Resembles that of a deerhound. Skull oval and prominent occiput: little or no stop. A very long punishing jaw of peculiar power
Eyes Keen and dark
Ears Fairly large, well feathered and hanging to the side of the skull rather than carried to the front
Skull Surmounted by a top knot
Neck Long strong and clean, fairly well arched running in a nice curve to the shoulder
Shoulders Long and sloping well laid back
Back Strong, loin powerful and slightly arched. Falls away towards the stern. Well ribbed, tucked up under the loin. Not too narrow in brisket, which is deep, with good girth to chest
Forelegs Great length between elbow (which is straight) and ankle. Forelegs straight and strong and covered with hair
Hindquarters Very powerful, furnished with plenty of muscle. Great length between hip and hock, which is low and strong, a fair bend of stifle
Forefeet Long, fairly broad, well protected with hair
Dew Claws
Hindfeet Hindfeet not so long as forefeet, fairly wide and well protected with hair
Tail Set on low, almost destitute of hair, usually carried low
Coat Thick and fine in texture, showing some undercoat. Well clothed with protective hair on hindquarters, flanks, ribs and forequarters. The coat is shorter on the back
Colour Zardin, light coloured, almost white, with black muzzle
Height at least 26 inches to shoulderStandard from the afghan hound club 1925-31
Head Skull oval with prominent occiput; jaw long and punishing
Eyes dark
Ears Long, well feathered
Skull Surmounted by a top knot of long silky hair
Neck Long, arched, running in a curve to the shoulder
Shoulders Long and sloping well laid back
Back Strong, loin powerful and slightly arched, falling away towards the stern
Forelegs Straight and strong, great length between elbow, (which is straight) and ankle
Hindquarters Powerful, well muscled, great length between hip and hock, which is low and strong. Fair bend of stifle
Forefeet Very large, both in length and breadth, toes well arched and feet covered with long thick hair, fine in texture
Coat Hindquarters, flanks, ribs and forequarters well covered with long thick hair, very fine in texture. Ears and all four feet well feathered
Height Dogs about 28" bitches 25-26"
Gait Strong and active looking, a combination of speed and power with a graceful outline
First AHA standard 1927-46
Head skull long and not too narrow, with prominent occiput. Foreface long with punishing jaws and little stop, nose usually black, liver no disqualification in lighter dogs
Eyes dark preferred, golden colour no disqualification
Ears long, heavily feathered and carried close to the head
Skull surmounted by a long top knot
Neck Long, strong with proud carriage of head
Shoulders Long and sloping, well set back, well muscled and strong
Back Well muscled the whole length, falling slightly away to the stern. Loin straight broad and rather short, Hip joints rather prominent and wide. A fair spring of ribs and good depth of chest
Forelegs straight, well boned, elbows rather straight
Hindquarters Powerful and strong with plenty of bend to hock and stifle and well under dog
Forefeet Large, toes very long, well arched and heavily feathered
Dew Claws
Hind Feet
Tail set on low and carried gaily with a ring at the end, sparsely feathered
Coat Long, of very fine texture on the ribs, fore and hindquarters and flanks. From the shoulder backwards along the top of the back the hair is short and close. Hair long from eyes backwards, with distinct silky topknot, on foreface hair is short as on the back. Ears and legs well feathered
Colour any colour
Height Dogs 27=29" Bitches 2-3 inches smaller
Expression dignified aloof and intelligent. In motion his head and tail are carried high: springing gait
Gait The whole appearance of the dog should give the impression of strength and activity, combining speed with power. The object of the dog is to hunt its quarry over very rough and mountainous ground in a country of crags and ravines. For this a compact and well coupled dog is necessary rather than a long loined racing dog whose first quality is speed.
AHA standard 1946 (adopted by KC 1950)
Head skull long and not too narrow with prominent occiput. Foreface long with punishing jaws and slight stop. Mouth level. Nose usually black, liver no disqualification in lighter dogs
Eyes Dark preferred, golden colour no disqualification. Nearly triangular slanting slightly upwards from the inner corner to the outer
Ears set low and well back, carried close to the head, covered with long silky hair
Skull well balanced and surmounted with a long top knot. Faults - any appearance of coarseness, skull too wide and foreface too short, weak under jaw, large round or full eyes
Neck Long, strong with proud carriage of head. Fault - neck should never be too short or thick
Shoulders long and sloping, well set back, well muscled and strong without being loaded
Back level, moderate length, well muscled and falling away slightly to the stern and hip bones. Loin straight broad and rather short. Hip bones rather prominent and wide apart. A fair spring of ribs and good depth of chest. Faults - too long or too short
Forelegs straight and well boned, straight with shoulder, elbows held in
Hindquarters Powerful, well turned stifles with plenty of bend. Great length between hip and hock with comparatively short distance between hock and foot
Forefeet Strong and very large, both in length and breadth and covered with long thick hair, toes arched. Pasterns long and springy, especially in front and pads well down on ground
Dew claws these may be removed or remain at the discretion of the breeder
Hindfeet long but not quite so broad as forefeet: covered with long thick hair
Tail not too short, set on low with a ring at the end. raised when in action. Sparsely feathered
Coat Long and very fine textured on ribs, fore and hind quarters and flanks. From the shoulder backwards along the saddle the hair is short and close in mature dogs. Hair long from the forehead backwards with a distinct silky top knot. On the foreface hair is short as on the back. Ears and legs well coated. Ankles can be bare. Coat must be allowed to develop naturally.
Colour no colour disqualification. All colours acceptable
Height dogs 27-29" Bitches 2-3 " smaller
Expression The head must be proudly held. Eastern of oriental expression typical of the breed. Should be dignified, aloof with a certain keen fierceness. The afghan look at and through one
Gait smooth and springy, style of high order, great speed, fleet footed, great turning power. The whole appearance of the dog should give the impression of strength and dignity combining speed and power
Note male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum
