GENERAL APPEARANCE
The Afghan Hound is an aristocrat, his whole appearance one of
dignity and aloofness with no trace of plainness or coarseness. He has
a straight front, proudly carried head, eyes gazing into the distance
as if in memory of ages past. The striking characteristics of the breed
- exotic, or "Eastern," expression, long silky topknot, peculiar coat pattern,
very prominent hipbones, large feet, and the impression of a somewhat exaggerated
bend in the stifle due to profuse trouserings - stand out clearly,
giving the Afghan Hound the appearance of what he is, a king
of dogs, that has held true to tradition throughout the ages.
HEAD
The head is of good length, showing much refinement, the skull evenly
balanced with the foreface. There is a slight prominence of the nasal
bone structure causing a slightly Roman appearance, the
center line running up over the foreface with little or no stop, falling
away in front of the eyes so there is an absolutely clear outlook with
no interference; the underjaw showing great strength, the jaws long
and punishing; the mouth level, meaning that the teeth from the upper
jaw and lower jaw match evenly, neither overshot nor undershot. This
is a difficult mouth to breed. A scissors bite is even more punishing
and can be more easily bred into a dog than a level mouth, and a
dog having a scissors bite, where the lower teeth slips inside
and rest against the teeth of the upper jaw, should not be penalized.
The occipital bone is very prominent. The head is surmounted
by a topknot of long silky hair. Ears - The ears are long, set approximately
on level with outer corners of the eyes, the leather of the ear reaching
nearly to the end of the dog's nose, and covered with long
silky hair. Eyes - The eyes are almond-shaped (almost triangular),
never full or bulgy, and are dark in color. Nose - Nose is of good
size, black in color. Faults - Coarseness; snipiness; overshot or
undershot; eyes round or bulgy or light in color; exaggerated Roman
nose; head not surmounted with topknot.
NECK
The neck is of good length, strong and arched, running in a curve to
the shoulders which are long and sloping and well laid back. Faults -
Neck too short or too thick; a ewe neck; a goose neck; a neck lacking in
substance.
BODY
The back line appearing practically level from the shoulders to the
loin. Strong and powerful loin and slightly arched, falling away
toward the stern, with the hipbones very pronounced; well ribbed and
tucked up in flanks. The height at the shoulders equals the distance
from the chest to the buttocks; the brisket well let down, and of
medium width. Faults - Roach back, swayback, goose rump, slack loin;
lack of prominence of hipbones; too much width of brisket,
causing interference with elbows.
TAIL
Tail set not too high on the body, having a ring, or a curve on the
end; should never be curled over, or rest on the back, or be carried
sideways; and should never be bushy.
LEGS
Forelegs are straight and strong with great length between elbow
and pastern; elbows well held in; forefeet large in both length and
width; toes well arched; feet covered with long thick hair; fine in texture;
pasterns long and straight; pads of feet unusually large and
well down on the ground. Shoulders have plenty of angulation so that
the legs are well set underneath the dog. Too much straightness of
shoulder causes the dog to break down in the pasterns, and this is a
serious fault. All four feet of the Afghan Hound are in line with the
body, turning neither in nor out. The hind feet are broad and of good
length; the toes arched, and covered with long thick hair;
hindquarters powerful and well muscled, with great length between
hip and hock; hocks are well let down; good angulation of both stifle
and hock; slightly bowed from hock to crotch. Faults - Front or back
feet thrown outward or inward; pads of feet not thick enough; or
feet too small; or any other evidence of weakness in feet; weak or
broken down pasterns; too straight in stifle; too long in hock.
COAT
Hindquarters, flanks, ribs, forequarters, and legs well covered with
thick, silky hair, very fine in texture; ears and all four feet well
feathered; from in front of the shoulders; and also backwards from
the shoulders along the saddle from the flanks and the ribs upwards,
the hair is short and close, forming a smooth back in mature dogs -
this is a traditional characteristic of the Afghan Hound. The Afghan
Hound should be shown in its natural state; the coat is not clipped or
trimmed; the head is surmounted (in the full sense of the word) with
a topknot of long, silky hair - that is also an outstanding characteristic
of the Afghan Hound. Showing of short hair on cuffs on
either front or back legs is permissible. Fault - Lack of shorthaired
saddle in mature dogs.
HEIGHT
Dogs, 27 inches, plus or minus one inch; bitches, 25 inches, plus or
minus one inch.
WEIGHT
Dogs, about 60 pounds; bitches, about 50 pounds.
COLOR
All colors are permissible, but color or color combinations are
pleasing; white markings, especially on the head, are undesirable.
GAIT
When running free, the Afghan Hound moves at a gallop, showing great
elasticity and spring in his smooth, powerful stride. When on a loose
lead, the Afghan can trot at a fast pace; stepping along, he has
the appearance of placing the hind feet directly in the foot prints of
the front feet, both thrown straight ahead. Moving with head and tail
high, the whole appearance of the Afghan Hound is one of great style
and beauty.
TEMPERAMENT
Aloof and dignified, yet gay. Faults - Sharpness or shyness.
Approved September 14, 1948
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