Afghan Hound, also known as the Kabul Dog, is one of the oldest existing hound breeds. This dog originated in the Middle East and later spread to Afghanistan along trade routes, where it was used for hunting antelope, wolves, snow leopards, and other animals.
It is distinct from other dog breeds mainly because of its thick, fine, and silky coat, and its tail with curls at the end, which are mainly caused by the special environment they live in throughout the year.
They are robust in physique, gentle in personality, and have a strong independence. However, occasionally they can show their neurotic side. Although they have a strong body, once they become ill or their mood changes, their body will gradually become thin.
The origin of the Afghan Hound can be traced back to the 17th century and is one of the oldest breeds of dogs. Paintings of this breed can be found in Afghan art from 4,000 years ago. The original location of this dog should be the Middle East, and it was brought to Afghanistan and its surrounding countries along trade routes. It was mainly used to hunt antelope, wolves, snow leopards, and other animals.
In the 19th century, Western countries discovered the Afghan Hound in Afghanistan and its surrounding regions. Then, in 1886, this breed was first introduced to England, and later became the hunting dog of the British royal family. In 1926, England introduced this breed to the United States, and then the United States spent nearly half a century improving it, creating the elegant and majestic appearance that the Afghan Hound has today. In addition to its strong endurance, strong physique, and astonishing agility in any harsh environment, it also has high ornamental value. The improved breed was brought back to Europe and became popular worldwide, deeply loved by the public.
Initially, this breed was mainly used for tracking and hunting, relying on its eyesight to track prey. They often left the hunter's horse far behind and hunted on their own, instead of relying on the hunter's command. Therefore, they developed strong independent thinking and execution ability, as well as great independence.
Today, the Afghan Hound has become a symbol of "nobility" with its fashionable and retro appearance and noble temperament. In foreign countries, the Afghan Hound is the only breed allowed to enter and leave five-star hotels.
The Afghan Hound, also known as the Kabul Dog, is one of the oldest existing hound breeds. This dog originated in the Middle East and later spread to Afghanistan along trade routes, where it was used for hunting antelope, wolves, snow leopards, and other
However, in Afghanistan, this beautiful and sensitive animal is still used for herding, hunting foxes and wolves, and so on, because their long and thick fur can withstand the harsh cold of the mountains.
The Afghan Hound prefers to live in comfortable, modern homes. They can adapt well to apartment living and are suitable for dog lovers who have good living conditions and ample free time.
Toes inflammation
Symptoms: Dogs frequently lick their toes, toes become red and wet, and severe cases may result in lameness
Preparation: Iodine, erythromycin ointment, Elizabethan collar
Instructions: Wear an Elizabethan collar, remove the hair from the feet, rinse with soapy water or wipe with iodine, after the inflamed area is dry, apply erythromycin ointment between the toes once a day, repeat for a week.
Ear mites
Symptoms: Dogs scratch their ears, shake their heads, strong sour smell in the ears, accompanied by increased tearing, hair loss in the ears, brown secretions, and earwax.
Preparation: Ear cleanser, ear cleaner
Instructions: Clean the hair inside the dog's ears, rinse the ear canal with ear wash or Epi-Otic, gently massage the base of the ear for 30 seconds, let the dog shake out the wash, use a cotton ball to wipe away the secretions and gently clean the ear pinna and ear canal.
Skin disease
Symptoms: Dogs develop itching, redness and itching of the skin, dogs scratch randomly, the fur is dull and rough, there is more dandruff, and even patches of hair loss.
Preparation: Saline solution, topical ointment or skin spray, vitamin B.
Instructions: Put an Elizabethan collar on the dog to prevent scratching and licking, trim the problematic skin and surrounding hair of the dog, then rinse with salt water to sterilize, and then apply ointment or use spray, together with antibiotics and vitamin B.
Recommended for natural food, compared to ordinary commercial food, natural food has more natural ingredients, not only fresh, but also no additives, which is more beneficial for the dog's body.
The Afghan Hound is relatively large and active in size, so in addition to feeding dog food, it is necessary to supplement additional food properly. In the food, 500-600 grams of meat or meat products should be provided every day, and the same amount of biscuits or cooked dry vegetarian ingredients should be prepared.
Feed at fixed feeding time and ensure that they finish eating within 10-15 minutes. If it exceeds this time limit, take away the food bowl to encourage them to develop good habits of eating on time.
The feed should be clean and fresh, and must not feed rotten, expired or deteriorated food, especially in summer. You cannot feed the leftovers from the previous day or the previous meal. You must ensure that each meal is fresh, in order to prevent the dog from getting enteritis or poisoning.
The food bowl and other utensils must be cleaned and washed every day, and cannot be left unwashed for a long time. In addition, it is absolutely wrong to use not giving food or water as a punishment for dogs.
Comb the fur for it every day, otherwise it will become tangled in a short time. The fur should also be professionally groomed 2-3 times a year.
Deep and detailed training should be started during their young age.
For elegant and lively Afghan Hounds, it is recommended to engage in moderate exercise to maintain their physical and mental well-being.
1, Don't bathe frequently
When bathing a dog, it cannot be done too frequently. The frequency of bathing a dog depends on its cleanliness. If the weather is hot in summer, bathe it one or two more times. In winter, the number can be reduced by one or two times. But overall, it should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it may damage its coat and skin!
2, Brush regularly
Dogs shed hair almost every day, especially in spring and autumn. Seasonal shedding is more severe. To make their fur grow well, brushing regularly is an important step. Pet owners can use specialized brushes for pets to help dogs remove naturally shed hair and prevent tangling. Brushing once in the morning and once in the evening for about five minutes each time is enough.
3, Sunbathing
Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of a dog's fur. In addition to making the fur shiny, letting dogs sunbathe can also help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, pet owners can let their dogs exercise a bit, which can help improve their physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier fur.
4, Deworming
Poor coat condition is actually closely related to parasites. Parasites absorb a large amount of nutrients from dogs, depriving them of nutrients. So deworming is essential. It is recommended to do both internal and external deworming. Moreover, deworming medicine has a great impact on the dog's gastrointestinal tract, so it is advisable to feed probiotics to alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort.
5, Pay attention to diet
In order to have a shiny coat, dogs must have a good nutritional foundation, so attention should be paid to their daily diet. On one hand, feed dogs with nutritious and healthy dog food. Choose a brand that is suitable for dogs and provides sufficient nutrition to meet their needs. On the other hand, dogs can be fed with a moderate amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolk, and vegetable oil, etc.