- HubPages»
- Pets and Animals»
- Dogs & Dog Breeds»
- Dog Breeds
The Afghan Mynde
Caring For Your Afghan Mynde
Also known as the Afghan Mynde, Afghan Hounds are historically one of the oldest dog breeds classified as sight hounds.
Known for their silky, fine, thick coats and tails that have a curl ring at the tip, the features of this breed were acquired in the Afghanistan cold mountains.
Originally, Afghans hunted gazelles and hares through coursing them. Its local name is Tazi Spai or Sag-e Tazi.
Other alternative names for Afghans include Galanday Hounds, Kabul Hounds, Shalgar Hounds, Barutzy Hounds, Baluchi Hounds, Balkh Hounds, Tazi and Kuchi Hounds.
Among the oldest dogs who are recognizable, sight hounds in general have been descended from the oldest types of dogs.
Currently, the modern breed that is pure Afghan Hounds were descendants from dogs brought into GreatBritain in the twenties.
These were blended in varieties and types of sight hounds with long hair across the surrounding area and Afghanistan proper. Some were kept as guardians, and others were kept as dogs for hunting.
This breed is a significant part of history and was involved in the very first dog shows of the United Kingdom Kennel Club.
A variety of sight hounds were brought in the eighteen hundreds to England by returning army officers from India, Persia and Afghanistan and were featured at dog show exhibits. The earlier versions of Afghan Hounds were called Persian Greyhounds or Barukzy Hounds.
Afghan Hounds had beauty which was considered spectacular in the early dog shows, causing them to become highly in demand as pets and show dogs. They are recognized by all the main kennel clubs in the world of English-speakers.
On the cover of Life Magazine in the year nineteen forty five, an Afghan Hound was featured. In the seventies, this breed became quite popular in Australia and won in the nineteen ninety six Budapest World Dog Show as Best in Show.
Afghan Myndes also won Best in Show in the '57 and the '83 dog show of the Westminster Kennel Club.
Normally tall, Afghan Hounds stand between twenty four to twenty nine inches and weigh between forty five to sixty pounds.
With any coat color, markings that are white especially in their head are not encouraged. Many dogs of this breed have a facial mask that is black. One specimen called 'Mandarin' has facial hair that resembles the moustache of Fu Manchu.
The fine textured, long coats require a lot of grooming and care. The shorter haired saddles on the back and the long topknots on dogs that are miniatures are unique features of the coats of Afghan Hounds. The distinct small ring at the tip of their tail and high hipbones are also breed characteristics.
Dignified and aloof, Afghan Mynde temperaments are clownish and happy when at play. Just as in many sight hound breeds, Afghan Hounds have a high drive for prey and may not get along well with smaller pets.
The reasoning skills of this breed have made it a winner in trials of dog agility. Also, as companions and therapy intuitive dogs, Afghan Hounds are a great choice.
Seldom used to hunt in America and Europe, this breed often participates in events involving lure coursing which is popular in the event of showing conformation.
With a lifespan median of twelve years, Afghan Hounds in the UK have a similar mortality to same-sized dogs.
Many causes of death for this breed are urologic, cardiac, old age and cancer. When death is caused by old age, the lifespan average is between thirteen to fourteen-and-a-half years of age.
Major issues of health include hip dysplasia, cancer and allergies. Anesthesia sensitivity is an issue that this breed suffers from, along with all the members of the group of sight hounds, as this breed has low levels of fat in the body.
This is also the breed more likely to go through developing chylothorax, a condition which is rare that causes ducts of the thoracic to leak, causing a lot of chyle fluid to go into the cavity of this dog's chest.
Because of its unique appearance, this breed has been featured in many featured animations including Lady and the Tramp II by Disney and Balto by Universal Pictures.
There was an Afghan Hound in the movie 102 Dalmatians as well as in the previous version, 101 Dalmatians. Fashion magazines and TV advertisements have also featured this breed including in the show "What a Mess."
This breed has also been part of Virginia Woolf's novel Between the Acts. The sitcom on BBC named Mongrels also features an Afghan Hound named Destiny.
On the third of August in the year two thousand and five, HwangWooSuk, a scientist form Korea made an announcement that they were able to clone a dog named Snuppy, who was an Afghan Hound.
This data was dismissed due to some discovered fabrications. However, there is verifiable proof that Snuppy is still the first historical cloned dog.
- Caring For Your Very Own Golden Retriever
A breed of dog which is of medium size, the Golden Retriever was developed historically to be gun dogs for shot-retrieval when fowl from the water like ducks and upland birds of game were shot for groups that hunted. Thus, these dogs were bred... - Alaskan Malamute--Get the 411 siberian husky
Generally a domestic dog and a large breed, the Alaskan Malamute was bred originally for using as utilitarian dogs and later as sled dogs for Alaska. At times, they are mistaken for Siberian Huskies due to their markings and colors but are... - Characteristics of the Person Born Under the Libra Z...
People who are born under the astrological sign of Libra are known to fantasize about their future princess and prince. Unfortunately as they get older they realize that life has a lot of things to offer. They will start experiencing things that... - Coco Chanel and The Little Black Dress
Have you ever wondered where the little black dress of Coco Chanel began? It all began when hat designer and seamstress had innovated with jersey fabric use which was an initial triumph since this material was relegated traditionally to... - Characteristics of People Born Under The Capricorn Z...
What do Nostradamus, Rudyard Kipling, Joan of Arc, Sir Isaac Newton and Muhammed Ali have in common? They are all Capricorns. The zodiac's 10th sign in astrology, you are a Capricorn if you were born on the days spanning the twenty-second of... - Alaskan Malamute--Get the 411 siberian husky
Generally a domestic dog and a large breed, the Alaskan Malamute was bred originally for using as utilitarian dogs and later as sled dogs for Alaska. At times, they are mistaken for Siberian Huskies due to their markings and colors but are... - Caring For Your Very Own Golden Retriever
A breed of dog which is of medium size, the Golden Retriever was developed historically to be gun dogs for shot-retrieval when fowl from the water like ducks and upland birds of game were shot for groups that hunted. Thus, these dogs were bred... - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About The Gemini ...
Are you wondering what Anderson Cooper and Paula Abdul have in common? Yes, they are both born under the astrological sign Gemini. According to the mythology of the Greek, the zodiac sign Gemini is known to be the ruler when it comes or sending... - Coco Chanel and The Little Black Dress
Have you ever wondered where the little black dress of Coco Chanel began? It all began when hat designer and seamstress had innovated with jersey fabric use which was an initial triumph since this material was relegated traditionally to... - Characteristics of the Person Born Under the Libra Z...
People who are born under the astrological sign of Libra are known to fantasize about their future princess and prince. Unfortunately as they get older they realize that life has a lot of things to offer. They will start experiencing things that... - Taurus Characteristics You Were Always Curious About
What do Charlotte Bronte, Robert Pattinson and Adele have in common? You guessed it, they are all born under the astrological sign Taurus. One of the most unique astrological signs, Taureans are unique and unlike the rest of the crowd. Taurus...