Afghan Hound

FCI standard Nº 228

Origin
Afghanistan
Patronage Great Britain
Group
Group 10 Sighthounds
Section
Section 1 Long-haired or fringed sighthounds
Working
Without working trial
Acceptance on a definitive basis by the FCI
Tuesday 12 December 1961
Publication of the official valid standard
Tuesday 27 July 2021
Last update
Monday 06 September 2021
En français, cette race se dit
Lévrier afghan
Diese Norm ist in deutscher Sprache sichtbar
Afghanischer Windhund
En español, esta raza se dice
Lebrel afgano
In het Nederlands, wordt dit ras gezegd
Afghaanse Windhond
This breed is also known as
Tazi
Baluchi Hound
African Hound
Shalgar Hound

Usage

Sighthound.

Brief historical summary

The first Afghans arrived in Britain in the early 1900s and one, called Zardin, won in spectacular style at the 1907 Crystal Palace show in London. The breed is also known as the Tazi, supporting its resemblance to a Russian breed of that name. One of the typical sighthounds of the world, the Afghan - who, as his name implies, comes from the mountains of Afghanistan - is a hunter and will chase if given opportunity. Nowadays also a glamorous show dog which must combine strength and dignity with a long, silky coat as well as having an Oriental expression.

General appearance

Gives the impression of strength and dignity, combining speed and power. Head held proudly.

Behaviour / temperament

Eastern or Oriental expression is typical of breed. The Afghan looks at and through one. Dignified and aloof, with a certain keen fierceness.

Head

Cranial region

Skull
Long, not too narrow with prominent occiput. Well balanced and mounted by a long “top-knot”. 
Stop
Slight.

Facial region

Nose
Preferably black, liver permissible in light-coloured dogs.
Muzzle
Long, with punishing jaws.
Jaws and teeth
Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Level bite (pincer bite, edge to edge) tolerated.
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.

Neck

Long, strong with proud carriage of head.

Body

Back
Level, moderate length, well muscled.
Loin
Straight, broad and rather short.
Croup
Falling slightly away to stern. Hipbones rather prominent and wide apart.
Chest
A fair spring of ribs and good depth.

Tail

Not too short. Set on low with ring at end. Raised when in action. Sparsely feathered.

Limbs

Forequarters

Shoulders
Long and sloping, set well back, well muscled and strong without being loaded.
Upper arm
Long and sloping.
Elbows
In profile vertically below the withers. Close to rib cage, turning neither in nor out.
Forearm
Forelegs straight and well boned.
Pastern
Long and springy.
Forefeet
Strong and very large both in length and breadth, and covered with long, thick hair; toes arched. Pads well down on ground.

Hindquarters

Generality
Powerful. Great length between hip and hock, with comparatively short distance between hock and foot.
Stifle
Well bent and well turned.
Hind feet
Long, but not quite as broad as forefeet; covered with long thick hair; toes arched. Pads well down on ground.

Gait and movement

Smooth and springy with a style of high order.

Coat

Hair
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 the foreface hair short. Ears and legs well coated. Pasterns can be bare. Coat must develop naturally. Any evidence of clipping or scissoring should be penalized.
Colour
All colours acceptable, however white markings on the head or collar are highly undesirable.

Size and weight

Height at withers
Ideal height : Males : 68 – 74 cms. Females : 63 – 69 cms.

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 and its ability to perform its traditional work.
• Faults listed should be in degree of seriousness.

Disqualifying faults

 Aggressive or overly shy dogs.

NB :

• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
• The above mentioned faults when occurring to a highly marked degree or frequently are disqualifying.
• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.

Bibliography

https://www.fci.be/

No comments