Plate 001 · Himalaya & Central Asia
Afghan Hound
阿富汗猎犬
“A mountain hunter whose coat became its fame.”
- Origin
- Afghanistan
- Mountains of Afghanistan
- Region of origin
- The point marks the region the breed comes from, not an exact birthplace.
- Era
- Old regional sighthound; Western breed from the 1920s
- Today
- Companion · Show dog · Lure coursing
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
Early breed type → Today
Early type · 1900'Shahzada', drawn as an 'Afghan Greyhound' in 1900: a leaner, shorter-coated hound than today's show Afghan.
R. H. Moore, in Charles Henry Lane's All About Dogs (1900) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
NowSheltieBoy · CC BY · Wikimedia Commons
History
01 · Origin
Mountains of Afghanistan
A long-coated sighthound from the mountains and steppes of Afghanistan.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Hunted game in rugged mountain terrain, where its long coat protected it from cold.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
Dogs brought to Britain in the early 20th century established Western lines; their beauty then made them sought-after show dogs.
04 · Today
Companion · Show dog · Lure coursing
A glamorous, aloof companion and show dog.
Personality
- Aloof
- Dignified
- Independent
- Sweet
- Clownish at play
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: this atlas’s editorial summary on a 1–5 scale, for rough comparison between breeds here — not a measurement or a standardised assessment.
- Size
- Large
- Lifespan
- 12–18 years
- Coat
- Long, fine, silky coat
Field note
The Afghan Hound's long coat, now a show-ring trademark, originally protected it in cold mountain climates.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Hound Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI, The Kennel Club (UK)
- Popular in
- No reliable data
Long famous for its elegant beauty. AKC registrations: ranked 117 among breeds in 2025.
Sources2 references
- Afghan Hound — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/afghan-hound/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-06 · Used for registry status, AKC group and breed standard reference only.
- Afghan Hound (encyclopedia overview) — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghan_Hound
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-06 · Secondary overview; cross-check claims against primary breed-club sources.
Image credits
R. H. Moore, in Charles Henry Lane's All About Dogs (1900) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
SheltieBoy · CC BY · Wikimedia Commons
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions.
