RNSWCC Official Lecture to the Judge's Training Scheme
Wendye Slatyer (Calahorra Afghan Hounds, Australia)
(Page 1)
AFGHAN HOUND AUSTRALIA NEWSLETTER
(VOLUME 1 NUMBER 1 SPRING 1996)
PUBLISHED BY SAHJOBE PTY LTD, 501 LAWS FARM ROAD, LOWER PORTLAND
NEW SOUTH WALES 2756, AUSTRALIA, TELEPHONE 61 45 791 266
FACSIMILE 61 45 791 255, EMAIL (sahjobe@eagles.bbs.net.au)
AFGHAN HOUND As this is an Australian publication, references in general
BREED STANDARD will be relative to the wording of the standard currently
in force here, which is basically the pre l987 English HOUND
standard However, we are very fortunate that in fact the
variations specified by the BREED American and FCI standards
are only minor and irrelevant to a universal understanding
of our breed being more a matter of interpretation than of
actual Difference from STANDARD one country to another.
GENERAL The gait of the Afghan Hound should be smooth and springy
APPEARANCE with a style of high order. The whole appearance of the dog
should give the impression of strength and dignity combining
speed and power. The head must be held proudly.
CHARACTERISTICS The Afghan Hound should be dignified and aloof with a certain
keen fierceness. The Eastern or Oriental expression is typical
of the breed. The Afghan looks at and through one.
TEMPERAMENT The Afghan Hound should be dignified and aloof with a certain
keen fierceness.
HEAD AND SKULL Skull long, not too narrow with a prominent occiput. Foreface
long with punishing jaws and slight stop. The skull well
balanced and surmounted with a long top-knot. Nose preferably
black but liver is no fault in light coloured dogs.
EYES Should be dark for preference but golden colour is not debarred.
Nearly triangular, slanting slightly upwards from the inner
corner to the outer.
EARS Set low and well back, carried close to the head. Covered
with long silky hair
MOUTH Level.
NECK Long, strong with proud carriage of the head.
FOREQUARTERS Shoulders long and sloping, well set back, well
muscled and strong without being loaded. Forelegs straight and
well boned, straight with shoulder, elbows held in.
BODY Back level, moderate length, well muscled, the back falling
slightly away to the stern. Loin straight, broad and rather
short. Hip-bones rather prominent and wide apart. A fair
spring of rib and good depth of chest.
HINDQUARTERS Powerful, well bent and well turned stifles. Great length
between hip and hock with a comparatively short distance
between the hock and the foot. The dew claws may be removed or
allowed to remain at the discretion of the breeder.
FEET Forefeet strong and very large both in length and breadth and
covered with long thick hair, toes arched. Pasterns long and
springy, especially in front and pads well down on the ground.
Hindfeet long, but not quite so broad as the forefeet, covered
with long thick hair.
TAIL Not too short. Set on low with a ring at the end. Raised when
in action. Sparsely feathered.
GAIT/MOVEMENT The gait of the Afghan hound should be smooth and springy with
a style of high order. The head must be held proudly. The tail
is raised when in action.
COAT Long and very fine texture on the ribs, fore and hind-quarters
and flanks. From the shoulder backwards and along the saddle
the hair should be short and close in mature dogs. Hair long
from the forehead backwards, with a distinct silky top-knot.
On the foreface the hair is short as on the back. Ears and
legs well coated. Pasterns can be bare. Coat must be allowed
to develop naturally.
COLOURS All colours are acceptable.
SIZE Ideal height: Dogs 68 to 74 cm (27 to 29 inches), Bitches 5
to 8 cm ( 2 to 3 inches) smaller.
FAULTS Any appearance of coarseness. Skull too wide and foreface too
short. Weak underjaw. Large round or full eyes. Neck should
never be too short or thick. Back too long or too short.
NOTE Male animals should have too apparently normal testicles fully
descended into the scrotum.
Afghan Hound Australia Spring 1996
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