Afghan Hound (Detailed Introduction)

　　Its appearance is fashionably vintage, and its temperament is noble and elegant. In the minds of many, it is synonymous with aristocracy. It is also a favorite of celebrities, models, high-end clubs, and fashion magazines. Abroad, it is the only dog breed allowed into five-star hotels. Although it is banned in China, this does not hinder its star-like charm. Presenting our "big star" of this issue — the Afghan Hound.
　　1. Introduction
　　The Afghan Hound, English name: Afghan Hound, is one of the oldest existing hunting dog breeds. It is a noble dog distinguished from other breeds by its thick, delicate, and silky coat and its tail curled at the end. Its appearance is noble with a detached attitude, without any trace of ordinariness or coarseness. It stands upright at the front, proudly holding its head high, eyes gazing into the distance as if recalling past times. This hound has an exotic or Oriental characteristic, expressive features, a long silky topknot, a unique hair shape, very prominent hips, wide feet, and people’s impression of its slightly exaggerated backward bend of the hind knees is attributed to its abundant coat. Many call it the king of dogs.
　　2. History
　　The Afghan Hound belongs to an ancient breed. Paintings from 4000 years ago in Afghanistan already depicted this dog. The breed originated in the Middle East and later spread along trade routes to Afghanistan, where it was used to hunt gazelles, wolves, snow leopards, and other animals.
　　In the 19th century, Western countries discovered the Afghan Hound in Afghanistan and its surrounding areas. In the late 19th century, the Afghan Hound was brought to Britain for the first time. This hound was initially mainly used for tracking hunting. Because the Afghan Hound often left horses far behind, it hunted “on its own,” not relying on the hunter’s commands, which trained its independent thinking and made it typical.
　　In the 1920s, many “Bell-Murray” Afghan Hounds were exported to the United States. The American Kennel Club’s registry opened to this breed, and from October 1926 some of these dogs began to be registered. In 1927, two became the earliest American Afghan Hounds.
　　Although Afghan Hounds were allowed to be registered with the American Kennel Club in 1926, there was no breed club until 1937, when a group of top breeders met at the Westminster Kennel Club show and began planning. After a year of restructuring, the American Afghan Hound Club was established. In 1940, this club became a member of the American Kennel Club and held their first exhibition.
　　In modern times, due to the Afghan Hound’s fashionably vintage appearance and noble temperament, it has become synonymous with “aristocracy.” Abroad, the Afghan Hound is the only dog breed allowed into five-star hotels. This breed has also become a favorite of celebrities, models, high-end clubs, and fashion magazines.