The Afghan is an ancient breed, with writtings and sculptures of this magnificient animal dating back to 3500 B.C. There are two varieties of Afghan, one of the desert and one of the mountains.

Afghanistan, the country of origin, has very hot summers and very cold winters. The Afghan Hound will adapt to any climate change.

The conquering wars of Alexander the Great, and Genghis Khan obliterated most of the breed's history. We do know that the Afghan of the deserts of the Sanai and of Egypt were used to hunt gazelle, deer and the formidable leopard. The Afghan was able to run swift enough to outdistance mounted hunters, and was of necessity, a courageous hunter, and an independent thinker, capable of holding large prey at bay until the hunter finally arrived.

In the mountains of Afghanistan, the Afghan Hound developed the coat that gives it so unique an appearance. Also from this mountain heritage it became a tough, agile dog: the Afghan may appear to be an ornament, the ultimate in canine elegance, but its nature is that of a guardian. Being a sighthound, it was used to guard sheep and cattle, and was a hunter of small game. This particular hound, by reason of its "pivotal hip joints" is especially fast, and adept in broken, boulder strewn terrain, hurdling formidable obstacles without slackening speed.

An English officer stationed near Kabul was the first documented Western breeder of the dogs. Afghans from this officer's Ghazni Kennel went to England in 1925, and the breed made its way to the U.S. a few years later.

The AKC recognized the Afghan Hound in 1926, and accepted the Afghan Hound Club of America as an AKC member club in 1940.
 

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