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(Afghan Hound Denmark World Congress Report)DENMARK 1997
3rd World Afghan Congress Report #5
G. Jipping (Netherlands) Page3
"WHAT'S THE RIGHT TYPE?"What's the right type. You already have understood that this type has my preference. But I can imagine that there are other people who like a different type of Afghan Hound. And all these different tastes are possible within the breed standard. And I can tell you honestly that I know some very beautiful dogs from the type I love, as well as within the other types.
You can ask your self why bother about the right type, if so many types are OK within the breed standard. You could think live and let live. But I think it's important to preserve the type of the first imported Afghan Hound for the next generation.
Again I would like to say that I respect every other type as long as it fits within the breed standard.
And then there is the matter of quality which is as important as the right type. I would like to go through some issues of the breed standard which I think it must have every one's attention, no matter what type they like. I will not get into the differences between the standards used in different countries because of my little time for this speech. I can only highlight the main issues to get your attention, and I hope we all think this over together.
The Head
Negative developments of the head are:
- Too much narrow heads, these cause problems with the teeth and also the eyes can no longer stand correct, next to each other.
- Too weak an underjaw, this is not only ugly but also incorrect for a dog because he could never do the work he is supposed to do.
- Stop, if an Afghan Hound has insufficient stop the head looks like a Borzoi head.
- Too large eyes, this causes an untypical expression
- A down falling skull makes the head totally out of balance and is definitely not typical for any type so ever.
These problems appear in all kind of types, also by the European bred Afghan Hound and are a threat for the so much beloved eastern expression of the Afghan Hound.
The Body
As we read the standard you will see it leaves much room for interpretation. Terms like moderate length, fairly short, quite pronounced, a fair spring of ribs and a good depth of chest do not give us a clear picture. I wont dig too deep in the phenomenon of the run down back, because we will agree that that's not the correct back of our Afghan Hound. As Chairman of the American Cocker Spaniel Club I can tell you that this problem used to be one of the differences between owners of the English Cocker Spaniels, which lead to the second breed the American Cocker Spaniel. I give this as an example in the hope that this negative change won't get into the Afghan Hound.
I also know there are some exhibitors who stretch the hindquarters too much and give us a wrong picture of the back and I would name this inexperience of the exhibitor. Very important is a deep and capacious chest, and the ribs should be fairly well sprung. This is essential for the health of the Afghan Hound, because there should be enough room for the organs.
The Coat
I will not go into the quality of the coat although I think it has changed through the years. The standard says the coat should develop in a natural way, but it doesn't say it should reach the ground. I never understood why some breeders breed long coats. Can it be that they want to hide something, or is it just a fashion. I see many Afghan Hounds at shows who's necks and backs are shaved. Although we can accept a little grooming and haircare, I hope that judges don't accept shaving. I don't think color is important for an Afghan Hound because the standard accepts all colors.
G. Jipping June 97
Copyright(c) 1997
DENMARK CONGRESS 97
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