>EARS. The ears are long, set approximately on level with outer corners of
the eyes, the leather of the ear reaching nearly to the end of the dog's nose, and
covered with long silky hair.
EYES. The eyes are almond-shaped dmost triangular, never full or bulgy,
and are dark in color.
NOSE. Nose is of good size, black in color.
FAULTS. Coarseness; snipiness; overshot or undershot; eyes round or bulgy
or light in color; exaggerated Roman nose; head not surrnounted with topknot.
NECK. The neck is of good length, strong and arched, running in a curve to
the shoulder which are long and sloping and well laid back.
FAULTS. Neck too short or too thick; a ewe neck; a goose neck; neck
lacking in substance.
BODY. The back line appearing practically level from the shoulders to the
loin. Strong and powerful loin and slightly arched, falling away toward the stern,
with the hipbones very pronounced; well ribbed and tucked up in flanks. The height
at the shoulders equals the distance from the chest to the buttocks; the brisket well
let down, and of medium width.
FAULTS. Roach back, sway-back, goose rump, slack loin; lack of
prominence of hipbones, too much width of brisket causing interference with
elbows.
TAIL. Tail set not too high on the body, having a ring, or a curve on the
end; should never be curled over, or rest on the back, or be carried sideways; and
should never be bushy.
LEGS. Forelegs are straight and strong with great length between elbow and
pastern, elbows well held in; forefeet large in both length and width; toes well
arched; feet covered with long thick hair; fine in texture, pasterns long and straight;
pads of feet usually large and well down on the ground. Shoulders have plenty of
angulation so that the legs are well set underneath the dog. Too much straightness of
shoulder causes the dog to break down in the pasterns, and this is a serious fault. All
four feet of the Afghan Hound are in line with the body, turning neither in nor out.
The hind feet are broad and of good length; the toes arched, and covered with long
thick hair; hindquarters powerful and well muscled with great length between hip
and hock; hocks are well let down; good angulation of both stifle and hock; slightly
bowed from hock to crotch.
FAULTS. Front or back feet thrown outward or inward; pads of feet not
thick enough; or feet too small; or any other evidence of weakness in feet; weak or
broken down pasterns; too straight in stifle; too long in hock.
COAT. Hindquarters, flanks, ribs, forequarters, and legs well covered with
thick, silky hair, very fine in texture; ears and all four feet well feathered; from in
front of the shoulders, and also backwards from the shoulders along the saddle from
the flanks and the ribs upwards, the hair is short and close, forming a smooth back
in mature dogs-this is a traditional characteristic of the Afghan Hound. The Afghan
Hound should be shown in its natural state; the coat is not clipped or trimmed; the
head is surmounted (in the full sense of the word) with a topknot of long, silky
hair-that is also an outstanding characteristic of the Afghan Hound. Showing of
short hair on cuffs on either front or back legs is permissible.
FAULTS. Lack of shorthaired saddle in mature dogs.
HEIGHT. Dogs, 27 inches, plus or minus one inch; bitches, 25 inches, plus
or minus one inch.
WEIGHT. Dogs, about 60 pounds, bitches, about 50 pounds.
COLOR. All colors are permissible, but color or color combinations are
pleasing; white markings, especially on the head, are undesirable.
GAIT. When running free, the Afghan Hound moves at a gallop, showing
great elasticity and spring in this smooth, powerful stride. When on a loose lead the
Afghan can trot at a fast pace; stepping along, he has the appearance of placing the
hind feet directly in the foot prints of the front feet, both thrown straight ahead.
Moving with head and tail high, the whole appearance of the Afghan Hound is one
of great style and beauty.
TEMPERAMENT. Aloof and dignified, yet gay.
FAULTS. Sharpness or shyness.
Standard approved September 14 1948
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