This Site Chosen By Microsoft As THE Afghan Web Link for Encarta Afghan Hound Database and Breed Information Exchange (USA VISIT 1996 - A PERSONAL REFLECTION (Page 2) Author Steve Tillotson)

Afghans in the UK/US - The debate about the differences about what is right and what is wrong has been running a long time. However, with the development of the breed in the US and the successful and significant exports to Australasia and Europe of US stock and bloodlines during the last 10 years, the debate has assumed a new vigour. Visitors from the US (and several other countries) have criticised UK Afghans and, in response, a faction in the UK have reciprocated by criticising US Afghans. This debate reached new levels a few years ago when a breeder who had lived in the US moved to the UK (Northern Ireland). His subsequent comments in the press about UK Afghans triggered fierce exchanges of opposing views. In actuality, until the San Diego Conference in 1995, only a few people active in the breed in the UK had actually visited the US in recent years and seen or judged US Afghans at first hand. San Diego attracted a large number of UK visitors, most appear to have enjoyed the experience and upon their return reported in positive terms about US Afghans.

Speaking for myself, my extensive research and study of US (and UK) Afghan pedigrees has given me an additional perspective which causes me to continue to be fascinated by US pedigrees. Nonetheless, my general perception has been shaped from what I have heard, what I have read, what I have been taught in the UK, and what I have seen in the press and certain glossy breed magazines. I have to admit at this point to having formed views and opinions on US Afghans without the benefit of actual physical sight or knowledge of them (other than the handful of imports into the UK in the last few years, which, may or may not be typical of the breed in the US), or indeed, until recently, knowledge of the US show system and Afghan scene. The sort of preconceptions I took with me to the US were the usual ones about exaggeration, extremes, flashy showmanship, dogs and handlers rushing around the ring, over refinement, oversize hounds, straight/upright front assemblies, altering coats, stripping, shaving etc. - a pretty negative outlook on hindsight. I hope the US Afghan people are still talking to me at this point!

Afghans in the UK/World-wide - The majority of judging in the UK is undertaken by UK breed specialists with only a few appointments being undertaken by all rounders or overseas judges. I understand this is different to the USA and other parts of the world where all rounders and overseas judges are more regularly appointed to judge the breed. However, in the last two/three years we have been blessed by a number of overseas judges officiating here and have also enjoyed visits from quite a number of overseas Afghan people. Via the Internet, and in some cases by actually meeting our overseas friends (or reading their reports), my preconceptions were already being challenged. The message I was constantly given is that the issue is not about UK/US Afghans; it is perhaps more about UK/World-wide differences. I have had telephone calls from Europe from visitors to Crufts 96 who expressed critical views. I have exchanged many emails with Afghan people around the world who have current knowledge of the breed in the UK and who have been challenging. There is an increasing number of imports into the UK and several established UK breeders have radically changed their breeding based on these imports. Some of these imports, especially those from Scandinavia have made a significant impact on bloodlines and the UK gene pool. The current top Afghan in the UK, bred in Northern Ireland, is the product of two US bred Afghans. In acknowledging the existence of my own preconceptions, I have increasingly become aware of comments from overseas visitors and the changes (e.g. above) going on around me. I mention this world-wide aspect because perhaps that is where the debate should be. However, in these notes I shall concentrate on my experiences and observations from my visit to the US but mention this broader scenario for completeness.

What Afghans did I get to see? - Firstly, my host in California owns two Afghans of Taco and Red Cloud breeding - so I lived with a couple of US Afghans for a period. Another friend in California with whom I spent time operates a rescue organisation and has several Afghans, some rescue, some she exhibits, including a Sankhya x Gengala (Australia) bitch. She also has a new puppy by Ch Boannes Heart N Soul x Ch Nazira's Edge Of Night. I also visited a friend near Monterey (California) who has US bred Afghans and some Dutch/German bred hounds. I attended the National Speciality - about 300 Afghans on show (I did not see them all as I was only able to attend the last two days) , and also attended the Northern California Afghan Club's speciality, where there were about 80 Afghans on show. So I guess I saw around 250 Afghans, mainly from, the Midwest and some in the Wild West. The initial question is how typical of the breed in the US is this sample? I was informed at the National that there were a large proportion of Midwest bred Afghans at Racine, and with Mrs Canalizo judging there were obviously no Grandeur exhibits present. The California show largely involved west coast bred dogs but there were quite a number bred elsewhere in the US. I will have to assume these 250 Afghans I saw were reasonably representative of the breed in the US, but I do acknowledge that I probably missed seeing some important Afghans and gaining a fuller experience.

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