AFGHAN HOUND AUSTRALIA NEWSLETTER (Page 4)

(VOLUME 1 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 1997)

THE AFGHAN HOUND DISCUSSION

I hasten to add that this does not imply that Afghan Hounds have to be "big". The standard calls for a height of 26 to 28 inches for dogs and 24 to 26 inches forbitches (Editor's note: this is the American standard, the English one states dogs 27 to 29 inches and bitches 25 to 27 inches, but of course the comment remains totally applicable) and any specimen above or below these measurements is faulty to the degree that its 'height varies from the ideal. '"Great length" of leg is a matter of proportion. It is a function of the overall size of the animal. A 24- inch bitch can have proper length of leg, while a 28 inch dog can be short legged. Many of us have heard Afghan Hounds criticized as long bodied when in reality they are short legged. The head, neck and body proportions were all in harmony, but the length of leg was inadequate'...

Pat Ide goes on to explain that the shoulder blade and upper arm must be unusually long and well angulated, and ideally of equal length so that, '...when properly angulated the elbow will be placed in a direct vertical line below the back side of the top of the blade'...

Such angulation is required in many breeds, but the unique aspect in the sighthound is the extreme length of both these bones, as well as lower leg length. Close observation of the wild animals who use the double suspension gallop will show that they too must have this exaggerated length of blade and humerus.

Pat says '...the suspended ground covering stride will make it appear that he could go on forever, for the trot is child 's play for him - he has so much more, and one can sense it is there - ready and waiting'...

While without question equal length represents perfection, most sighthound specialists with many years of practical experience with various forequarter assemblies, have come to the following conclusion:

It is certainly essential that both shoulder blade and upper arm are of unusual length but in practice, the upper arm in sighthounds is usually a little shorter than the shoulder. blade bringing the foreleg a little further forward, i.e. the forequarter angulation is greater than the "anatomically perfect" 90° This is referred to as the "more open angle" typical of most sighthounds, usually around 100° to 110°.

At the opposite end is the dog with very straight shoulders, usually allied to the giraffe-like overlong necks I mentioned before. In this case, the top of the dog's head is placed directly above the sole of his foot, with virtually no forechest projecting beyond the point of shoulder. These dogs usually also have excessive back length and very well-angulated hindquarters, plus shallow, tubular, racy bodies.

Their very tricky movement fools a great many people. It approaches the gait of Spanish Riding School horses, and these Afghans throw the front legs out (and often up!), appearing to have great reach, but in reality the leg is suspended in the air for a split second and then the foot touches the ground in what is actually a very short stride. Most people forget to check where the foot lands and are dazzled by the apparent "reach" and spectacular effect.

This kind of construction is usually topped off by the head being set on with the nose tipped towards the ground, so that the dog appears to be looking where it is putting its feet, a cardinal sin in a sighthound who should always be looking ahead and focusing on the far distance.

Afghans should own the ground they tread on, and float above it, they should NEVER need to look down to see where they are going.

With the clever stacking so common these days, straight shoulders are more easily detected when the dog is moving, as he will short step. Of course some dogs built this way hardly seem to touch the ground with their front feet, they are almost airborn, an illusion greatly assisted by being shown on a tightly strung up lead !

As all judging is comparative, one must do the best one can with what is exhibited, and provided the dog retains the correct proud head carriage and that indefinable requirement for 'a style of high order", the most workable forequarter is one with a very well laid back shoulder, and an upper arm which matches it as near as possible in both length and degree of return angulation. Overall, this is to be preferred to an "anatomically perfect" forequarter assembly which is rendered untypical by a short front leg.

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