Hound Large size 20-27 kg

Afghan Hound

A glamorous, aloof sighthound for owners who love grooming and can accept a dog that runs on its own agenda rather than yours.

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Find out how this breed matches your household

Quick overview

Large
Size
20-27 kg · 61-74 cm
High
Exercise needs
High; needs a solid hour or more each day
Moderate
Alone-time tolerance
Copes with a normal workday if eased in
Challenging
Training
Willful; needs patient, consistent handling
Very high
Coat care
Heavy daily coat work or clipping
Moderate
Fit with kids
Fine with respectful kids and supervision
Moderate
Other pets
Usually fine with early socialization
Moderate
Health burden
Chronic Ear Infections, Osteosarcoma

The Afghan Hound typically weighs 20-27 kg, stands 61-74 cm, and lives 12-14 years.

Consider this breed if…

you find hours of coat care relaxing rather than a chore,
you can offer safely fenced sprinting space several times a week,
you appreciate a dignified, cat-like dog that is not clingy,
obedience-ring precision is not why you want a dog.

Do not consider this breed if…

you expect reliable recall - a sighthound in chase mode does not hear you,
grooming time or professional grooming bills are a problem,
you have free-roaming cats or small pets the dog wasn't raised with,
you want an affectionate, eager-to-please family retriever type.

A typical day with a Afghan Hound

  1. 7:00 · Morning
    45-60 min leash walk; sprints only in fenced areas
  2. 9:30 · Midmorning
    Long elegant naps - a sprinter, not a marathoner
  3. 12:30 · Noon
    Short walk; check the coat for tangles and debris
  4. 16:00 · Afternoon
    Free running in a secure field or lure-coursing practice
  5. 18:30 · Evening
    Brushing session; several long sessions weekly
  6. 21:30 · Night
    Settles on the softest available surface

Temperament and training

Independence Very high
Prey drive Very high
Trainability Low
Sensitivity High
Aloofness with strangers High
Indoor calm High
Common owner mistakes
Letting it off leash in open country and expecting recall to beat prey drive · Falling behind on coat care until the fine hair mats to the skin · Punishing independence - harsh handling shuts this sensitive breed down

Family and environment

Kids Conditional
Tolerant but reserved; prefers calm kids over rough play.
Dogs Good
Generally polite; loves running with other sighthounds.
Cats Conditional
Possible indoors when raised together; anything running outdoors is prey.
Apartment Conditional
Calm indoors, but daily sprint outlets are non-negotiable.
House with a yard Suitable
Fence must be high - this dog jumps and bolts.
City Conditional
Leash-only life; needs access to secure running space.
Countryside Suitable
Great with fenced space; loose livestock and wildlife are a hazard.
Health data provided by RealVetCost
Overall health burden Moderate

Detailed health data - inheritance, prevalence, course, and typical treatment costs - lives in a separate expert database. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice - confirm any decision with your vet.

View the full health profile
Top health concerns
Chronic Ear Infections Keep the ears dry and check them often
Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer) Aggressive; report persistent limping early
Bloat (GDV) Feed smaller meals and know the emergency signs
Dilated Cardiomyopathy Periodic heart checks as the dog ages

Similar breeds - by reason

Not visually similar - similar in what they mean for you.

Similar hound, far less coat work
Saluki
A graceful, sensitive sighthound that is calm at home but needs secure sprinting space - its intense prey drive rules out off-leash areas and small pets.
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Bigger sighthound, similar independence
Borzoi
An elegant, quiet sighthound that lounges indoors but sprints after anything that moves - independent, tall, and needing a secure area to run.
View profile →
Easier, calmer low-maintenance sighthound
Greyhound
The original 70 km/h couch potato - calmer indoors than most small breeds, with a hard-wired chase instinct that never fully switches off.
View profile →

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Afghan Hound cost?
Expect roughly $2,000-$3,500 from a reputable US breeder for this now-uncommon breed. The lifetime picture is what matters: professional grooming every 4-6 weeks (or serious home equipment and hours weekly), plus 12-14 years of food and vet care - including breed risks like bloat and bone cancer - can easily add thousands of dollars over the dog's life.
Are Afghan Hounds really hard to train?
They are hard to train in the obedience sense, yes. It is not stupidity - the breed was developed to hunt independently, far from a human's directions, so it weighs your request against its own judgment. Patient, reward-based training gets you house manners and decent leash skills; expecting Border Collie-style compliance gets you frustration.
Can an Afghan Hound ever be off leash?
Only in securely fenced areas. Recall training helps in calm settings, but when a sighthound locks onto moving prey it can hit high speed within seconds and stops hearing you entirely. Near roads this is genuinely life-threatening. Fenced fields, sighthound playgroups, and lure coursing are the safe outlets.
How much grooming does an Afghan Hound need?
More than almost any breed: the long, fine, silky coat mats fast and needs several thorough brushing sessions weekly plus regular baths - many owners spend 2-4 hours a week or pay a groomer every 4-6 weeks. Some pet owners keep the coat clipped short, which trades the iconic look for a manageable routine.