The care of the Afghan Hound
Preface
Every pet needs care in a variety of ways. This includes not only grooming but also caring for claws, ears and teeth. In our opinion, this should not be a chore but rather an opportunity to spend time with your pet. All types of grooming also promote contact, bonding, obedience and trust between the pet and its owner, while at the same time forming the foundation for the education of a pet. Thus, grooming is also a school for humans and animals.
We believe that an Afghan Hound does not require much more or less grooming than other long-haired dog breeds that live in the house. Some breeds have short hair that gets stuck in all fabrics, while others have an undercoat and change their fur twice a year. The undercoat then lies around in large clumps in the house and, outside of the moulting season, contributes to the dog spreading a very unpleasant odour. If this is to be avoided, these dogs also need to be brushed and bathed regularly.
Grooming an Afghan Hound
To groom your Afghan Hound, you will need the following:
- A suitable brush (we are happy to provide recommendations)
- A suitable comb
- A grooming table
- Shampoo and conditioner (again, we are happy to provide recommendations)
- A place to bathe (at home or at a groomer's)
Now many will surely ask themselves ‘Why a conditioner?’ It's quite simple: since the Afghan Hound does not have a greasy coat, it tends to dry out or become matted. By using a conditioner, I can prevent this and make grooming easier.
How much grooming is required?
- This depends heavily on the owner's needs. If the Afghan Hound is a family dog and should look beautiful and have a silky coat, it should be brushed every day for 10-15 minutes to remove all leaves, twigs and other things from the fur after a walk. However, if the Afghan Hound is to be shown, the grooming requirements are much higher and depend heavily on the quality of the coat and the experience of the groomer. For novices, we recommend taking special grooming courses and seeking the assistance of a professional at the beginning.
- Depending on the grooming products used (shampoo and conditioner) and also depending on whether the dog is entered in dog shows, an Afghan Hound should be bathed weekly or every 3-4 weeks. We bathe our dogs as and when needed, as when brushing them you quickly notice whether their fur is starting to stick or whether it is still easy to brush.
Important to know
- An Afghan Hound is not trimmed, like a poodle for example. The fur is not cut or shorn.
- It is not recommended to have an Afghan Hound neutered. Since this procedure causes extreme changes to the hormone balance, this breed tends to produce enormous amounts of fur that are difficult to control.