Afghan Hound

Book excerpt: This Comprehensive Owner's Guide to the Afghan Hound serves as a complete introduction to the world's most elegant sighthound breed. A native of Afghanistan, the exotic Afghan Hound with its abundant, long coat, near-human expression, and superb hunting ability has been a favorite breed in the Western world since the breed was first imported to England in the 1920s and a decade later in the United States. Written by British Afghan enthusiast Bryony Harcourt-Brown, the book begins with a solid chapter on the breed's history, tracing its origins in the Middle East, its development in America and the United Kingdom, illustrated with historical dogs and important show winners. The chapters on characteristics and the breed standard encapsulate all of the virtues of this impressive hound breed, offering sound advice about which owners are best suited to the breed.New owners will welcome the well-prepared chapter on finding a breeder and selecting a healthy, sound puppy. Chapters on puppy-proofing the home and yard, purchasing the right supplies for the puppy as well as house-training, feeding, and grooming are illustrated with handsome Afghan adults and puppies bursting with personality! In all, there are over 135 photographs in this compact, useful, and entertaining volume. The author's advice on obedience training the Afghan Hound, a breed that has a strong mindset and doesn't relish pleasing his owners, will help readers better mold and train their dogs into the most socialized, well-mannered Afghans in the neighborhood. The extensive chapter on healthcare written by Dr. Lowell Ackerman provides up-to-date detailed information on selecting a qualified veterinarian, vaccinations, parasites, infectious diseases, and more. Sidebars throughout the text offer helpful hints, covering topics as diverse as historical kennels, toxic plants, first aid, crate training, carsickness, fussy eaters, and parasite control. Fully indexed.