Afghan Hound Care: Grooming, Exercise, Training and Health

By Dr Duncan Houston

Quick Answer

Afghan Hounds need substantial coat care, secure exercise opportunities and patient reward-based training. Their elegant appearance should not obscure the needs of an athletic sighthound with a strong chase instinct. Plan preventive veterinary care around the individual dog, and learn the urgent signs of bloat and breathing difficulty.

Developed as hunting sighthounds in Afghanistan, Afghans use sight and speed to pursue moving animals. Adults are commonly around 25 to 27 inches tall and 50 to 60 pounds, although size varies. They can be affectionate and playful with familiar people while remaining reserved with strangers; individual temperament and experience matter more than a breed stereotype.

Is your home a good match?

Consider whether you can provide regular grooming, safe outdoor activity, companionship and calm training throughout the dog's life. Meet adult Afghans and talk with a responsible breeder or rescue about everyday care. A first-time owner is not automatically unsuitable, but needs realistic expectations and reliable support.

Secure fencing and careful door and gate routines are important. Do not assume excellent recall removes the urge to chase. Supervise interactions with children and assess compatibility with cats or small pets individually; early socialisation does not guarantee safety around potential prey.

Keep the coat comfortable

The long coat can require several hours of care each week. Check daily for tangles, trapped debris and sore skin, especially behind the ears, under the limbs and where equipment rubs. Learn suitable brushing, combing, bathing and drying techniques from an experienced groomer. Frequency depends on coat length, activity and skin health, rather than a compulsory monthly bath.

Do not pull through painful mats or cut close to the skin with scissors. A groomer or veterinary team can remove severe matting safely and discuss a practical pet trim. Introduce handling in short rewarded steps, including paw, ear and mouth checks. Look for ear redness, discharge, odour or discomfort; clean only as advised and avoid putting cotton buds into the canal.

Exercise and training

Provide daily walks, sniffing and opportunities for appropriate play or running in a secure area. Build fitness gradually and adapt activity for age, weather and joint health. Puppies need varied short activities and rest, not forced endurance exercise. Lure coursing or other sports may suit a healthy adult with appropriate preparation.

Use rewards and clear, achievable steps for lead walking, recall, settling and cooperative grooming. Being independent does not mean an Afghan cannot learn. Avoid punishment or repeated pressure when the dog is frightened or confused, and seek help if handling causes distress.

Feeding and weight

Choose a complete diet appropriate for life stage, with a growth formula suited to expected adult size for puppies. Use the food's energy content, body condition and activity to set portions; a fixed number of cups will not suit every dog or food. Feel beneath the coat to assess ribs, waist and muscle, and investigate unexplained weight loss or gain.

Split the daily ration into meals and provide fresh water. Do not raise food bowls specifically to prevent bloat: elevated feeding is not a proven preventive measure and has been associated with increased risk. Feeding routines cannot eliminate gastric dilatation-volvulus, or GDV.

Health checks that matter

• Breeding health records: the national breed club recommends hip, veterinary ophthalmologist and thyroid evaluations. Ask for actual results for the parents, not simply a claim that they were “vet checked”. Screening reduces uncertainty but cannot guarantee lifelong health.
• Eyes, joints and thyroid: arrange assessment for altered vision, stiffness, reluctance to exercise or unexplained skin and weight changes. These signs have several possible causes; testing should follow clinical assessment.
• Chylothorax: this is accumulation of lymphatic fluid around the lungs. Afghan Hounds are a recognised predisposed breed. Coughing, reduced stamina or faster breathing needs veterinary attention; laboured breathing is an emergency.
• Anaesthesia: discuss breed, previous reactions, medicines and health conditions with the veterinary team. Individual drug selection, monitoring and temperature support matter. Being a sighthound is not a reason to avoid a necessary procedure.

Keep vaccinations, parasite prevention and dental care current, with examinations and screening tailored to age and findings.

Know when to act urgently

Repeated unproductive retching, a swollen or painful abdomen, restlessness, drooling or collapse can indicate GDV. Seek emergency veterinary care immediately, even if the abdomen does not look dramatically enlarged. Ask your vet whether preventive gastropexy is appropriate based on chest shape, family history and other risks; it reduces twisting risk but does not prevent every episode of stomach expansion.

Frequently asked questions

Are Afghan Hounds low maintenance because they shed little?

No. Their long coat needs considerable care to prevent discomfort and matting.

Can an Afghan safely run off lead?

Use securely enclosed areas. A strong chase response can override a familiar recall.

Does every Afghan need annual thyroid blood tests?

Breeding screening and an individual pet's medical testing are different decisions. Your vet should choose testing based on age, history and clinical findings.

Can I keep the coat shorter?

A practical pet trim may help some households maintain comfort. Discuss coat condition and safe maintenance with an experienced groomer.

Useful references include the Afghan Hound Club of America's coat guidance, breed screening recommendations and ACVS guidance on GDV.

ASK A VET™ can help you plan your Afghan Hound's everyday care and decide which changes in comfort, appetite or activity need veterinary assessment.