The Afghan Hound's ancestry dates back thousands of years to the greyhound family, although he is most closely connected to the Persian Greyhound. After arriving in Afghanistan from Arabia and Persia, this distinctive dog's coat is thought to have developed in response to the harsher climate. The breed became the Afghani nobility's hunting dog of choice because of its ability to cover rocky terrain with agility, speed and ease. The first Afghan Hounds were brought to England in 1894 by soldiers returning from the Afghan and India border. Breeding of the Afghan Hound began in earnest in the early 1920s when two Englishmen imported seventeen more of these dogs. This popular breed is a good family friend when provided with space and plenty of exercise.

Appearance
The gait of the Afghan Hound should be smooth and springy with a style of high order. The whole appearance of the dog should give the impression of strength and dignity combining speed and power. The head must be held proudly.

Character
The adult Afghan Hound has a royal bearing and may be aloof and dignified but should never be shy. With his family he can be a clown and very affectionate. The Afghan Hounds are intelligent watchdogs and do not bark just to make a noise. Training an Afghan Hound can be a challenge – they learn very quickly but then have to be convinced that there is a purpose behind what they have learned! Reward training works well with an Afghan Hound. They are sight hounds and will chase live game, so off leash exercise should be restricted to safely fenced areas. Although the coat of the Afghan Hound might make it amenable to outdoor living in temperate areas, it needs a soft bed and is better suited as a house dog.
 

Temperament
The temperament of the typical Afghan Hound can be aloof and dignified, but happy and clownish when playing. The breed has a reputation among dog trainers of having a relatively low "obedience intelligence" as defined by author Stanley Coren. The Afghan Hound has many cat-like tendencies and is not slavish in its obedience as are some other breeds. The Afghan Hound has a leaning towards independence. Owners should not be surprised if their Afghan Hounds sometimes choose to ignore commands. Although seldom used today for hunting in Europe and America where they are popular, Afghan Hounds are frequent participants in lure coursing events and are also popular as show dogs.

Exercise/Training
The Afghan Hound needs daily exertion, either in the form of a long walk followed by a short sprint, or preferably, a chance to run full speed in a safe, enclosed area. 20 minutes obedience and playing with your Afghan Hound will be more useful for the dogs exercise then an hour walk on the leash can provide.

Color
The coat of the Afghan Hound may be any color, but white markings, particularly on the head, are discouraged; many individuals have a black facial mask. Some Afghan Hounds are almost white, but particolor hounds (white with islands of red or black) are not acceptable and may indicate impure breeding.

Grooming
The coat of the Afghan Hound requires some commitment, especially when shedding the puppy coat; most adult coats need brushing or combing every two to three days. A good nutrition and regular brushing keeps the proper coat shine and the skin healthy. Bathing doesn’t harm the coat of the Afghan Hound as long as you use a good quality shampoo that doesn't dry the skin and coat and is formulated for a canine coat. The ears of the Afghan Hound should be kept clean and regularly inspected as well.

Any breed described as "good with children", the dog must be accustomed to children. Any dog that is not well socialized with children will not behave predictably around them. As with all dogs, they should never be left alone with young children.