A Moment of Suspension
When we look at breed type for a certain breed, there is always something that sticks out as THE attribute that really makes the breed … a shape, coat, tail, etc. Many have asked the question on social media and in interviews with longtime fanciers and breeders. The answers are many and colorful, and can sometimes make you raise your eyebrows in an “aha” moment about a breed you are not that familiar with.
Afghan Hounds are what I grew up with. I don’t remember one day of my life that did not have Afghans in it. My parents still have Afghan Hounds. I lived at Grandeur kennels for more than a decade, and I got to present many Von Haussman Afghan Hounds for Ramon Podesta, as well as many others I did not breed or own but felt very strongly about.
What is the one thing that immediately tells you it’s an Afghan Hound? Something you don’t even need your good glasses to find? It’s the silhouette of a square dog with a proud head and a ringed tail with the same length as the neck, making the bookends of a strong back and legs that are absolute effortlessly moving with equal reach and drive (straight hock, no sickle). And a slight but distinct moment of suspension, especially when they trot at a normal speed. Note I did not say coat, because they all have coat of some sort, and to me it’s not that important …
When you try to teach somebody about Afghan Hounds, the hardest part is the movement if they have never seen it before, and sadly that could be the case since it’s been somewhat ignored by many breeders. Instead we have long-gaited dogs that still have their feet on the ground like a Dobe or Boxer going around, or dogs with legs flopping around everywhere, making it look fancy or “different,” but still not with that distinct two step: one — moment of suspension … two — moment of suspension … one — ... and so on.
As in any breed, judges’ education is of course the only way to help this, and it comes down to the educator and breed club as a whole to create a good way of showing what’s important, and then of course for the hands-on part: finding dogs that can be used for the hands to feel and the eyes to watch and hopefully see.
In comparison and for educational purposes, I often say that the large greyhound-type Sighthounds — as in the show Greyhound (not field style), the Borzoi and the Deerhound — have that same moment of suspension. The Afghan is the smallest of those breeds, and it does not have the S shape the other three have — or should have — but rather a compact, moderately angulated body with the distinctive hip bones sticking up on even the most fit and well-fed dogs. With the exception of the Azawakh, this pelvic structure is unique to the Afghan Hound. Its cousin the Saluki was built to trot and gallop on hot, soft sand, and is so different from the Afghan Hound in both shape and construction — so much so that even calling them cousins is a stretch. The Afghan Hound was a desert dog, but in the mountain regions it was a hardier dog, with bigger feet in front to land on rocky terrain and an oval foot in the rear to push off. The coat came from some form of mountain dog to keep warm. While they can find, catch and kill small game, they also are pictured standing off with larger, stronger game for hunters to take care of.
This breed is also a coursing breed, and the breeder focusing on fast running dogs is not going to prioritize a trot with a moment of suspension. That dog will never collect itself as fast as a moderate, “hardier” dog can, just like the Whippet and the Greyhound — two distinct types within the breeds bred for each extreme. I personally prefer the dog that can do both. And a Dual Champion title in front of your Sighthound’s name is really the dot over the “i” to me.