Page 244 - ShowSight, March 2020

The Afghan Hound may be presented with or without the propping of its tail. This comes under the jurisdiction of the exhibitor. This is determined by how the best and steadfast stack will be maintained.
A proper approach to examine the Afghan Hound is impor- tant. This will set the mood for a successful examination. The Afghan Hound does not like to be pushed, or rushed into a situation. As best trained as one of these dogs may be, it must be understood the procedure of a stranger touching the creature is a compromise. The exhibitor should always be allowed the time to have the dog stacked and ready for the judges approach. The judge should move with confidence, but with no aggression. Be deliberate and not hesitant. Any reluctance may arouse the dog to think he has the upper hand.
When approaching the Afghan Hound from the front, take note of a dog standing proud on front legs like two col- umns. Always approach the head with hands from under- neath. Never reach toward the eyes as the Afghan Hound is sure to draw away.
I recommend that the judge inspects the mouth himself or herself and not ask the exhibitor to do so. It is important that the handler holds the dog’s head to maintain control during the examination. The Afghan Hound Standard was written in an age of innocence when people didn’t think they needed to tell anyone that hunting dogs had teeth. The preferred bite is a level bite! A scissors bite is certainly acceptable. It is a judge’s choice to look at the rest. If that is the case, the judge should look at both sides as dentition may not be symmetrical. The mouth should be looked at during the head evaluation, as the inspec- tion of the foot is recommended to come last!
When a judge goes over an Afghan Hound the hands should feel the parts that come together to make this unusual hound. A well angulated front assembly, with wonderful sloping shoul- ders allowing a neck to be on the dog and not in front of the dog, should be noted. Upon closer inspection the judge will understand why the Standard claims a “practically level” top line. These dogs have low body fat and the bones are closer to the surface and so it is noticed that there are slight deviations across the back; a slight indentation at the thoracic lumbar junction, a muscular rise over the loin area, prominent hipbones leading to a flat descent to where the tail comes out of the body. Even a few points of individual vertebrae may be apparent on
a dog in proper weight. Standing back from the dog, looking from across the top to the hipbones should appear level.
When going over the rear assembly, one should find a well angled, well muscled and broad rear. The hocks are low and I implore you to not leave the rear until feeling to see that those hocks are, in fact, perpendicular to the ground. Any affliction of sickle hocks is more easily determined on a stack than mov- ing because of the illusive complications brought about by coat.
The judge’s hands should get in the coat to examine the dog. The hair is silky and this quality may result in some wave to the hair. When short hair is present on the dog, it is of a different texture; that being hard.
The masculinity and femininity of an Afghan Hound must be determined on an individual basis and not by the company it keeps. There is a range in size in this breed. There is a recommended size in this breed. Height is not necessarily a determining factor. Boys must be boys, girls must be girls.
The Afghan Hound’s tail is a very unusual commodity. Most importantly, it comes out low from the body and is carried high in action. Ideally, it ends in a ringed tip or it may just curve. It is always a long rather sparsely coated tail (certainly in comparison to the overall coat) and never curls so much that it touches the back, or falls to one side or the other. There is no point of refer- ence other than one’s eye to measure the tail. The judge should never try to undo the shape of a tail. There is no reason to touch the tail except to see where it comes out from the body if the tail is down.
Once the examination is complete, it is time to check the foot. The largeness of the foot is much more notable on the front feet and it is there that inspection is done. The Afghan Hound is very protective of its feet and so if this is not done well it may end in a wrestling match. The best way to do this must be instructed in person.
The Afghan Hound should be the same dog moving as it is standing. The Standard mentions many times about the straight legs, feet facing forward, emphasizing a sound moving animal. It takes practice to get past being mesmerized by the coat and focusing on watching the legs and feet is imperative.
From the side, the Afghan Hound should carry itself with great pride and exhibit an impressively balanced gait, showing strength and athletic ease. When you see it you will know it. It is incomparable. The Afghan Hound is incomparable.
JUDGING THE AFGHAN HOUND
“...THE AFGHAN HOUND SHOULD CARRY ITSELF WITH GREAT PRIDE AND EXHIBIT AN IMPRESSIVELY BALANCED GAIT, SHOWING STRENGTH AND ATHLETIC EASE.”
242 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MARCH 2020