Afghan Hound. Bryony Harcourt-Brown

as babies of eight to ten weeks, this often comes with age; after teething is a common time.

       A SHOW PUPPY

      If you plan to show your puppy, you must first deal with a reputable breeder who shows her dogs and has had some success in the conformation ring. The puppy’s pedigree should include one or more champions in the first and second generation. You should be familiar with the breed and breed standard so you can know what qualities to look for in your puppy. The breeder’s observations and recommendations also are invaluable aids in selecting your future champion. If you consider an older puppy, be sure that the puppy has been properly socialized with people and not isolated in a kennel without substantial daily human contact.

       Meeting the breeder, meeting the litter and finally picking the pup for you are exciting steps on the road to companionship with a most unique canine.

      Generally, the individual look of the mature dog will be familial, so do try to see as many of the dogs in the immediate background of the litter’s pedigree as are available. This will give you more of an idea of what to expect in your own puppy. For instance, if all of them have rather light round eyes, it is likely, but still not inevitable, that your puppy will follow this trend. Likewise, coats are generally familial, so if you hope for a heavy coat or, conversely, if you yearn for the earlier, lighter type of coat pattern, the coats of the ancestors will give you a good guide.

      The Afghan Hound is a large, long-boned breed. Afghan Hounds require careful rearing and must have the best of puppy diets to ensure that they receive the required vitamin and mineral intake in the correct balance. Do take advice from your breeder and veterinarian to ensure that your puppy receives the correct diet.

       WHERE TO BEGIN?

      If you are convinced that the Afghan Hound is the ideal dog for you (and vice versa), it’s time to learn about where to find a puppy and what to look for. Locating a litter of Afghan Hounds should not present too much difficulty for a prospective owner. You should inquire about breeders in your region who enjoy a good reputation in the breed. You are looking for an established breeder with outstanding dog ethics and a strong commitment to the breed. A trusted way to search is through the Afghan Hound Club of America, the AKC-recognized national breed club. Found online at http://clubs.akc.org/ahca, the club refers prospective owners to member breeders across the country.

       THE FAMILY TREE

      Your puppy’s pedigree is his family tree. Just as a child may resemble his parents and grandparents, so too will a puppy reflect the qualities, good and bad, of his ancestors, especially those in the first two generations. Therefore it’s important to know as much as possible about a puppy’s immediate relatives. Reputable and experienced breeders should be able to explain the pedigree and why they chose to breed from the particular dogs they used.

      New owners should have as many questions as they have doubts. An established breeder is indeed the one to answer your four million questions and make you comfortable with your choice of the Afghan Hound. An established breeder will sell you a puppy at a fair price if, and only if, the breeder determines that you are a suitable, worthy owner of his/her dogs. An established breeder can be relied upon for advice, at any reasonable time. A reputable breeder will often accept a puppy back, without penalty, should you decide that this is not the right dog for you.

      When choosing a breeder, reputation is much more important than convenience of location. Do not be overly impressed by breeders who run brag advertisements in the canine publications about their stupendous champions and working lines. The real quality breeders are quiet and unassuming. You hear about them at trials and shows, by word of mouth. You may be well advised to avoid the novice who lives only a couple of miles away. The local novice breeder, trying so hard to get rid of that first litter of puppies, is more than accommodating and anxious to sell you one. That breeder will charge you as much as any established breeder. The novice breeder isn’t going to interrogate you and your family about your intentions with the puppy, the environment and training you can provide, etc. That breeder will be nowhere to be found when your poorly bred, badly adjusted four-pawed monster starts to growl, pick fights with the family cat and generally wreak havoc.