FEDERATION CYNOLOGIQUE INTERNATIONALE (AISBL)
SECRETARIAT GENERAL: 13, Place Albert 1er B – 6530 Thuin (Belgique)______________________________________________________________________________

06.09.2021/ EN
FCI-Standard N° 228

AFGHAN HOUND©M.Davidson, illustr. NKU Picture Library

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ORIGIN: Afghanistan.
PATRONAGE: Great Britain.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICIAL VALID
STANDARD: 27.07.2021.
UTILIZATION: Sighthound.
FCI-CLASSIFICATION: Group 10Section 1Sighthounds.
Long-haired or fringedsighthounds.
Without working trial.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY: The first Afghans arrived inBritain in the early 1900s and one, called Zardin, won in spectacular
style at the 1907 Crystal Palace show in London. The breed is also
known as the Tazi, supporting its resemblance to a Russian breed ofthat name. One of the typical sighthounds of the world, the Afghan who, as his name implies, comes from the mountains of Afghanistan- is a hunter and will chase if given opportunity. Nowadays also aglamorous show dog which must combine strength and dignity witha long, silky coat as well as having an Oriental expression.
GENERAL APPEARANCE: Gives the impression of strength anddignity, combining speed and power. Head held proudly.
BEHAVIOUR AND TEMPERAMENT: Eastern or Oriental
expression is typical of breed. The Afghan looks at and through one.
Dignified and aloof, with a certain keen fierceness.
HEAD
CRANIAL REGION:
Skull: Long, not too narrow with prominent occiput. Well balanced
and mounted by a long “top-knot”.
Stop: Slight.
FCI-St. N° 228 / 06.09.2021

3FACIAL REGION:
Nose: Preferably black, liver permissible in light-coloured dogs.
Muzzle: Long, with punishing jaws.
Jaws / Teeth: Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete
scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth
and set square to the jaws. Level bite (pincer bite, edge to edge)
tolerated.
EYES: Dark for preference, but golden colour not debarred. Nearly
triangular in appearance, slanting slightly upwards from inner corner
to outer corner.
EARS: Set low and well back, carried close to head. Covered withlong silky hair.
NECK: Long, strong with proud carriage of head.
BODY:Back: Level, moderate length, well-muscled.
Loin: Straight, broad and rather short.
Croup: Falling slightly away to stern. Hipbones rather prominent andwide apart.
Chest: A fair spring of ribs and good depth.
TAIL: Not too short. Set on low with ring at end. Raised when inaction. Sparsely feathered.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS:
Shoulder: Long and sloping, set well back, well-muscled and strong
without being loaded.
Upper arm: Long and sloping.
Elbow: In profile vertically below the withers. Close to rib cage,turning neither in nor out.
Forearm: Forelegs straight and well boned.
Metacarpus (Pastern): Long and springy.
FCI-St. N° 228 / 06.09.2021

4Forefeet: Strong and very large both in length and breadth, andcovered with long, thick hair; toes arched. Pads well down onground.
HINDQUARTERS:General appearance: Powerful. Great length between hip and hock,with comparatively short distance between hock and foot.
Stifle (Knee): Well bent and well turned.
Hind feet: Long, but not quite as broad as forefeet; covered withlong thick hair; toes arched. Pads well down on ground.
GAIT / MOVEMENT: Smooth and springy with a style of highorder.
COAT:
Hair: Long and very fine texture on ribs, fore and hindquarters andflanks. In mature dogs from shoulder backwards and along thesaddle, hair short and close. Hair long from forehead backwards,
with a distinct silky “top-knot “. On the foreface hair short. Ears andlegs well coated. Pasterns can be bare. Coat must develop naturally.
Any evidence of clipping or scissoring should be penalized.
Colour: All colours acceptable however white markings on thehead or collar are highly undesirable.
SIZE:
Ideal height at the withers: Males:
68 – 74 cms.
Females: 63 – 69 cms.
FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing points should beconsidered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be
regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effectupon the health and welfare of the dog.

FCI-St. N° 228 / 06.09.2021

5DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:• Aggressive or overly shy dogs.
• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities.
N.B.:• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully
descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typicalconformation should be used for breeding.

The latest amendments are in bold characters.

FCI-St. N° 228 / 06.09.2021