Here’s a few tips on how to groom your Afghan Hound. The coat should always be allowed to develop naturally, and is long and very finely textured on the ribs, forequarters, hindquarters and flanks. In mature dogs, the short saddle hair along the back occurs naturally and should not be formed by clipping or trimming.

The hair is long from the forehead backwards, with a distinct silky topknot. The hair on the foreface is short, but the ears are well coated. Pasterns can be bare. All colors are acceptable, but it should be noted that different colors produce different textured hair, some of which is easier to work with than others.

MAINTENANCE: The silky coat requires a great deal of experienced effort in grooming, and careful consideration should be given before buying a puppy. To keep an Afghan pristine, bathing and grooming is a weekly task, which must not be neglected. This is particularly vital when the animal goes through the coat change (starting from 14 months and continuing for a couple of years until the mature adult coat is established). Be warned that, during the coat change, it is possible, in some instances, that the dog may require bathing and grooming every other day to keep mats under control.

Advice on grooming the Afghan should be readily available from the breeder. However, if this is not forthcoming, then contact a breed club for advice.

PROCEDURE

Equipment needed: Pin brush (but not one with “nobbles” on the end).

Breed tip: A water spray with a little conditioner mixed in will make it easier to brush the coat and prevent the hair from breaking. Ideally, the coat should only be groomed following a weekly bath.

• Brush thoroughly with a pin brush, using a spray-in conditioner or dematter if necessary to help eliminate tangles and dead hair. Use a mat-breaker if required.
• Bathe the dog with a mild shampoo and rinse thoroughly.
• Apply conditioner to enhance the silky coat and to help prevent matting.
• Towel-dry to remove most drips.
• Blow-dry using a pin brush. While doing so, spray the coat with a fine mist of water and conditioner to reduce static electricity and to help reduce damage during drying.
• Check the dog’s nails, ears and teeth.
• A properly exercised dog should never need its feet trimmed, and, in line with the rest of the body, the coat here should also develop naturally. However, care must be taken when brushing the feet. The Afghan can be particularly sensitive about having its feet touched.
• Give a final brush with the coat spray if required to enhance the chic appearance, and part the hair on the head and body, so it falls to the sides. However, if the dog has a natural saddle along its back, this will not be necessary.

WHEN THE COAT IS NEGLECTED

Where the dog is beyond grooming, it is the kindest thing to clip off the coat completely and start again. This should only take place after consultation with the owner. With time, the coat will grow again.

With today’s mat-breakers and untangle conditioners, many a coat can be saved where once there was no hope. However, neglected coats need considerable time to master, so check with the owner about the total cost before undertaking such a task, and clip off if necessary.