Page 33 - ShowSight Presents- The Afghan Hound
P. 33
“THE PREFERRED BITE IS A LEVEL BITE!
A scissors bite is certainly acceptable.”
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 main- tain 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 inspection 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 shoulders allowing anecktobeonthedogandnotinfront 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 feel- ing to see that those hocks are in fact per- pendicular to the ground. Any affliction of sickle hocks is more easily determined on a stack than moving 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 deter- mining factor. Boys must be boys, girls must be girls.
The Afghan Hound’s tail is an 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, it may just curve. It is always a long rather sparsely coated tail (certainly in compari- son 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 reference other than ones eye to measure the tail. The judge should NEVER try to undo a 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, empha- sizing 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 incompara- ble. The Afghan Hound is incomparable.
“IT TAKES PRACTICE TO GET PAST BEING MESMERIZED BY THE COAT AND FOCUSING ON
WATCHING THE LEGS AND FEET IS IMPERATIVE.”
