By Abdullah Qazi (1998)
The Afghan hound is a type of sporting dog, found in Northern Afghanistan. There is evidence that suggests the Afghan Hound was known in Egypt as far back as 3000 B.C. The Afghan Hound was introduced to England in the late 1800s by soldiers returning from the Indo-Afghan border wars. The Afghan hound is a substantial dog, weighing in at around 30 kg, and standing about 71 cm high. Its physical characteristics are similar to those of the greyhound. It has a lean body with a long neck, strong forelegs, and thick silky hair. This dog is very valuable in hilly terrain, due to its ability to execute powerful leaps, run swiftly and turn readily. It is commonly used in Afghanistan by shepherds to protect their sheep from wolves.