While yesterday’s fame has vanished, the Afghan Hound is on the other hand became stars of international dog shows. Picture of famous Shirkhan of Grandeur, one of the stars of the breed. It’s one of the most successful breeds for the Best in Show: neophytes very often applause its gracious, elegant movements. The stock has also become more colourful. For more than 50 years of world selection, the dominating colour had remained the golden, with or with black mask. Things have changed in this matter too, and it is written in the standard that all the colours are allowed, but the main colours are domino, brindle, black, black and tan, the golden, the white.
Fortunately for the breed, there are few breeders, and therefore few births, but at least all those breeders are really implied with the breed, and their fame has gone far beyond the borders of their own countries. Picture of the French female Paris Night du Mont Isis, exported to the USA, at Aries Kennel. There are two or three leaders in each country, who occupy the front of the stage. Their influence on the breeding in their country is incontestable. In France, a handful of fans go through Europe and confirm the excellent reputation of the French breeding. If you want to see some French stars, have a look at the FALAPA website.
In Germany, the breed made its debut in 1927. Picture of Erika Rödde’s Von Katwiga Kennel. This kennel could claimed more than 100 champions born in its selection. This is one of the most influent kennel in Germany. In the Netherlands, no one can forget the influence of the Van de Oranje Maneje Kennel, managed by Eta Pauptit. She had a first litter in 1938, with a couple which had three times Sirdar Of Ghazni in their ascendancy. In Belgium, breeders worked a lot with the Dutch tenors, and some kennels from this small country, such as Du Jegdalek, El Jafistan, Du Temple d’Egypte, etc.), are famous on the international stage.
In the USA, the fashion has also declined. Picture of Tifarah’s Hi Flying Victory, an American champion coming from a selection claiming more than 100 champions across the world. In 1997, the AKC had registered 1,028 births. Four years later, the Afghan Hound was only at the 90th position of all the breeds recognised by the American Kennel Club, with only 684 puppies registered. Just like all the other countries, the fanciers are deeply implied, and the stars are numerous: the most famous of the past 10 years is undoubtedly Tryst of Grandeur, whose part of the happy few “100 BIS”.
In 2000, she was in Milan for the World Dog Show. While she was Best female, it was a Swedish male born in Australia, Kingsleagh Blue Star (picture), which was awarded the Best Of Breed.
Among the famous names, let us quote the Of Grandeur, Akabas (famous for their blue), Coastwind, with their renown brindle, Crowncrest, with Mr Universe being their most famous product, Kabic’s, Pahlavi (whose male Puttin On The Ritz, here in picture, became one of the most important American studs with more than 80 champions in its direct descendancy), and of course Mecca’s, with the very influent Falstaff, a direct descendent of another American Star, Shirkhan Of Grandeur.
In Italy, American import Sanallah’s Jerome , here in picture, distinguished itself by winning the BIS at the 1996 World Dog Show in Budapest! In South America, the American influence was very important too in their most representative selections, such as Stenara, Carnival, etc.
In Spain, where national breeding counted many famous names such as Branwen, to Cynthia Bosivain, Huilaco’s to Norman Huidobro, Shikarah’s with famous All That Jazz, a French handler called Philippe Gallardo has been a favourite of the judges for almost a decade. His most recent star is an exceptional female, Khafkas To Good To Be True, here in picture. In Portugal, let us name the current Portuguese Kennel Club’s chairman, Carla Molinari, who has successfully bred Afghan Hounds with her affix Do Vale Negro. The eastern European countries have also paid a lot of interest to this fascinating dog. In Russia, in Poland or in the Czech Republic, the fans perfectly know where to go to find a promising stud or a future bitch.
At the beginning of the 80’s, at the end of the American era, the Australian and Scandinavian breeders started to build their fame: nowadays, no influent breeder can deny what those bloodlines brought. Picture of famous dog Boxadan Double Trouble. The future of the breed seems to be the hands of a few conscientious breeders, who perfectly know the limits of the selection. Scandinavia is very present on the front of the stage, despite its local paradoxes. In Denmark, for instance, where three selections have deeply influenced world breeding in the past 20 years: Boxadan belonging to Lotte Jorgensen, Exxos and also El Khyrias. In Sweden too (Khaos, etc.), a small group of fans also dominate the stage.
In Australia, following the immigrations of many Afghan, the breed has been well established there since 1960. Picture of Kjavu Air Jordan, today’s star. This male has won 9 Specialty BIS, and has a total of 77 BIS. He has also won the BIS at the 2001 edition of the Brisbane Royal Show, and was crowned number one dog of All Breeds in Australia in 1999 and 2001. (To know more, contact his breeder, Helen Hamilton: kjavu@iprimus.com.au).Afghan Hounds were the most popular in Australia in the 1970’s, before their population followed the trend of the rest of the world.
In Specialty shows, there could be up to 500 dogs entered! Picture of female Ch Raushan Copa Cabana, from the Khandu Kennel, which is the most titled Afghan bitch in Australian history. Around that time, American imports replaced British imports. At the beginning of the 70’s, some kennels could breed around 100 dogs. That the was the beginning of the glory for the Australian breeding, a time when the breed won almost all the major shows (Sidney Royal Dog Show, etc.)
In 2001, the Australian National Kennel Club registered 160 births, and the average for the 1998/200 period was around 200 puppies per year. Picture of Ch Kelzarki Blue Spruce. Australian kennels still have a worldwide reputation, and some have exported dogs to the five continents: Khandhu, toMiss Pauline Hewitt, Jacosta, Satang, Quom, Kjavu, Taejon, Karakush, Gengala, to Jim, Mary and Louise Hickie, Calahorra (producer of the famous Boccaccio, winner of more than 20 BIS).
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