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I suppose I'm a fairly "normal" victim of this malady..
Afghanhounditus. I remember very clearly the 1st time I saw a picture
of this wonderfully exotic breed.. in an encyclopedia, naturally. I
must have been all of six years old, this would have been circa 1960.
I also remember that I was very clear on the fact that I would have one
of these dogs, someday. But someday was to be very far away...
In mid year, 1986, I drove to Lexington Kentucky, to the air port.
A very nice spring, sun-shiney day, breezy, it was a pleasant trip. An
exciting trip - I was on my way to pick up my very 1st afghan hound
pup... After nearly four years of letters and phone calls and a couple
of false starts, finally I was going to retrieve my girl. She was
nearly 6 months old, and she was to be co-owned with her breeder, who
had been generous enough to allow me to put my "kennel name" on the
registration paper.
Oh yes, I had a "kennel name" - remember there had been an afghan
hound in my future for many many years! From the beginning I intended
to fully surrender myself to this fever that had gripped me so many
years earlier.. I intended to do it all, show, breed, train... the
whole ball of wax. And El Kahtir's Isis of See'r was to be the
beginning of it all, for me.
Colors... a subject of much fascination for many of us, who are
afflicted with this malady. My favorite color? Well you might ask -
and today I could tell you I love the black and silvers. Yesterday I
probably would have told you that nothing would do for me, but that I
have a silver blue... Tomorrow? Well, maybe an Oyster brindle. But
I can state, unequivocally, that it would never be cream, not by
choice. So of course my very 1st afghan was to be a cream... A very
lovely pale cream - but she *is* a cream.
And I remember thinking to myself, with a sense of awe as I stared
at this animal through the door grate of her airline approved crate..
"An afghan hound.. here is an Afghan Hound..". She was a tall leggy
fluff ball of a puppy, with a VERY long, elegantly narrow head and
wonderfully expressive dark eyes (bear in mind please that to this point
I had been accustomed to the very SHORT muzzle and bull dog skull of
Samantha Jane, my boston terrier buddy)...
Eyes that were completely innocent, each time I tracked her down to
my bed, where she had taken to hoarding shoes that belonged to me. Not
pairs of shoes, mind you, but singles from many pairs... I have yet to
figure out what the attraction was to her. My dear Isis is a thief of
the 1st order, yes, but not destructive, she never chewed those shoes,
merely hoarded them. She is a counter surfer, and a laundry mauler,
and she cares not a whit for any cats but her own, whom she will curl up
and sleep with...
We began with the best of intentions. Trained religiously, long
walks on lead, trotting about in the orchard in very large circles,
visiting shopping centers and little league games - socialization is
VERY IMPORTANT to a show dog I was told repeatedly. Isis is very well
socialized, no doubt about that. And she actually loves attending dog
shows... as long as it doesn't involve entering the ring, which rather
defeats the purpose of attending at all... She will happily languish
at ringside, watching the activities avidly, especially attentive to the
ring when the afghans enter. For those of you who have heard that this
breed is "self aware", well it's true, they do recognize their own kind,
my mother can attest to this (and she still will tell acquaintances
about this today, eleven years later). Isis' interest in the dog show
goings on is very casual, until the afghans come on the scene. She
*does* enjoy attending the shows... just as long as it doesn't involve
going in herself. But I didn't give up...
"We" decided that perhaps it was the lure field that Isis would
shine on. So off to our 1st practice run we went. And "we" watched
avidly, and "we" crouched eagerly at the start of the course, waiting
for the "bunny" to take off... and "we" dashed off after this "bunny"
like a seasoned veteran - until the 1st time the "bunny" zigged to the
left and "we" went zagging blithely to the right, on over the hill and
out of sight... It took 40 minutes, eight people of various ages, and
two cars to herd "us" back to the gathering. I learned another
important lesson that day - not all afghan hounds care about plastic
bags masquerading as "bunnies"...
When Isis was 3 years old, and the realization that she wasn't going
to be a "show dog" became unavoidable, my thoughts turned to puppies..
a litter.. of my very own, from my very own Isis. A litter from
which *I* could choose a likely show prospect for myself. After
discussion with my co-owner (Isis' breeder, remember?) the search for a
suitable mate began...
It was along about this time that I discovered that I was more or
less on my own. Co-ownerships can be beneficial... they can also be
a pain, for those you thought you knew well, can turn out to be
strangers... However, true to my determination to go the distance for
"my" breed, I persevered. I read every book I could get my hands on -
again (I had already read all of them through at least once). I
attended dog shows, I talked to others in "my" breed, I studied
pedigrees. And I was lucky enough to meet someone who had been in the
breed for some years, had seen many of the "great ones", and who was
unbiased enough to educate me with *my* dog in mind, her strengths and
weaknesses. She was an invaluable help in locating a suitable male,
and generously vouched for me with this male's owners.
From this period of time I learned an important lesson ; there are
many "out there" in the dog show world who can't be bothered with the
newcomers.. but there are also many who are cordial and generous with
their time and experience. The new owner's search might be lengthy,
and often filled with disappointments, but never, ever, give up - you
*will* find someone who will help you. If you love your breed, and can
stand possibly having to strain your patience to it's limits, the wait
will be worth it... I have learned so very much from so many, over the
years, in spite of those who didn't care. Those generous ones have
made it possible for me to learn to formulate the mental image of my
"perfect" afghan hound, and understand how to go about getting closer to
getting it.
My 1st litter. Was an experience... ah, puppy breath. Isis was
an excellent mother, producing nine squirming and squeaking bundles of
joy. I learned many lessons during this period as well... I learned
that occasionally a cooperative bitch comes along, one that delivers on
the sixty third day, just as the books say she will. One that is
gracious enough to wait until you have arrived home from work, and
completes her labors during the daylight hours. One that insists that
you sit not only in the whelping box, but that your lap provides a
pillow for her head, while she screams about the indignity of this
happening that you have arranged for her... One that delivered eight
pups, regular as clockwork, beginning at 10 am and "ending" at 7 pm...
and has the ninth one thirteen hours later... After a trip outside for
potties, of course - thereby scaring me into fits over what "could have
been" had she dropped # nine in the chilly january frosted yard... And
I learned that while it is always beneficial to be in attendance during
the birthing process, it is NOT necessary to fight her over removing
every fetal membrane and cutting every cord. Which I had done
religiously for the 1st eight... Isis did number nine all by herself,
without a whimper and in mere minutes - leading me to believe that all
of that screaming and moaning and groaning is an act strictly for the
benefit of the gullible "human parent" in attendance...
The 1st litter. Raising a litter of nine afghan babies is truly
enlightening, as far as the breed and breed traits. And I must pause a
moment here in my reflections, to state that the two very best books the
new afghan hound owner can get their hands on are ; The Complete Afghan
Hound by Connie Miller and Ed Gilbert, published by Howell book house,
and The Afghan Hound, a definitive study by Margaret Niblock, published
by Arco. Unfortunately, the new owner will have to search - long and
hard - as both of these books are now out of print. But the search is
worth it, as is whatever price you might find yourself paying, as these
books are nearly indispensable to the new owner.
However, back to raising a litter of afghan pups... Colors
again. Isis is a cream, of course, her mate was a masked red brindle
(yes i love the brindles). They produced a sort of rainbow of colors,
ranging from nearly white to solid black. A cream domino, a masked
silver, and black and silver brindle (who appeared solid black until she
was two years old, and was clipped down - lo and behold, stripes
appeared on her legs..). A black and tan brindle - black at birth, the
tan points came in on his second day, the stripes followed gradually
over the next three or four days. And an interesting dark blue brindle
- appearing black unless he stands next to a true black dog, and brindle
only because the stripes are visible on his white toes.
This litter taught me all about the affectionate, mischievous nature
of an afghan hound pup. It taught me about their native intelligence
("Why should I do that?! What's in it for me??") and about the many
changes this breed goes through while maturing - from drowned rat to
gawky adolescent to graceful adult. And perhaps the most important
lesson of this period - that afghan hounds need a special sort of person
to own. Not everyone who falls "in love" with this breed will have the
patience and sense of humor required to cater to them. The beautiful
flashy coat takes diligent regular care, and their intelligence and wit
takes vigilance and an innate ability to laugh - not only at the antics
of the crafty hound, but at yourself, because this animal will outwit
and defeat your best laid plans, more often than not. To be the
"alpha" of your home "pack" successfully, requires that you think one
step ahead of your hounds, and this isn't an easy thing, by any means.
It can be done - once you've mastered attitude, with a capital A.
Otherwise, you are doomed to afghanic tyranny - an awesome state of
affairs.
I happily endured the trials given me by these nine brats, while
painstakingly choosing the homes some of them would go to. Another
lesson those who are "in" this "game" long enough will learn.. no matter
how carefully you plan and how careful you are, sometimes the worst can
happen. Sometimes that perfect home changes, and the dog must come
home to you - often with psychic scarring that is difficult or
impossible to rehabilitate. Sometimes that promising show puppy
doesn't mature into that showable adult. Yes, I got my show pup from
that litter, but after a beribboned puppy hood, his bite went "off"...
this was a painful lesson learned - never put all of your hopes and
dreams into that "special" one. A second lesson ; others aren't always
honest with the novice. What you aren't told will often be more
"telling" than what you're told by some in this dog show "game". You
can only do the best *you* can, and if you love your breed, you learn
from experience, and then you try again.
The dog show world. It has been 12 years, since I got my 1st
afghan hound, although I have been in and around the dog show world for
nearly 30 years. I have had two afghan litters, during this time. I
have been a member of dog clubs, attended shows, been in the ring, both
as an exhibitor and steward. I have helped put on matches, I have
judged "fun shows", and have participated in rescue efforts, not only
just for "my" breed. Being "in" dogs is enriching, enjoyable,
educational, disappointing, frustrating, even infuriating.. much like
life in general. "Dog people" are a special breed, not quite like more
"normal" folk, and afghan people are even more special still ; generous,
gregarious, outgoing, stubborn, opinionated and often stand-offish.
Much like the hounds they love. We have a breed magazine, a "bible" if
you will, The Afghan Hound Review, which is a pretty good cross section
of afghan people. The photographs are the show folk, and the coursing
folk, the articles are "us" often at our educational best, and the "Bark
Back" section contains many missives from the "pet owning" population.
We nearly all of us will complain vociferously about the tardiness of
the magazine's delivery - but we all, without exception, wait eagerly
for it's arrival. Now we have not simply "ventured" into the world at
large through the "new" medium of the Internet and the World Wide Web,
we have literally thrown ourselves in whole heartedly, email lists and
web pages abound - and the birth of a sort of "web bible" in this site,
The Afghan Hound Database... Afghan hound folk are not hesitant or
reticent, and readily make use of anything that will further our basic
aim - our love for our breed. We don't always agree, but we are always
ready to "discuss" these dogs we *all* love. Which is as it should be
in the dog show world.
Best laid plans. Once again I am embarking on "the litter path",
with many hopes and dreams and plans. I was conscientiously present at
the breeding, I count the days, I've felt that tummy repeatedly,
thinking to myself.."I think yes.. maybe.. hopefully..". Late next
week she and I will head for our trusty vet's office, for that wondrous
invention known as an ultra sound. Where we fervently hope to see
little heads and backbones - and more, we hope to be able to *count*
them! I watch her diet carefully - "Is she eating enough?". She's
had her pre-check up, so had he.. this is important to responsible
breeding. Other things the responsible breeder does, x-raying hips,
checking eyes, checks for worms, and puppy vaccinations to do.
Evaluating the litter over the days and weeks, and representing them
honestly to those who inquire about them. Never letting them leave
"home" until they've learned all they can from their mom, the other
members of the canine family, and those of the human one as well.
Being prepared to keep them all from the outset - if good homes are
found for some of them, congratulations.. but never go into it with the
"plan" to keep those "special few" and farm out the rest.. This is not
what responsible breeding is really about, I don't think. Responsible
breeding is about maintaining the breed as it was meant to be by those
who developed it, about improving on what you started with, about
knowing the dogs behind your dog as well as knowing your dog's best and
worst points. And ultimately it's about the joy these dogs give to us
who live with them, and about making sure we've done our best by them...
And Isis? I learned where she "shined"... in the nursing homes
that she visited, with the residents that enjoyed her gentle presence.
And one particularly, who stands out in my mind.. a young man, nearly
totally paralyzed, bed bound, wordless, and Isis who was just exactly
tall enough to be on a level with his face and the one hand he could
move in a limited fashion. And the smile on this man's face each and
every time he saw her.. The most important lesson I have learned from
Isis herself? The knowledge that if tomorrow I was told I could only
do one thing with my dogs, that one thing would be those visits to those
who have been "left behind" in some fashion or other, and who's days are
immeasurably brightened by the visit of an animal friend. The lesson
that it's not the shows, or the bloodlines, the ribbons or the
accomplishments on a field, it's not the obedience record, or even
"type" and "soundness" that really matter. It's this bond that we are
lucky enough to share with the dogs we live with that's most
important... the companionship, the love that we can learn about from
them, for they are the most patient, forgiving and best of
teachers.
Originally published : The Afghan Hound Database
(Steve Tillotson authored and sponsored the Database, an enormous resource for this breed, on Compuserve, which sadly is no longer active.) | |
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