It belongs to group 10 of the FCI classification, which corresponds to greyhounds. The word greyhound originally comes from the word “hare” which was by definition the prey of these hunters. Considered the champions of speed in the canine world, these visual hunters are capable of locating and pursuing their prey mainly thanks to their visual acuity. This breed is best known for its slender figure, light frame and power. Indeed, with its long legs, its head and its slender, elongated body, the greyhound moves in pursuit of game with astonishing flexibility. It is often compared to running because of its body similar to a cheetah. The Tazi belongs more precisely to section 1 of the greyhound group, namely long-haired or fringed greyhounds.

An elegant dog, the Afghan Hound keeps a certain mystery about its origins. Indeed, the Afghan populations were very nomadic, however we know that their ancestors left Persia and arrived in Afghanistan via trade. It was the nomads of Afghanistan, Pakistan and India who were the first to breed them. The Tazi would have its origins from several crosses of different greyhounds as well as long-haired shepherds. Considered a born hunter, this breed was very popular with Afghan rulers, particularly for hunting deer or wild goats. Currently, hunting with a greyhound is prohibited, therefore the Afghan Hound is mainly used today as a companion dog. , racing or during obedience competitions. In particular, he is increasingly alongside celebrities thanks to his royal allure. In fact, he catches the eye with his long locks that flap in the wind when he is moving.

Relatively large in size, measuring between 68 to 74cm for males and 63 to 69cm for females, the Tazi has a long, thin and elongated body which gives it a majestic appearance. With a weight varying from 25 to 30 kg, it gives off an impression of strength and dignity. He has a straight back, of medium height and well muscled. Her hips are protruding and well apart. His ribs are arched and his chest is well descended. It has a springy look with a certain class in style. The Afghan Hound has an elongated, refined skull and muzzle with a light stop. Its jaws are firm and its neck is long and strong allowing the head to be carried proudly. Its eyes are dark, triangular and set obliquely. Its ears are set low and well back, they hang down and are covered with long silky hair. The tail of the latter is of medium size, sparse, ending in a ring and carried high when the dog is in action. Its dress can be of any color although it is more generally black and tan, cream, red, blue, domino or white. Its hair is essentially long and fine over the entire body but it is shorter on the back. Its feet and ears are also well furnished. On its face, the hair is short even if on its skull there are long hairs, thus forming a forelock. The hair is short and tight on the face as well as along the entire line of the back, going from the shoulder to the saddle. Everywhere else, the hair must be well straightened and grow naturally. Afghan Hound type puppies are not similar to long-haired adults. They have a fluffy coat until about 1 year old, and therefore do not have long, smooth hairs growing until this age.

The Tazi is not one of the most robust dogs even if in the category of greyhounds, he is nevertheless one of the most resistant. In fact, its long, smooth hair allows it to protect itself better from extreme temperatures or possible injuries than its short-haired cousins. However, being a large dog, like most dogs of this size, he can suffer from hip dysplasia. He may also suffer from a genetic disease that is only specific to his breed, namely hereditary myelopathy of the Afghan Hound. This disorder is degenerative and attacks the spinal cord.

The Afghan Hound is not the easiest dog to train. Of a rather stubborn nature, his education must be well done otherwise this dog could never obey. Very intelligent, he will not give up, which is why it is important to devote a lot of time to him and thus repeat the exercises several times and above all gently. The education of this dog leaves no room for brutality, with which he will turn away very quickly. Once he creates a trusting relationship with his master, the Tazi will be very affectionate while remaining reserved and calm. The same behavior does not apply to strangers, in fact he will be very suspicious and snobbish towards them. This does not mean that he will be aggressive, but rather that he feels he must remain faithful mainly to his family. The Afghan Hound is not particularly comfortable with children, he is rather impatient and does not really appreciate their agitation. It is therefore preferable not to leave him alone with toddlers unless he is used to it from a young age. The Afghan Hound is also not particularly friendly with other animals or dogs and even of its own species, it is more of an independent type. Be careful especially with small animals, his hunting instinct tends to make him consider them as prey. As for walks, he must exert himself a lot. As a former hunter, running is still a vital need for him. He can thus live in an apartment as long as his need for physical expenditure is respected.