The Afghan Hound is often hailed as an aristocratic breed, characterized by an aura of dignity and aloofness. Draped in a luxurious coat of thick, silky, and exceptionally fine-textured hair, their fur resembles that of animals native to lofty altitudes. 

These hounds boast a diverse range of coat colors. While they excel as sight-hunting hounds, their widespread acclaim in this region is attributed to their exceptional qualities as show dogs. In this article, we'll walk you through the essential grooming steps to keep your Afghan Hound looking their best.

Quick Overview of Breed Facts and Characteristics 

Renowned for their aloof and dignified demeanor, Afghan Hounds also exhibit highly distinctive personalities, endearing to their owners as cherished companions and integral family members. It's crucial to remember that their magnificent coat demands consistent grooming, and their considerable size mandates regular exercise.

• Country of Origin: Afghanistan 
• Height at Shoulder: 24" - 28" 
• Coat Length/Type: Long and Flowing 
• Color: All colors are allowed, but white markings, especially around the head, are considered undesirable.

The End Goal

Before diving into the grooming process, it's important to understand that Afghan Hounds have specific needs. Their coats should be mat- and tangle-free, and the fur should be light and airy, moving freely with the dog's movement.

How Often Should You Groom an Afghan Hound? 

You should bathe your Afghan Hound once a week to once every 12 weeks. In addition, trim or grind their nails every four to six weeks to maintain healthy foot structure and clean their ears regularly with a mild ear cleaning solution.

The Best Afghan Hound Grooming Process

Pre-grooming Steps

Before bathing, quickly inspect your dog's coat and remove any serious mats or tangles. If a tangle can be penetrated with water, leave it and remove it when the dog is clean. If it has been more than six weeks since your dog's last professional grooming, you should remove the excessive body coat and set the pattern before bathing.

Brushing

Systematic brushing is essential for an Afghan Hound's coat. Start by line brushing the entire coat right down to the skin. Use a slicker brush and softly pat the coat with the full pad of the brush while pulling it out and away from the skin with each stroke. Work from the lower rear legs up towards the thigh, repeating on every leg, then move on to the body, neck, head, ears, and tail.

While brushing, work evenly over your dog, holding or pushing up the coat with one hand. You can use a comb or brush, but in most cases, a comb is reserved for double-checking the work of the brush. Pay close attention to the legs, under the front legs, collar area, ears, and tail. Ensure the coat density is consistent.

Head

The head can have either a smooth, short, tight-fitting coat or longer fur on the muzzle and lower jaw, creating a beard or goatee. Depending on the client's request, you can either leave this area natural or remove the longer hair with a clipper blade, using blades ranging from #10 to #7F.

Back Saddle Area and Tail

Some Afghan Hounds have a natural saddle of short, soft hair along their spine. This area may need light neatening by pulling out long, fuzzy hair with a carding tool or finger-plucking the wispy coat. This shorter coat may extend all the way to the tail. The underside of the tail should be nicely feathered with long fur.

Feet & Hocks

Trim the pads with a close-cutting action blade ranging from #15 to #40. Create a very rounded foot by first blocking the foot to form a square shape. Finish detailing and rounding the foot's outline with long, curved shears.

Detail Finish

Neaten the entire outline of your Afghan Hound, removing long, shaggy stray hairs that disrupt a smooth flow. You can use thinning or regular shears as long as the look remains natural. Finish with a fine mist of coat polish on the body for added shine.

Suggested Tools and Equipment for Grooming Afghan Hounds

To groom an Afghan Hound effectively, you'll need the following tools and equipment:

• Nail trimmers
• Styptic powder
• Ear powder
• Ear cleaning solution
• Hemostat
• Cotton balls
• Clippers
• #40 and #15 blades for pads
• Slicker brush
• Greyhound comb
• Pin brush
• Dematting tools
• Straight shears
• Curved shears
• Small detailing shears
• Thinning shears

Afghan Hound Hairstyles and Styling 

The Afghan Hound's coat is a canvas for many distinctive styles, most of which are artfully crafted by professional groomers. While most Afghan Hound owners opt to maintain their dogs' coats at or near full length, seeing a shaved Afghan Hound is rare, usually resulting from extreme matting. Many Afghan owners take delight in their dogs' luxurious coats. Here are three popular styles for this breed, often described as "modelesque":

• 3-Layer Style: This distinctive style involves trimming the head and ears in a straight line at shoulder level while the body hair is cropped to a length of 4 to 5 inches from the ground. The leg hair is carefully cut to about an inch from the ground, creating a visually appealing three-tiered effect in the coat.
• Modified Teddy Bear Cut: This style gives an adorable stuffed-animal-like appearance to the Afghan Hound. The fur is trimmed uniformly to 4 to 5 inches all over the body, distinct from the shorter 2 to 3 inches typical for other breeds. The leg and head hair are meticulously rounded and sculpted, achieving an overall resemblance to a huggable teddy bear.
• Farrah Fawcett Style: In this style, the entire coat is left luxuriously long, and the head and leg hair are expertly styled to create a sweeping, feathered look. Achieving this look requires a brush, a hair dryer, and a touch of hairspray for that nostalgic '70s appeal.

Wrapping Up 

Proper grooming is crucial for maintaining the beauty and health of your Afghan Hound's coat. By following these steps and using the recommended tools, you can ensure that your Afghan Hound looks as majestic as ever.

If you want to become a pet groomer, here at Groomers University, we offer a complete training program involving essential business knowledge, practical skills, safety, and physiology modules. Additionally, you get the added benefits of access to an online community, weekly workshops, course updates for one year, and a certificate of completion. 

With the proper education and certification from Groomers University, a world of opportunities opens up for you. You can pursue career options like roles in pet grooming salons, veterinary clinics, mobile grooming services, or even the establishment of a personal grooming business.