Afador -- Afghan Hound X Labrador Retriever

		Afador
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			Afghanistan <> Canada -> U.S.A.
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

A brief presentation of the Afador

The Afador is a hybrid of an Afghan Greyhound and a Labrador Retriever, originating in Alaska around the year 2000. It's still a rare breed, and breeders are working hard to stabilize the breed's personality and appearance. The body shape most closely resembles that of the Labrador Retriever, while the head resembles that of the Afghan Greyhound. It's a medium-sized dog with a long, fine coat and short, silky hair on the face. The Afador possesses the good traits of both breeds, and is patient, affectionate, loyal, dignified and courageous. As a hybrid, it is not eligible for inclusion in the American Kennel Club's purebred registry.

History of the Afador

First bred in Alaska, the Afador is a perfect balance between the Labrador Retriever and the Afghan Greyhound. Although still a rare breed, the Afador has become very popular over the past decade. With the intelligence and energy of the Labrador Retriever and the beauty and grace of the Afghan Greyhound, it can be an excellent pet for anyone. In the breed's origins, the Afador was always a mix of Labrador Retriever and Afghan Greyhound, but today many breeders have started using second-generation Afadors to produce new Afadors. Because of this multi-racial mix, there's no guarantee what attributes these Afador puppies will have. It depends on how much of each original breed was in the first generation, and which genetics are most dominant. Breeders are currently trying to stabilize the Afador breed by determining the most desired quantities of each type of dog. The Afador is generally a strong, confident retriever who loves to work, but is also playful and protective by nature. He makes an excellent watchdog at home, but also likes to venture out often and may want to retrieve small animals at random, even if you don't ask. As they are a mixed breed, they are not a true purebred dog and are therefore not registered with the AKC. However, they are considered part of the hunting and sporting dog groups.

	A little of the Afghan Hound
	The Afghan Greyhound originated in Afghanistan. Thought to be one of the oldest dog breeds, DNA evidence suggests that the breed is at least 2,000 years old. An English officer stationed in Kabul established a kennel during his stay, and brought his dogs back to England in 1925. Although most aren't sure of the exact timing and situation, the Afghan Greyhound made its way to America. We know that Zeppo Marx, of the infamous Marx brothers, brought one of the first Afghan Greyhounds to the United States. The American Kennel Club began recognizing the breed in 1926. The Afghan Greyhound is probably most famous for its representation as the iconic Barbie Dog Beauty.

	Standard of the Afghan Hound
	A little of the Labrador Retriever
	The Labrador Retriever easily ranks among the world's most popular breeds, thanks in large part to its general versatility and good-natured temperament. Its history can be traced back to the St. John's dog, a breed refined in Newfoundland, Canada, where British, Portuguese and Irish fishermen often traded their goods as early as the 16th century. As their early functions indicate, these dogs were bred to love water and have waterproof coats, and they still retain these useful characteristics today. In the early 19th century, the dogs were exported to England with fishermen's catches, and it was there that they received their name, Labrador, from the third Earl of Malmesbury, after the Labrador Sea, where they thrived. Over time, they have also been used as companion and family dogs, but remain one of the most popular breeds with the police and military, as well as a service dog, thanks to their high intelligence and obedience.

	Standard of the Labrador Retriever

Appearance of the Afador

The Afador is a medium-sized dog with a slender build, long legs and an athletic appearance. They are strong, with a large, round head, long, tapering muzzle, brown or black nose, dark almond-shaped eyes, inquisitive expression and floppy, folded ears. However, these traits can vary depending on the mix of Afghan Greyhound and Labrador Retriever. The coat is medium to long, long, silky and straight. The Afador can come in just about any color, including white, gray, russet, brown, black, tan and mixtures of all these colors. Most have a coat of fine, dark fur over their face, like a mask. They weigh between 27 and 34 kilos and measure between 63.5 and 76 centimeters, males being slightly taller than females. The Afador is a sturdy, thicker dog than its Afghan Greyhound relative, but leaner and more elegant than the Labrador Retriever, although if it's a second-generation Afador, the physical characteristics may be completely different.

Temperament of the Afador

One of the main complaints of Afador owners is the difficulty of training them. They need structure and constant positive discipline. Because they're so smart and stubborn, they tend to think they don't need to listen to you, so be prepared to stick to what you say. If you're not an experienced dog owner, you can hire a professional dog trainer to help you get your dog in line. These dogs are well suited to older children because of their impulsive playfulness and playfulness. Younger children can be knocked over or stepped on, so it's best to supervise your Afador with children under five. They get on well with other pets if they've been well socialized from the start. If you have small pets, such as cats or puppies, you need to let your Afador know that they are not prey. They are not suited to life in an apartment as they are very excitable and like to bark, but they can adapt if given enough daily exercise.

Needs and activities of the Afador

The Labrador Retriever and Afghan Greyhound are medium-sized dogs that need at least 45 minutes of exercise a day. Both breeds can easily become overweight couch potatoes. Consequently, when the two breeds are mixed, their offspring can also easily become obese and lazy. Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise to build muscle tone and keep his body healthy. Don't just leave him in the backyard to play on his own - he won't do it, and may even become destructive. By getting out with your dog and playing games, or simply walking around the neighborhood, you create a bond with him that will last a lifetime.

Maintenance of the Afador

Because of its long, fine coat, the Afador needs a lot of maintenance to avoid knots and tangles. The Afghan Greyhound is known to be almost hypoallergenic, but the Labrador Retriever is a moderately shedding dog, so the Afador is susceptible to shedding. It should be brushed at least twice a week with a wire comb and bristle brush. The best way to brush your Afador is to comb a handful of hairs at a time, starting at the bottom to avoid tangles. Your Afador may need to be shampooed more often than other dogs, due to its long coat and affinity for outdoor play. Use a mild shampoo recommended by your vet. Ears should be checked and cleaned once a week to get rid of excess wax and debris. They should be fed around two to three cups of high-quality dog food a day, depending on your Afghan Greyhound's size and age. As Afghani dogs are prone to bloat, you should ask your vet if it's possible to feed your Afador smaller meals several times a day.