Developed primarily from Saluki for hunting by sight, the Afghan hound dates from around 4000 B. C. It is the progenitor of most hounds and terriers. Alert, powerful. Good hillside hunter, at its best in brushlands. Standard weight: males, about 60 pounds; females, about 50 pounds. Average height, males, 27 inches; females, 25 inches. Head long, carried high and well, crowned with long, silky topknot. Uses eyes instead of nose in hunting, always watching for movements. Ears long and silky haired; reach nearly to nose when stretched. Neck strong, long, and arched to the long, sloping shoulders. Body strong; usually has powerful loins and pronounced hipbones. Tail curved and carried high, but preferably not recurved to the back. Forelegs straight and long; feet heavily haired. Powerful rear. Coat of long, uneven, silky hair that ordinarily looks ragged. May be found in many colors, but white is considered undesirable. Runs with head and tail high, indicating game presence by wagging tail. Highly companionable. When running, usually does so at a gallop. Became popular in England and Europe after World War I, and returning soldiers brought Afghan hounds to America from Old World as pets and as hunters.

From PALMER'S Fieldbook of Mammals by E. Laurence Palmer. Published by E. P. Dutton & Company, Inc 1957. Page 141.