estand2

The Standards
of the Afghan Hound

in comparation with fotos of my own
Afghan bitch Nausikaa's Vashira and her judge's critiques from 43 of her total 45 expositions
(except one in French language which
I couldn't translate and a lost one),
created by her owner

Some comments about Shiras show career:
Shira was owner handled by a newbee
(my first dog ever and of course my first shows)
and achieved several class wins including
three times the desired awards of championsships
of both German Champion titles (DWZRV & VDH).
Each of the three time she was able to gain the
more difficult to achieve DWZRV award she was able to
win Best Bitch (of 12, 13 and 26 bitches - all "majors").
But because she didn't gain the fourth needed award
(in the US she would have been enough to finish),
the never finished neither of the two champion titles.
So she's of upper avarage quality of her type -
not a champion but better than medium quality.
She would have finished if better handled.

I've decided not to quote a long list of dozends of critiques.
If You want to see how judge's critiques look like,
please follow this link.to see four examples.

I choose another way to show You what the judges say about Shira:
According to the order of the points of the standard
I put the statements of the judges in order and
insert them at the corresponding sections of the standard.

A last point of introduction:

I sort the particular phrases of critiques into three groups:

1.)	2.)	3.)
Firstly the commonly most used summed up phrases:	Next the variations of those common phrases:	Last separated single aspects and/or details:
Mostly repeated phrases are used, for example concerned the angles: those judgements reach from "excellent" to "(very) beautiful/nice" to "correct/good".	Variations are all attributes und phrases, which doesn't fit into the preceding pattern or stand out against them, like "magnificent", "marvellous", "ideal", "perfect" and so on.	Example: shoulders as an element of the angulations: "beautiful sloping shoulder, altogether excellent angulation". One part stands out against the whole and is emphasized.

Expalation to group 1:
In my opinion the spectrum of the summed up phrases (the whole range from "excellent" to "correct/good") doesn't say more about the degree of quality as (for example) the angulations (or the head, silhouette, chest, movement...) are corresponding to the standard. If the shown characteristics are outstanding ("excellent") or settled within the standard ("correct/good"), is a thing of the individual opinion of each judge. It's in the eye of the beholder and varies from judge to judge.

Remember the discussion of the "right type" which shows the different tastes. As well there's no unity in the degree of the characteristics. The first judge wants to see a very long neck whereas another loves moderate length. Maybe the first stands for moderate angulations, too, whereas others are convinced that exaggerations are strived for. That's why they distribute their "excellent's" and "good's" differently though it's the same dog they talk about.

As an additional problem there's no standardizied system how to use the attributes.
Some use the attributes like marks ("excellent" = ideal degree, "beautiful" = not perfect but near, "good" = little faults, "correct/good" = with faults but still acceptable).
But not all judges range like this!!
Many seem to have "their own" systems.

There are others, who say, that their "correct" means ideal and an "excellent" indicates an exaggeration... or with other words: there are some who think there's nothing better than a "beautiful" or on the other side of the range nothing is better than an rational, standard-repeating phrase like "deep, wide chest" without prejudice.
If You want to know exactly what a judge really thinks about Your dog, You have to know his/her individual stile or ask privately after the show...

Conclusion:

Because of this I devide the phrases in the mentioned three groups:
Group 1: I lump everything together which ranges from "excellent" to "correct/good",
because there is one in common: each judges attests the fulfilment of the standard.
Group 2: I emphasize differing phrases, because I think the judge wants it to be set off, too.
Group 3: The same: The judge emphasizes this point, so do I.

Explanation of the colours and backgrounds:

Red type on red marble background: the standard of the FCI

Blue type on blue marble blackground: the standard of Australia

Green type on green marble background: the standard of the AKC

Blue type: Quotations out of the judge's critiques of Shira

Purple type on blue marble background: some marks to my second bitch

The Standards of the Afghan Hound

Standard FCI

Standard Australia

GENERAL APPEARANCE:
Gives the impression of strength and dignity, combining speed and power. Head held proudly.

CHARACTERISTICS:
Eastern or Oriental expression is typical of breed. The Afghan looks at and through you.

GENERAL APPEARANCE:
The gait of the Afghan Hound should be smooth and springy with a style of high order. The whole appearance of the dog should give the impression of strength and dignity combining speed and power. The head must be held proudly.
CHARACTERISTICS:
The Afghan Hound should be dignified and aloof with a certain keen fierceness. The Eastern or Oriental expression is typical of the breed.
The Afghan looks at and through one.

Standard AKC

GENERAL APPEARANCE: The Afghan Hound is an aristocrat, his whole appearance one of dignity and aloofness with no trace of plainess or coarseness. He has a straight front, proudly carried head, eyes gazing into the distance as if in memory of ages past. The striking characteristics of the breed-exotic, or "eastern"expression, long silky topknot, peculiar coat pattern, very prominent hipbones, large feet and the impression of a somewhat exaggerated bend in the stifle due to profuse trouserings-stand out clearly, giving the Afghan Hound the appearance of what he is, a king of dogs, that has held true to tradition throughout the ages.

1.) The common summed-up phrases stretch from:
excellent appearance to a
very beautiful/very balanced type or
very typical/high-typed bitch or
bitch of high type
to a number of plain
correct/good type.

As well following is popular:
balanced constructed bitch with substance,
bitch with substance and without exaggerations, balanced construction, square or
bitch with substance and balanced outlines.

2.) Variations of the common phrases:
excellent in all aspects,
the whole appearance leaves little to be desired,
perfect format and proportions,
powerful, beautiful proportioned bitch.

3.) Aspects and/or details:
hughe frame,
middle sized,
powerful, strong,
feminin,
fully developed.

Because I want to include my young second bitch, which was exhibited only four times altogether (then
retired) and so there are too few judges''s comments, I add photos of her in those grey tables. Feel free
to compare her with my Shira. Look at her general appearance showed free in the fields & in the garden!

On the Outlook for hunting Full of attention as houseguard dreamy Gaze

and my favourite series of photo shots during a walk at the top of a hill:

Her pedigree at her homepage (pure american and scandinavian bloodlines)

FCI

Australia

TEMPERAMENT:
Dignified and aloof, with a certain keen fierceness.

TEMPERAMENT:
The Afghan Hound should be dignified and aloof with a certain keen fierceness.

AKC

TEMPERAMENT: Aloof and dignified, yet gay.
FAULTS: Sharpness or shyness.

1.) Usually her temperament is attested as:
self-assured,
friendly,
typical for the breed,
good.

3.) Other aspects:
stable, firm,
lovely, charming, pleasant, kind, gentle, calm,
(exceedingly) vivacious,
funny.

8 month old Shira "defeating"
a male German Sheperd

continue with part 3