History of occurrence
The Afador is a mix of the Afghan Hound and the Labrador Retriever. They were first bred in Alaska and have become somewhat more popular in the last decade although they are still quite rare and hard to find. It has a combination of temperament and appearance from both of its parents though how much of each really does vary from one puppy to another.
The Afghan Hound is an elegant and aloof dog that originates from Afghanistan. He was bred for hunting large prey and is one of the oldest breed of dogs there are. He is a fast runner over long distances and is a brave dog encouraged to have independence and intelligence.
The Labrador Retriever is a friendly and intelligent dog that originally was bred in Newfoundland in Canada as a helper for fishermen retrieving nets and fish and so on. Bow he is known as a very loyal companion, great as a family pet because he is warm, sweet natured and obedient when trained.
General form
This is a rare designer hybrid dog that crosses the Afghan Hound with the Labrador Retriever. They fall into the groups of hounding and sporting and because of their intelligence and energy are known for such talents or work as search and rescue, watchdog, tracking, sledding, carting, hunting, racing, police work, narcotics detection, retrieving, lure coursing, herding and agility. Due to his energy he is not suited for apartment living and can be expected to live for ten to twelve years. He is very affectionate, loyal and alert.
Отличительная особенность породы Afador Dog
He has a long head and a thicker skull with ears that are usually long and hanging down each side of his head.
usually has a lean body like the Hound but a sturdiness he gets from the Lab.
His coat is medium to long in length and smooth but around his face he has short hair that is a dark mask. He can be a range of colors, reds, beige, white, gray, salt and pepper and black included. - See more at: http://www.dogbreedplus.com/dog_breeds/afador.php#sthash.wtqoaO6M.dpuf
Character
The Afador can take on either side of his parentage when it comes to his temperament, sometimes more aloof like the Afghan Hound, or sometimes more sweet natured like the Lab. He is intelligent too and brave. He is usually happy and spirited and playful outside, but more often calmer when indoors. They are very affectionate and are wary of strangers and this alertness makes then suitable to use as a watchdog. Usually they are fine with children but prefer older ones over the age of ten who are less likely to bug and tease them! He is a kind dog though and loyal to his family and owners.
Maintenance care
This dog needs a lot of exercise because he is full of energy and loves to be active. Remember he does have a hunting instinct so be careful letting him off the leash, if he sees something to hunt he will runoff and chase it. As mentioned he loves and is successful at a variety of sports and as a work dog. Exercise should be done daily and it needs to be more than a couple of 5 minute walks around the block. He needs owners who enjoy activity too and want him to join them such as cycling, jogging, long walks. He would also love to visit dog parks and have play time. At home he needs a large fenced in yard to be able to play in to let off energy when he is not out with you.
With training the Afador is quite capable as he is very intelligent. If he leans more towards the aloofness and independence of the Hound he may be a little harder but if not in general the Afador should be quite good to train. Be persistent, consistent, positive and avoid becoming frustrated. Start his training young and it is also important to start socialization at that age too so that he reacts well to other pets, children, different environments and so on. If he is not trained you may have some behavioral issues with him barking more than normal, digging, chewing and so on. He should pick up basic commands fairly quickly if you avoid negativity and keep it interesting and rewarding for him.
Life Span: 10 - 12 years
Diseases
Because he is a newer hybrid and he is rare there are not any known major health concerns though that could change. They do have a low pain threshold so even minor injuries will hurt them a lot. Minor health concerns they are more prone to include eye problems and hip dysplasia.
