The Animal Health Trust is pleased to be able to accept DNA samples from Afghan
Hound for storage, with a view to using them for future research projects if necessary. Research projects aimed at identifying disease mutations, for example, require large numbers of DNA samples from affected dogs and their close relatives, as well as unrelated, unaffected dogs. Routinely archiving DNA samples from Afghan
Hound within the population, particularly breeding dogs, can significantly reduce the amount of time required to collect the requisite number of samples, once a particular inherited disease/condition has been recognised. Breed characteristics, such as genetic diversity, can also be studied using DNA sample collections. Samples can be submitted as blood samples preserved in EDTA, which should only be collected when a Afghan
Hound is having blood drawn for a veterinary procedure, or as buccal (cheek) swabs, which owners can take themselves.
Every sample needs to be accompanied by an AHT sample submission form and copies of any important health reports or information. Owners do not need to include information about routine visits to their vets (for vaccinations etc.), only information about serious or potentially inherited conditions. Similarly, owners should inform the AHT if their dog develops a serious health condition after they have submitted a sample for storage. DNA samples that are not accompanied by health information are less likely to be useful in the future than those that are accompanied by such information.
The Afghan Hound Genetics team at the AHT will log the details pertaining to each sample into a database, and will store the DNA samples at -20 for future use. The sample collection will be regularly monitored and periodic updates could be sent to a nominated person, detailing the number of samples that have been submitted. These updates will include only names of Afghan Hounds from which samples have been submitted and will not contain any health or owner information. There is currently no charge for DNA storage, but the AHT is not directly funded to provide this service so we do ask for a donation of £5 for each swab kit provided. Additional funds would also need to be sought to pay for a research study, should one be deemed necessary in the future and sufficient samples had been collected.
It was my pleasure and honor to judge the Greater Twin Cities Afghan Hound Club Specialty. There are few things as magnificent as the flowing athletic beauty of this special breed. It takes a special handler to show case this breed. It is the handler’s challenge to show off the attributes of these hounds while hiding those small possible flaws. I had the pleasure of judging a young lady in the Junior Showmanship competition that I believe will be a force to be reckoned with in the Afghan ring. Ms Nevena Vukomanovich handled her Afghan as a team, moving as one while show casing her hound to perfection.
While each word of our Standard is important to paint the picture of the Afghan Hound, for me there are words that ARE the Afghan Hound. Words like aristocrat, dignity, aloofness, exotic/Eastern expression, long silky topknot, peculiar coat pattern, appearance of placing the hind feet directly in the foot prints of the front feet, moving with head and tail high…..and the most important…..the whole appearance of the Afghan Hound is one of great style and beauty. This entry had great depth of quality that put the above words into living, breathing, flowing works of art. Ultimately, my Winner’s Dog was WATLING ST SUNNY 1 SO TRUE V VALINOR from the Bred-By-Exhibitor Dog Class. Reserve Winner’s Dog was OSHANAMEH’S ICE CLOUD OF AMBELIKE from the Open Dog Class. Both of these Afghans had beautiful outlines and were effortless on the move.
As high as the quality was in the dog classes, the girls stepped it up another notch. The bitch classes were sweet cream and strawberries on a hot day. I could not stop smiling at these Afghan Hounds. My Winner’s Bitch once again came from the Bred-By-Exhibitor Bitch Class, THAON’S VENETIAN TREAZURE JC. My Reserve Winner’s Bitch was THAON’S STARLIGHT from the Open Bitch Class. Both exhibited great beauty and style, especially while on the move. As I said before, this was sweet cream and strawberries and I just could not get enough. The Best of Breed Competition was something to behold. At a Specialty, one hopes that your peers will think enough of you to bring those exceptional Afghans. This was one of those special times. Each and every Special on the day was of the quality to not only win a Specialty, a Group but also a Best-In-Show.
The people, the handlers, the Afghan Hounds, the event put Special in Specialty. As I said at the beginning, it was my pleasure and honor to have my peers bring such outstanding Afghans to this Specialty for me to judge. These special hounds were the living, breathing words in the Standard. These hounds were the aristocrat, showing dignity and aloofness. Exotic/Eastern expression under a long silky topknot. The peculiar coat pattern flowing while effortless movement gave one the appearance of placing the hind feet directly in the foot prints of the front feet. Each of these magnificent hounds moved with head and tail high. And the most important, each of these very special hounds gave not only me but each person in attendance the lasting image and memory of great style and beauty that is the Afghan Hound.
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